WILMINGTON, MA — KaPOW! Join in the family fun, celebrity meet and greets, and shopping for nerds and those who love them at one of the largest celebrations of popular culture in New England, the Northeast Comic Con and Collectibles Extravaganza. This family-friendly event takes place June 18th and 19th, 2016 at the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington from 10a-6p on Saturday and 10a-5p on Sunday.
Always “guaranteed not boring,” Northeast Comic Con is a fun, friendly convention, easier for families with kids to enjoy and easier on the wallet with free parking, lower ticket prices, and ample access to accomplished celebrities, artists, actors, collectors and cosplayers for the best people-watching around.
Gamers new and “vintage” will enjoy free-play videogame arcade and tournaments, and little ones will enjoy children’s activities and watching all the intricate costumes. Since it is Father’s Day, surprise dad with an on-the-spot gift from the 150 vendors of vintage and modern toys, comic books, collectibles, art, jewelry, fashion and popular cultural artifacts. In between shopping, everyone is welcome to free live music and entertainment in the Fez Room – a great place for parents to relax and showcase your pop culture knowledge.
This year’s celebrity guests include Barry Bostwick (“Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Spin City”); Micky Dolenz, celebrating 50th anniversary of “The Monkees”; James Tolkan (“Back To The Future” trilogy, “Top Gun,” “Masters of the Universe”); Chase Masterson (“General Hospital,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” Doctor Who’s audio adventures, and CW’s “The Flash”), Jon Walmsley, best known for his nine seasons on “The Waltons” and as the voice of lovable Christopher Robin on Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh” TV series. Guests will also be able to meet actress Kathy Garver, fondly remembered for her starring role as teenage niece Catherine “Cissy” Davis to series character Uncle Bill Davis in “Family Affair” on CBS in the 1960s.
In addition to the inimitable pop culture expert Gary Sohmers, the show’s producer, other celebrity guests include Jeff Kline (“Transformers – Robots In Disguise,” Darby Pop Publisher), Mike Lopez (Kids Comic Con), Rob Bruce (“AMC’s Comic Book Men”), Reb Brown (“Captain America”), Somerville maskmaker Eric Bornstein and special FX artisan Tyler Green (Syfy “Face Off”) along with puppeteers Bill Diamond (“Fraggle Rock,” “Little Shop of Horrors”) and Noel MacNeal (“The Muppets,” “Bear in the Big Blue House”). Kids will also enjoy meeting Disney artist Philo Barnhart (“Little Mermaid”, “Beauty and the Beast”) and Alex Simmons (“Archie” “Blackjack”) and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” artist Steve LaVign.
NECC’s mission is to show the next generation the careers in the creative arts, and the event offers tracks in numerous categories. There is the dedicated safe and family-friendly NECC K!DZ area with creative events, education and attractions just for young fans. Enjoy free video game play and tournaments on vintage and modern video game systems in the Game Underground Video Game Arena, and go beyond the stars in the Starship Horizons Bridge Simulator, a chance to act as crew on an interplanetary spaceship with all game play included in admission.
With free parking and hotel packages, Northeast Comic Con ticket prices are among the lowest in the industry. Saturday adult advance online tickets are $18 and Sunday adult advance tickets are only $10. Adult weekend passes are $25 in advance online; children’s weekend passes (ages 7-13) are $12 and children six and under are always free with a paid adult. Visit the website (necomiccon.net) for advance VIP Experience tickets. On June 18th and 19th, the box office opens at 8:30 a.m. and VIPs/Early Bird tickets will be allowed in at 9:30 a.m. Free parking is included at the Shriners Auditorium, 99 Fordham Rd. in Wilmington.
(NOTE: The above press release is from the Northeast Comic Con via Dennehy Public Relations.)
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