This September, Portland will get a little bit weirder, in the best kind of way. Passersby may witness klingons, wookies and other hitchhikers of the galactic variety roaming the streets. There will be lots of makeup, suits of armor and more cloaks than usual. If you think you see “Weird Al” Yankovic, it probably is him, because he and many other whimsical characters will be in town for Rose City Comic Con. 

Returning for its 8th year, the celebration of all things pop culture is set to bring fans of fantasy and sci-fi, gamers and anime lovers alike together for a weekend of entertainment at the Oregon Convention Center. It’s an eccentric opportunity for Portlanders to revel in shared interests, make new friends and even meet some of their heroes in real life.

Many familiar names and faces will be guests of the convention, including The Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno; Kate Flannery, Leslie David Baker and Oscar Nuñez (Meredith, Stanley and Oscar from The Office); Shazam’s Zachary Levi and renowned comic book writer Kelly Sue DeConnick. A certain time traveling lead of a popular British TV series will also be hopping across the pond for a visit. “This year Christopher Eccleston is making his U.S. debut, a huge hit for the city of Portland,” says Ron Brister, Founder and Director of RCCC. “Christopher, who was the 9th Doctor Who, chose PDX for his first U.S. event and joining him is Billie Piper, his companion from the series.”

Attendees will have the chance to get autographs and take photos, listen to panels and other presentations and peruse the wares of the Artist Alley and Maker’s Market - one of the largest on the West Coast. “Additionally, we have a Weird Science reunion with the three main cast, a Princess Bride reunion and of course we have a number of other guests including Ricky Whittle, star of American Gods,” Brister explains. 

Similar to previous iterations, there will also be a costume contest, where cosplayers can win prizes and show off their creativity in a variety of categories such as Tinker (emphasis on moving parts, lights and hardware) or Beyond Human (think really big). All ages are welcome at this family friendly event, and the Rose City Jr. area will feature treasured toy and pop culture brands, kid-focused programs and hands-on activations.

Things get even more magical this year, as Rose City Comic Con is excited to announce a new partnership with LeakyCon, the world’s largest unofficial convention for fans of Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. Witches and wizards can meet members of their houses and experience interviews with fan favorites Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley) and Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy). To take home the House Cup, Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs and Slytherins can compete with charitable donations toward nonprofit Harry Potter Alliance. 

For the first time since Grimm, Portland is the setting for a network television show; based on a sequence of graphic novels, it tells a riveting story about a military veteran turned private investigator, who must navigate her complicated love life and gambling debt while taking care of her brother. On Saturday, Brister says, “We will have the premiere of Stumptown, the new series on ABC, with some of the cast and crew at the event.” 

With a fantastic lineup of other vendors and sponsors such as Ninkasi Brewing, Rainy Day Games and Dark Horse Comics, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Rose City Comic COn. For tickets and more information, visit rosecitycomiccon.com.