May 09, 2017
‘Eclipse Comic Con’ planned for eclipse weekend
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Eclipse Comic Con, a galactic event in more ways than one, is coming to Southern Illinois University Carbondale on Aug. 19-20, one of many events planned in conjunction with the total solar eclipse.
Thousands of visitors are expected to converge on the SIU campus for the Aug. 21 eclipse, for which the point of longest duration is very near campus.
The inaugural Eclipse Comic Con will feature about 50 vendors, comic artists, a costume competition with cash prizes and trophies, a game room for board and video gamers featuring the role-playing game Pathfinder, and assorted other popular competitions and special guests. There will be special Eclipse Con T-shirts, solar eclipse glasses and posters, an ongoing rotation of educational panels and informational sessions, celebrity guests, a mini expo highlighting SIU colleges, departments and programs and much more. The event is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day in the Student Center Ballrooms.
Several ticket options are available. The VIP Maroon Pass, priced at $20, includes convention admission both days, an exclusive Eclipse Con T-shirt, a special edition solar eclipse poster and eclipse-viewing glasses and a VIP pass for the autograph lines. The regular two-day pass is $15 and includes admittance both days as well as the T-shirt and glasses. A one-day ticket is $10. All SIU students will be admitted free with a valid student ID.
Organizers are accepting vendor, exhibitor and artist applications now for Eclipse Comic Con. All vendors/exhibitors selected to participate will receive a 10-foot square booth space including a 6-foot table and two chairs along with two convention passes. The vendor/exhibitor fee is $100 and the artist fee is $75. The committee will begin selecting vendors, exhibitors and artists on May 15, working to assure a wide variety of offerings at the event. Applications are available online.
Find additional information about Eclipse Comic Con 2017 at studentcenter.siu.edu/eclipsecon/. The website will be updated as plans are finalized. You can also email eclipsecon@siu.edu to learn more.