A cosplayer dressed as the Mandalorian taking a break at Kelowna's Fan Experience on March, 23, 2024.
(JESSE TOMAS / iNFOnews.ca)
March 23, 2024 - 5:15 PM
This weekend’s Kelowna Fan Experience is a family run convention for enthusiasts of every variety.
The event brings together artists, cosplayers, collectors and fans of all things video games, comic books, and movies.
The convention takes place across the Kelowna Innovations Centre, the downtown Okanagan Regional Library, and the Black Box Theatre.
Reid Gratz is one of the convention’s co-producers.
“This is a family thing for me, my mom, my dad, and my brother are all co-producers,” he said. “We have been doing this for eleven years. It’s been a really special thing. Not only do we love doing it but Kelowna comes out every time.”
Vendors for collectibles and locally produced art are spread out throughout the spaces for costumed and plain clothed fans alike.
READ MORE: iN PHOTOS: Fanatics of all genres swarmed Kelowna Comic-Con this weekend
“If I had to say my favourite part is the cosplay contest. Seeing what people come up with and what they design for their costumes every year and just the materials they use, the stitches they use, all of it is fantastic,” Gratz said.
The convention has a series of events taking place throughout the weekend including a cosplay contest, live Dungeons and Dragons, cape making and voice acting workshops.
“We’ve had themed improv battles like Marvel versus DC, Star Wars versus Star Trek, Ghost Busters versus Scooby Doo,” he said. “For Sunday what I’m most excited about is the live Dungeons and Dragons, I might make a guest appearance in it, it’s still up in the air.”
For fans who missed the event on Saturday, the experience continues on Sunday.
“Come out, tell your family, tell your friends, we’d love to see as many people here as possible,” he said.
Click here for Sunday's Kelowna Fan Experience schedule.
A cosplayer posing as Batman for people to sit and draw him in the Okanagan Regional Library in downtown Kelowna.
(JESSE TOMAS / iNFOnews.ca)
A cosplayer dressed as a character from an indie game at the Kelowna Innovation Centre.
(JESSE TOMAS / iNFOnews.ca)
Cosplayers dressed as characters from the video game "Lethal Company" at the Kelowna Fan Experience.
(JESSE TOMAS / iNFOnews.ca)
Darth Vader and R2D2 plush toys driving a toy car at the entrance of the Kelowna Fan Experience.
(JESSE TOMAS / iNFOnews.ca)
A vendor selling collectibles imported from Japan at the Kelowna Innovation Centre.
(JESSE TOMAS / iNFOnews.ca)
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