By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times
The Lexington Comic and Toy Convention returns to the Central Bank Center in Lexington this year, and fans of the annual event can look forward to another great extended weekend. It begins on Thursday, March 26 and runs through Sunday, March 29, with hours set at Thursday 6pm-10pm, Friday 12pm-8pm, Saturday 10am-7pm, and Sunday 10am-4pm.
Tickets are on sale now through their website https://linktr.ee/geekincconventions and can also be purchased at the event unless sold out. VIP tickets are always the first to sell out, so those should be pre-purchased if you don’t want to risk them not being available at the box office. Most of the information about the event, including updates and the occasional cancelation, is posted on the event’s Facebook page.
“I have said it from the beginning, and I say it every year,” owner Jarrod Greer said of the event. “Our goal is to provide the best convention experience for everyone. We always do our best to make sure that there is something for everyone to enjoy. We have celebrities, creators in all sorts of pop culture media, and panels with your favorites in both. And of course, the Cosplay contests are always a big hit.”
Greer said that people who go to conventions – much like everyone – have a wide variety of interests.
“You might be really into Star Wars,” Greer said. “But that doesn’t mean you aren’t also interested in trading cards, comic books, and other collectibles. That’s why we try to give people a little bit of everything. And you never know if, while you’re looking for something specific, that you might run into something completely new that you’ll really love.”
The Lexington Comic and Toy Convention has consistently lived up to Greer and his team’s goals. Each year those who attend are able to see celebrities both from today and yesterday and are able to get photo ops and autographs.
“If you plan on getting a photo op, you really want to purchase that early to make sure you can get a picture with your favorite celebrity,” Greer said. “Some of the celebrities, but not all of them, will take selfies at their booths, but you need to check on that early. And make sure you check to see what days your celebrity will be available. A lot of the celebrities are there for the entire convention, but some can only schedule specific days.”
This year’s roster is packed, Greer said. Legendary comedians and actors Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong will be there, (Saturday and Sunday only), Giancarlo Esposito (Mandalorian, Better Call Saul, and Breaking Bad), and the unbelievably amazing Christopher Lloyd will be there Friday through Sunday. A full list of celebrities and their availability is available on the website.
The convention also boasts a good list of voice actors such as Tom Kane, from the Star Wars animated universe and the original Power Puff Girls. Maurice LaMarche, the voice of Brain from Pinky and the Brain will be there Friday through Sunday, and Tara Strong who has voiced an extensive number of characters including Bubbles from the Power Puff Girls and Raven in Teen Titans.
Lexington Comic and Toy Convention is known for professional wrestling personalities as well, and this year they have a wide variety of wrestlers in attendance. Mick Foley will be there (Saturday and Sunday), as will Kane (Saturday and Sunday), Jerry “The King” Lawler (Friday through Sunday), and Ricky Steamboat (Saturday and Sunday).
Legendary Comic Creators like Jay Leisten and Bob Hall will share the convention with Arvell Jones and Scott Hannah. And if you are a fan of Green Lantern and the Silver Surfer, Ron Marz will be there all weekend. Seasoned and more recent comic creators share both the convention floor and stories, and convention goers can get a unique insight into what goes on behind the scenes in the world of comics.
The Lexington Comic and Toy Convention offers a weekend of full immersion into the world of pop culture. Greer said that he and his team look forward to seeing everyone there, and they are always available for questions to help make your convention experience the best it can possibly be.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
