Molly Ringwald and Christina Ricci are coming to RI Comic Con. Your guide to the show.
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Question: Where can you see Carl Weathers of "The Mandalorian" next to Molly Ringwald of "The Breakfast Club" and "Pretty in Pink"? What about get an autograph from Charlie Hunnam from "Sons of Anarchy" next to Marisa Tomei of "My Cousin Vinny"? Or get a photo with both Anthony Daniels, who has played C3PO in 11 Star Wars films, and get one with Christina Ricci from the hit Netflix show "Wednesday"?
Answer: At Rhode Island Comic Con, which brings hundreds of celebrities to Rhode Island every year so the rest of us can meet them, take a photo with them or get something autographed.
In its 11th year, Rhode Island Comic Con has grown into a huge event, spanning three days, Nov. 3 through 5, and three buildings in downtown Providence — the Convention Center, Omni Providence Hotel and the Amica Mutual Pavilion.
There's a lot to see and do, so we've broken it down into a guide so you can get the most from your experience.
When does RI Comic Con open?
The event gets started Friday, Nov. 3, at 3 p.m. — unless you splurged for the VIP tickets, which will get you in an hour earlier at 2 p.m. It wraps up for the night at 9.
On Saturday, Nov. 4, doors open at 10 a.m. and close at 7 p.m., unless, once again you are a VIP; then the gates open at 9 a.m.
And on the final day Sunday, Nov. 5, the conventional hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with VIPs once again getting in an hour early.
If that doesn't seem like enough time, there's also an After Party on Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Omni Hotel. The party is 21-plus and is an additional $20 ticket.
Also on Saturday night, there's a "Smallville" Night with Clark and Lex, i.e., actors Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum, from the hit television series. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $200. The evening includes the actors reading scenes from the pilot, then bringing audience members on stage to read scenes and everyone in attendance will receive a keepsake.
How much is Comic Con?
Let's talk prices. A standard three-day pass is $115 for an adult, plus fees, and a VIP three-day pass is more than double that at $240, plus fees. The other option is to buy a one-day pass, which is about $50 for Friday, $65 for Saturday or $55 for Sunday for an adult ticket. Tickets for children are cheaper.
The Comic Con experience is likely to end up costing more than that, however, as photo ops and autographs with celebrities will cost additional fees. Plus, there's a huge marketplace with a lot of shopping that is likely going to feel like it was made with you in mind.
How many people attend Comic Con?
Last year, an estimated 100,000 people attended the event, which even spread out over three buildings made for a pretty crowded event, according to reviews.
The size of the event is the main reason you might decide to spring for the VIP tickets, as the perk list includes getting in earlier, a fast pass line to get you in front of the celebrities you came to see more quickly and priority seating during the panels, among other perks.
Who are the celebrities that are going to be at RI Comic Con this year?
As you might have gathered, this event has grown over the years and now hosts quite a few celebrities — almost 150 are scheduled to appear this year as the SAG-AFTRA strike does not affect their ability to attend.
In the mix, you'll find comedians, wrestlers, television personalities, musicians, makeup artists and many actors. Many of the actors have been in franchises such as "X-Men," "Power Rangers," "Star Trek," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and, of course, "Star Wars." Also to be featured are actors from such classic movies as "The Breakfast Club" and "The Princess Bride," and some old television shows such as "I Dream of Jeannie."
Shows such as "Futurama," "The Walking Dead," "Charmed," "Smallville" and "Adventuretime" also will be well represented.
Want names? There are too many to list but here are 16 who have been given top billing: Anthony Daniels, Carl Weathers, Carrie-Anne Moss, Charlie Hunnam, Christina Ricci, Evangeline Lilly, Famke Janssen, Greg Nicotero, Katey Sagal, Linda Hamilton, Logic, Marisa Tomei, Paula Abdul, Seth Green, Shannen Doherty and Tyler Hoechlin.
For information about all the celebrities in attendance, visit ricomiccon.com/celebrities. There you can find the whole list, plus the days they will be available and the cost of autographs and pro photo ops. Autographs cost between $35 and $130 and pro photo ops cost between $55 and $135.
What can I do at RI Comic Con besides meet celebrities?
There's a lot to do at the event. Here are eight ways you could spend the day:
Go to panels: Check out one of the panel discussions to hear some of your favorite celebrities talking.
Go shopping: It wouldn't be a Comic Con without a huge shopping area to peruse for new items for your collections. From comic books to Funkpops to Legos to handcrafted items, you can find it here. It's also not a bad way to start your holiday shopping.
Get a tattoo: Ink Fusion Tattoo Empire will be set up at the show if you want a permanent souvenir through which to remember the day.
Do some speed dating: If you've been hoping to meet someone who shares your interests, this might be the perfect moment. There are several "Geek Speed Dating" events happening over the course of the weekend, including some that are specifically LGBTQ+.
Check out the displays: To celebrate 40 years of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," the "Sewer Liar" is going to be set up on the fifth floor of the Convention Center, giving you your chance to sit on the famous couch. Or, you can step into the world of "Avatar: the Last Airbender" and visit the BrazenMonkey by John Marks and take a photo with a giant Appa.
Learn how to properly wield a lightsaber: You've probably played with a lightsaber at some point, but have you ever had proper lessons? You could. There are both adult and child classes happening, but they're space-limited and do fill up, so if you think you want to use the force, preregister early at the Star Guild table.
Play some games: There is a big board game library that's free to access all day, as well as pay-to-play Fill-N-Fire events for the more competitive gamers.
Get a drink: Playing off the number of cast members from "The Breakfast Club" that will be in attendance, Rhode Island Comic Con partnered with Proclamation Ale Company for a signature beer called: "What happens when a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal walk into RI Comic Con." A long name, but how fun!
What should I wear to RI Comic Con?
Whatever you want — though it is one of a few places where it's socially acceptable to be dressed as a movie character. Cosplay is encouraged but not required. One tip though — wear shoes you can walk in.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI Comic Con 2023: A guide to celebrities, events, parties and more
