Fourth Annual Show Opens Friday with Vendors, Celebrities, and Costume Contests

*KALAMAZOO* — Fans of everything sci-fi, video games and pop culture were ready for the doors to open Friday for the first day of Kalamazoo Comic-Con.

The third-day event takes place at the Kalamazoo Expo Center and brings panels with TV, movie and online celebrities. Plans include tabletop games, workshops for artists, a film festival and adult and kids costume contests.

"We're always happy to bring the celebrities out because people get really excited. We have some pretty unique vendors that come out to the show and bring their unique aspect on things, the artists, and it's just all-around a great time," Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo Comic-Con app manager Dan Brown said.

"We also get families that like this is just sort of a fun thing they get to do together," Mark Hodges, event director, said. "They can all agree on it. They do their costume thing, but they'll do different generations of it. The kids will do anime and the parents will do Star Wars or a superhero or something like that. And it's neat. It's a really, really neat thing to see that, you know...That people are wanting to do that. That's good fun."

A few standouts included people from Star Wars, Power Rangers, comics, and more.

Costume Contests and Workshops Draw Local Enthusiasts

James Arroyo shows off his "Five Nights at Freddy's" costume, which took two and a half weeks to create, at Kalamazoo Comic-Con.

"Honestly, dressing up is my favorite part. So I just wanted an excuse to get to dress up in an outfit and walk around and see other people's costumes," attendee Jack Bierstetel said.

The convention includes workshops for artists, a film festival and contests for both adults and children.

Affordable Tickets Available at Expo Center

Tickets are available for purchase at the door, with prices on all-day passes ranging from $35 to $40. Tickets for kids aged 5 to 12 cost $8, whereas children under 5 get in for free.

Kalamazoo Comic-Con runs through Sunday. Grand Rapids Comic-Con runs Nov. 13 through Nov. 15 at DeVos Place.

Sources:

  • WWMT, "Kalamazoo Comic-Con kicks off at the Expo Center," April 10, 2026: https://wwmt.com/news/local/comic-con-kalamazoo-expo-center-weekend-tickets-actors-vendors-shows-anime-costumes-michigan-wwmt
  • AOL, "Fans check out panels and vendors at Kalamazoo Comic-Con," April 10, 2026: https://www.aol.com/news/fans-check-panels-vendors-kalamazoo-183634760.html