FAQ
First of all, comfortable shoes! Your feet will thank you later. Make sure to bring cash, as there is no ATM on the property and a lot of vendors do not take plastic. Also make sure to bring a camera for shooting pictures of the many costumed convention goers (ask permission first!), a tube for posters if you plan on buying those, and an empty short box if you plan on buying a lot of comics. Most important, bring an open mind: you may discover a new aspect of this big world we call fandom you may not knew existed before attending the Grand Rapids Comic-Con. We also have a page dedicated to first timers which can be found here.
Contact Mark Hodges at mark@grcomiccon.com and he will help you.
Possibly. We are very open to all types of fandom at the Grand Rapids Comic-Con, and panels are a great way to involve all aspects of the fan community. It also allows other people to learn more about a certain category of geek culture they may not have experienced, plus they allow interaction which is always encouraged. That being said, panels must be approved in advance and must be PG-13 or cleaner with no profanity. We are a family-friendly event, so make sure your proposal is as well. If we use your panel idea we will advertise it in the show program and on Facebook if we have adequate time. Go to this link for more information on how to submit a panel.
Yes. We will have specific activities for the kids including a children’s costume contest, face painting, drawing activities, and other fun things. We will be marking activities with a code so that parents will be able to tell what may or may not be appropriate for their children. We also encourage parents to cosplay together as a family. That being said, not everything at the show will be rated “G” so we encourage families to stay and shop together so Mom and Dad can monitor appropriately.