CAERPHILLY’S first ever Comic Con takes place this weekend, promising celebrity appearances, Star Wars and Star Trek characters, pirates, Steampunk and more.
The charity event, at Caerphilly Leisure Centre, takes place on Saturday (June 10), 10am-5pm, raising money for Caerphilly Children’s Centre.
It is part of ‘Superhero Weekend’, which is being held in the historic town from Friday, June 9, until Sunday, June 11.
Caerphilly Comic Con will also feature an extra venue – Virginia Park Golf Club – which is adjacent to the leisure centre. There visitors can enjoy a driving range championship and cosplay golf competition, a tea duelling event and much more. The venue also has free parking.
Caerphilly Comic Con is the brainchild of Vik Yadh (pictured above with teacher Simon Tilley and pupils from Nant-Y-Parc Primary School, Senghenydd, Caerphilly) , a resident of the town and a regular on the Comic Con scene as both a visitor and private seller.
Vik, of Affordable Science, a science education teaching business in the town, said: “This promises to be a great day out for all the family. There has never been a Comic Con in Caerphilly so I decided to host one with a difference.
“Instead of full commercial cons or ones which donate profits to a named charity, we find and work with a local charity and help raise money via donations over the year until the day of the actual Comic Con.”
The Comic Con will feature impressive artists as well as an array of stalls – and even a replica of the JP29 Jeep from Jurassic Park.
There will also be Jabba the Hutt co-pilot puppeteer Toby Philpott (Star Wars: Return of the Jedi), Claire Gutteridge – who recently appeared as Sherlock Holmes’ younger mother in Sherlock, and finally Doctor Who star Francois Pandolfo – best known for his portrayal of Quintus in ‘The Fires of Pompeii’ alongside David Tennant and Peter Capaldi.
On Friday, June 9, as part of Superhero Weekend, a Superhero dress-up will take place in schools in Caerphilly county borough. Youngsters can dress up as superheroes to help raise money for Enable – which raises funds for Caerphilly Children’s Centre. They can also design and wear a superhero costume and be in with the chance of winning a walk-on role in a short movie. There will also be prizes including signed limited-edition artwork.
Youngsters at participating schools will get ‘Golden Tickets’ which can be used during the weekend (details have been sent to all Caerphilly schools). Full details on the website.
On Sunday, June 11, families can dress up as superheroes and enjoy special deals and events at many local pubs, including the Red Kite and Toby Carvery, both in Caerphilly, which will have their staff also dressed up as superheroes.
Online tickets are available now or get your tickets at the door. To find out more about the event visit http://caerphillycomiccon.co.uk/