Fan Expo Philadelphia is one of the largest nerd culture events in the area, with tens of thousands expected to attend. The event is set for the start of June, from the second to the fourth, making for a whole weekend of sci-fi, comics, anime, and horror-themed fun. Find our breakdown of the announced guests and more event details below.
The Venue
You’ll find the expo at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, right in the heart of Philly. Since the expo is a big tourism draw, a lot of other businesses get involved and put on offers for those staying in Philly too, making the expo a city-wide affair.
The state also has a bustling iGaming scene too, partly due to the rivalry between Philly and Pittsburgh. Many high-profile sportsbooks like FanDuel and DraftKings operate online casinos from here, meaning there is a long list of PA casino bonuses available for those who find themselves in the state. Other establishments where you can get bonuses include Caesars Sportsbook & Casino, BetMGM, and Stars Casino. If interested, visitors to the state can enjoy those services from the comfort of their hotel room.
The Guests
There are many exciting guests set to appear at the expo this year. Here are just some of the biggest names that you’ll find. For Star Wars fans, there’s Anakin/Vader actor Hayden Christensen joined by Giancarlo Esposito and Katee Sackhoff from “The Mandalorian.”
Sean Astin will be there, representing the best fantasy movies of all time and fresh from his Perry Mason appearance. Joseph Quinn will also be around, after rocketing to become a fan favorite as Eddie Munson in Stranger Things’ critically acclaimed fourth season. He’s also joined by Chrissy actress and streamer Grace Van Dien. Still, in the realm of TV shows, Christina Ricci will be attending following the success of “Yellowjackets” and of course, “Wednesday.”
For the MCU fans, Charlie Cox, Jon Bernthal, and Vincent D’Onofrio are coming, ahead of “Daredevil: Born Again” hitting Disney+ next year. On the other side of the comic-movie divide, Zachary Levi will be attending fresh from the muddled “Shazam!” sequel that was recently released. Joining him are “Arrow” and “Smallville” stars Stephen Amell, Emily Bett Rickards, Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, and Michael Rosenbaum.
Then there’s Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Tom Wilson for a “Back To The Future” cast reunion. Director Sam Raimi and “RoboCop” himself Peter Weller are also attending.
The Events
As for what you can do, there’s a lot.
Naturally, there will be panels, workshops, and meet & greets including the stars we’ve listed above and a whole host of industry pros too. They have panels and other activities separated by themes and genres such as sci-fi/fantasy, horror, comics, and anime, so those interested in a specific kind of geekdom can easily find what they are looking for.
Everything you’d expect from a con will be there, including hundreds of retailers selling merch and an artists’ alley. There will even be a section for comic pros where you can commission them to sign and personalize merch for you. If you have merch or art of your own, you can apply to become part of the expo yourself.
That’s just a brief rundown of what you can expect at Fan Expo Philadelphia 2023. As the big weekend comes closer, there will be more to be excited about.
