Saint John is welcoming the Atlantic Entertainment Expo (AEX) for the first time.
The event runs from July 19 to 20 at the Trade and Convention Centre and will feature a wide range of pop culture programming for fans of all ages.
Visitors can expect cosplay, gaming, trading card tournaments, collectibles and up to 120 vendor tables.
A virtual reality experience will be part of the lineup, along with appearances from the Star Wars 501st and Mandalorian groups.
British sculptor Brian Muir, known for creating the original Darth Vader helmet and for his work on Harry Potter and Indiana Jones, is attending as a featured guest.
Tickets are available online and at the door. Children 12 and under can attend for free with an adult.
The expo originally launched in Prince Edward Island in 2019 under the name Island Entertainment Expo.
It later expanded to Fredericton before organizers chose Saint John as the next location.
Lead organizer Alex Maine said the decision to bring AEX here wasn’t part of a long-term strategy.
“I took a little getaway with the family to Saint John for a weekend,” Maine said.
“We fell in love with the place, went into the convention centre, and the rest is history.”
AEX is designed to be welcoming for newcomers to fan culture.
Maine explained it’s about offering people a chance to experience their first convention without feeling overwhelmed.
“It’s about encouraging those who wouldn’t necessarily have been to a con,” he said.
“Giving them a first opportunity to experience what it’s like without being intimidated.”
Organizers say they’ve pencilled in future dates for the event in Saint John but will decide on next steps based on how this first event goes.
