Kelowna's Newest Fan Expo Is Styled After Comic Con

(Photo Credit: Contributed)

Kelowna residents are used to travelling to bigger cities and even the U.S. for Comic Cons, but they don't have to go far for this event.

New Vintage Theatre is launching a brand new fan experience in the Okanagan: the Kelowna Fan Xpo. This one-day event on March 21st will celebrate live performance, film, cosplay, animation, gaming, and fan culture. The Kelowna Fan Xpo (KFX) will have high profile guests who are local, national, and even international. These events, vendors, artists and celebrities will be hitting up four locations in Kelowna's downtown: the Kelowna Community Theatre, the Black Box Theatre, Okanagan Regional Library, and the Delta Grand Hotel.

Some participants in last year's event. (Photo Credit: Contributed)

Last year, New Vintage Theatre decided to produce a small festival, the Kelowna Anime and Comic Festival, along with a superhero musical they were doing. Their expectations were small, hoping for about 50 people, and they only put out about little 100 postcards around, with no actual posters advertising the event. On that day, they had over 300 people come in and out over the day. “The main message we got that day is to do it again—bigger and better," said Artistic Director Bonnie Gratz.

Some big names will be heading to Kelowna for the event. Stephan Franck will be presenting, a man who's worked on Despicable Me, How to Train Your Dragon, and Silver Comics. Other presenters include John Delaney from The Simpsons and Ryan Olsen from Disney Interactive.

John Delaney and Stephen Franck will be in Kelowna for the event. (Photo Credit: Contributed)

You can meet fan favourites like Mike Coleman (Once Upon A Time, Dragonball Z, Edge of Tomorrow) and Mark Meer (Mass Effect) as well as see performances like Harold of Galactus performed by Mark Meer (Mass Effect) and Chris Craddock (Tiny Plastic Men).

This event will be an excellent place to learn more about the animation industry with speakers from Yeti Farm, Bardel, and Disney Interactive. Representatives from Hyper Hippo (who just released a hit new game onto mobile) will be talking about gaming advances.

Not only that, but this event is ready for cosplay, holding fan costume contests for adults and children. You can draw with professional artists and view their art, and you can even try table top games and video games. Presenters will be doing FX make-up demonstrations, and Vancouver's Lucha Gore will be doing a talk and a workshop for horror filmmakers.

(Photo Credit: Kelowna Fan Xpo)

Star Wars characters will be around and participants will get to see some sci-fi worthy lightsaber battles thanks to the Okanagan Combat Guild. Street vendors will also be sprawling around the downtown, and the coordinators hope that in years to come, the entire downtown core will get involved in KFX. The day will have programming at all the sites, and after 6 p.m., the action goes to the theatres and the headliners for everyone to come together.

Tickets are available online, costing $20 in advance or $30 at the door. You can also get a VIP pass for $75, which gives you admission, an original poster designed by The Simpson's John Delaney, a t-shirt, and early entry. Limited edition passes are only available by calling or through the Prospera Place box office.

Check out more information about the event at Kelowna Fan Xpo's website.

(Photo Credit: Contributed)

*Superhero Cover Photo Credit: Kelowna Fan Xpo*