ComiCon Erie adds Lego blocks, masters to event with cosplay, celebrity guests, artists
If you're a parent whose bare feet have stepped on the little plastic blocks, you've likely cursed. But if you're an AFOL, adult fan of Lego, you love the colorful building blocks and all that can be created from them.
This year's ComiCon Erie will devote about a fourth of its space in the Bayfront Convention Center to the iconic toy construction pieces, show promoter Mark Concilla, president of Erie Promotions & Expos Inc., said. Brick Erie is a new feature of the three-day ComiCon that also will have celebrity guests, regional artists, cosplay contests for kids and for adults, gaming areas and vendors.
"We're really excited that we have a show within a show," Concilla said about Brick Erie.
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He said LUGs, or Lego User Groups, from Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Baltimore and northeast Ohio will have displays at the convention center from Sept. 16 to 18. Concilla described them as "people that are just passionate about building with Legos."
Mel Brown and Corey Samuels from the TV show "Lego Masters" are expected to attend ComiCon Erie and give hourlong seminars on building with the bricks. Voice actor Sonny Strait and Power Rangers Jazz Baduwalia and Rorrie D. Travis are also scheduled to give talks. Additional celebrity guests include Cindy Morgan of "Caddyshack" and "Tron" and Brittany Mirabile of "The Purge."
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"People in Erie love Power Rangers so we always have a couple Power Rangers," Concilla said.
Among the cosplay guests roaming the convention will be members of the WNY Guardians, a group of "Guardians of the Galaxy" cosplayers from western New York, and the 501st Legion, an international costuming organization dedicated to celebrating the "Star Wars" universe.
"Cosplay is when people dress up as their favorite characters," Concilla said.
He said the 2022 version of ComiCon Erie will also have more vendors than ever. In the past, the event has drawn 3,000 to 4,000 visitors over three days. Concilla said he expects a similar crowd this year.
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Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @ETNmassing.
If you want to go
What: ComiCon Erie with celebrity guests Cindy Morgan, Sonny Strait, Brittany Mirabile, Rorrie D. Travis, Jazz Baduwalia, Drew Godderis and Bill Diamond plus Lego masters Mel Brown and Corey Samuels, cosplay contests, gaming areas, artists, more.
When: Sept. 16, 2-7 p.m.; Sept. 17, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sept. 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier
Cost: $17 each for Sept. 16 or Sept. 18 and $20 for Sept 17, plus fee, in advance online; $35 for the weekend, plus fee, in advance online; $22 per day at the door; $40 for the weekend at the door; free for children age 7 and younger.
Info: eriepromotions.com/comicon-erie
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: ComiCon Erie adds Legos, brings new celebrity guests, offers cosplay
