Summer of Pop Culture Obsessions

I was thinking today about how I began the summer taking in the Calgary Expo and finished it at a roadside diner in the Fraser Canyon at an Elvis festival. Two celebrations of popular culture about as different as can be!

The Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo was held in a large convention centre and revolved around science fiction and fantasy featuring some big name celebrities and an endless supply of merchandise to spend your money on. Attendees dressed in amazing costumes they had spent hours and days getting just right.

Road Trip to the Calgary Comic Expo 2011

This past weekend I travelled 800km to Calgary to take in the fifth annual Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo. I have always wanted to attend a ComicCon / Sci-Fi convention, but it was only last year that I learned that this one in Calgary even existed. I was pleasantly surprised at just how good a time I had and the variety of things there was to see. A good part of the show is dedicated to comics. I do not have a real great interest in comics though. I was there more for the Sci-Fi and horror aspects. This year Calgary had invited such guests as George Romero, Felicia Day, Tia Carrerre, Summer Glau and Elvira Mistress of the Dark. The main attraction was William Shatner.

Once we got to Calgary we checked in to our hotel and downed a quick beer, then hopped on the C-Train and headed down to the BMO Roundup Centre. I had bought my ticket online a couple of months ago, so upon arrival I traded it in for a weekend pass.