Toronto’s Fan Expo is getting bigger and bigger every year. This year organizers expect 80,000 fans to visit the stars, vendors, and take in sessions, and the halls are packed with exhibitors of all shapes and sizes–from artists to big companies like CTV, THQ, Marvel, and Walt Disney.
As Fan Expo grows, the event is starting to feel more legitimate, especially in terms of access to stars–both old and new. While the event has always had a huge number of exhibitors and fans, the list of stars is starting to be a big deal.
This year guests at Fan Expo include Gillian Anderson and William B. Davis of X-Files fame, Marvel comic-book creator Stan Lee, Jay & Silent Bob, and actors Christopher Lloyd, Lou Ferrigno, and Sir Patrick Stewart. The lineup also includes a number of rising stars, from Devon Bostick, Norman Reedus, Nelsan Ellis, Rachel Nichols, and the cast of Lost Girl (Anna Silk, Kristen Holden-Ried, and Ksenia Solo), to the cast of CTV’s new series Arrow (Stephen Amell, Willa Holland, Colin Connell, and Katie Cassidy).
The exhibitors are a big deal unto themselves too though. For fans looking for unique clothes, toys, collectibles, and art, Fan Expo has a huge range of things to see, do, and buy. Walt Disney is showing off art from Tim Burton’s upcoming film, Frankenweenie, Xbox is demoing Halo 4, THQ has games and game trailers they’re showing off, and there are dozens of amazing shops set up selling their works of art.
Three favorite vendors this year have to be Attic Raiders and their partner The Attic, and Punch Brand.
Attic Raiders and The Attic specialize in Steampunk accessories, like jewellery and brass items, including watches and goggles. Their items, particularly the watches, are incredible, and you don’t even need to be all that into Steampunk to appreciate a lot of their work.
Punch Brand on the other hand deals in everything cute, as they put it–from clothing to pins, wallets and socks. Their Crazyheads line of hoodies features animal designs, so buyers can look like foxes and pandas with the ears and eyes sewn into the hood. It’s a distinct look from a Canadian company that actually supplies Google with an Android version of the hoodies, and they have hats too, if you’re looking for something just a little smaller.
Check out The GATE’s gallery from Fan Expo, and check out the event which runs at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building until Sunday, August 26:
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