StocktonCon Winter returns to Stockton Arena: Celebrities, must-see exhibits this weekend
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Comics, celebrity meet and greets, exhibits, and a costume contest can all be found this weekend at StocktonCon Winter, a 209-pop culture convention you won't want to miss.
“We started StocktonCon back in 2012, we really wanted to bring a fun family-friendly event … we wanted to bring like a little taste of big comic con events to Stockton,” said Mike Millerick, president of StocktonCon Events.
Stocktonians, fans from the Bay Area and other nearby cities head to the Stockton Arena every winter for the popular convention. Hollywood celebrities, professional wrestlers and comics creators are among more than 30 special guests who will be at the two-day event.
There will be more than 250 booths, art commissions and exhibits.
“There’s just a little bit of something for everyone,” Millerick said.
What's new at StocktonCon Winter 2023?
For starters, the pop culture Utility Telecom event which is now in its fifth year, will be two days long, like StocktonCon Summer.
Millerick said he looks forward to having Jesse Hernandez, a Bay Area visual artist known as Urban Aztec, attending for the first time ever.
His work is described as "a combination of graffiti and ancient indigenous culture."
Hernandez's artwork can be found on murals across California, Mexico City and Amsterdam but also beyond the walls with Marvel, WWE, The Oakland Athletics and Rolling Stone.
“He does fantastic work and we’ve been trying to get him for a few years, and we’ve never been able to ... and he is able to come to this event so hopefully it's the first of many appearances," Millerick said.
Star-studded guest list
Other special guests include WWE American professional wrestler Rob Van Dam and Diamond Dallas Page of the WWE Hall of Fame who will also be at the convention.
Both will have a meet and greet where convention goers can take a selfie or get an autograph. Prices vary by package. Meet and greet pre-sale tickets can be found at bit.ly/3KvcwFE.
Hollywood actor Edward James Olmos known for his roles in Stand and Deliver, Selena and Battlestar Galactica also was scheduled to attend. He canceled on Wednesday because he is ill and unable to travel, Millerick said.
Many special guests will also be part of panels on both days from noon to 4 p.m. before the costume contests.
“We are just excited to have people come out and enjoy the events and just share that world of pop culture with Stockton, once again,” Millerick said.
For a list of all special guests, visit: bit.ly/3ZcPQ1a.
209's own comic book artist
One special creator who has not missed any of StocktonCon's summer and winter conventions is 209's own comic book artist Ramon Villalobos who has worked for Marvel and now works for the comics publisher Bad Idea.
The first ever StocktonCon took place in 2012 at the University of the Pacific’s Spanos Center attracting more than 4,000 fans to Stockton.
Villalobos, 35, a Central Valley native, doesn't just attend the conventions as a special guest. He has created many of the past covers for the conventions. His resume includes Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars, Nightwalk, E is for Extinction and Original Sins comic books.
‘It's cool to show people that side of Stockton because people have their idea of what Stockton is like from the outside,” Villalobos said.
Villalobos has attended numerous comic conventions including the biggest and most popular comic convention in the world, the San Diego Comic-Con International. He said StocktonCon remains his favorite because it's one he can get out of bed and drive over to but also one that feels like a "family thing."
Must-sees at StocktonCon Winter
Costume contest
The costume contest is scheduled at 4 p.m. each day with an adult and a youth category. Each category will have a limit of 30 participants. There will be a waiting list for those that signed up after the 30 slots are taken.
Costume contest participants will compete for cash prizes. The first place winner in the adult category will take $300, second place wins $175 and third place, $75.
Youth costume winners will receive $200 for first place, $100 for second place and $50 for third place.
The costume contest will take place at the Stockton Arena Panel Rooms.
Gaming area
The War Torn Front, the game center trading card store from Manteca, will welcome gamers for collectible card gaming events and free games and coloring at the StocktonCon Winter gaming area.
Here is a rundown of gaming events:
Magic: The Gathering 1v1 Jumpstart Battles: Entries are $17.50 per player. Players will each receive two jumpstart booster packs for their deck. They will combine packs to play one game and choose a winner. All players will receive one standard booster pack. The winner will receive a promo card.
Pokémon learn to play area: This will be free all day with three sets of decks to choose from with a play-by-play booklet.
Open gaming: Bring your favorite card, board or role-playing games and meet new people.
For more information on the gaming area visit, go to War Torn Front's Instagram page.
Video games
Head over to the Fun Deck for free to play video gaming all day with Once Upon A Video Game retailer.
NES CLASSIC with 30 games
SNES CLASSIC with 21 games
2x PLAYSTATION CLASSIC with 20 games
2x SEGA GENESIS MINI with 42 games
Local charities will receive a portion of StocktonCon’s proceeds.
If you go
When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 and Sunday, Feb. 26
Where: Stockton Arena, 248 W Fremont Street in Stockton
Admission: Pre-sale online and in-store tickets: 1 day ticket $15 (additional $3 facility fee), 2 days ticket $23 (additional $6 fee) Day of show at the box office: 1-day ticket $20 (additional $3 facility fee) 2-day ticket $30 day of show (additional $6 facility fee), Children 12-years and under enter free with paying adult
Information: stocktoncon.com
Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: StocktonCon Winter 2023 returns to Stockton Arena Feb. 25-26 weekend
