C2E2 packed in the crowds making it the perfect place to people watch at the front as ticket holders funneled through metal detectors to enter the South Building of the gigantic complex.
Once inside, an official Funko store carried a variety of C2E2 exclusive merchandise. Shoppers could explore many booths within the venue ranging from comic books to rare novelty items. The expo was divided into sections to break up the madness, among them a console Gaming Zone, a Pop Asia section with cultural activities and The Yard beer garden for refreshments.
The company ReedPop curated a safe space where harassment and bullying were not permitted. It was a common practice to ask for consent before snapping a photograph with someone in the common areas. C2E2 also held a designated quiet room for those who needed to escape the sensory overload from the eye-popping festivities that weekend.
While celebrities charge an extra fee for photos, the fans are the ones who can really feel famous for a day with the right costume. Some were so popular that they could barely walk down the aisles without being stopped for a selfie. First place winner of the Cosplay Central Crown Championship went to Matthew, dressed as Iceborne Leather Armor Hunter from Monster Hunter World.
Celebrity autographs and photograph opportunities onsite had Glee's Darren Criss and Ted Lasso's Cristo Fernandez greeting long lines of fans. Actress Christina Ricci canceled earlier because of a filming schedule change, and actor Josh Brolin called in sick to the disappointment of many. Clerks's Kevin Smith and NBC's Heroes cheerleader Hayden Panettiere were added to the schedule to cheer up patrons.
The Artist Alley gave opportunities for commissioned art and autographs from those stationed there, such as Jorge Jimenez, who is known for drawing Batman, Superman and Justice League. Matthew Brennan IV, a pop culture artist who created under Two Thangs, traveled to the conference from Providence, Rhode Island. Several queer artists took part as well.
For the first year, a Pride Lounge was developed by CMSA eSports to make a safe space for LGBTQ+ players and allies to gather together upstairs from the ground floor. Several of the organization's current leagues include Fortnite, Dead by Daylight and Dungeons & Dragons, among others.
Panels covering queer literature were part of this year's programming and discussed topics such as book banning and artificial intelligence concerns. Trans Mexican-American author Alex Crespo made his first appearance at a comic convention this year to promote his debut novel, Saint Juniper's Folly. His new queer rom-com book comes out this week. Crespo said at C2E2, "Even though it is set in a haunted house, there is a romance and the character struggles with his sexuality." Crespo signed books at an Anderson's Bookshop pop-up located inside the venue. He stated, "Being able to see other queer people in person reminds me of why I do what I do."
After Dark events covered several dance parties and burlesque shows with a rainbow of optional programming outside of the venue. After closing down the expo on Sunday, the organizers are already planning for the sweet 16th celebration on April 11-13, 2025. Look for updates and details when available at http://C2E2.com.