6 Things to Do at Rhode Island Comic Con this Weekend

Photo by Meaghan Susi

You’ve read over the Rhode Island Comic Con survival guide and bought your passes, now it’s time to plan your schedule for the weekend. Lucky for you, we’ve gone ahead and compiled some can’t-miss highlights for the pop culture convention’s highly anticipated tenth year at the AMP and Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence.

1. Must-See Celebrities
   This year’s convention will host a ton of celebrity guests. Some highlights include the Back to the Future cast (Christopher Lloyd, Michael J. Fox and more) , Cole Sprouse (“The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” “Riverdale”), Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad,” “The Mandalorian”), Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter films), various Scream cast members (David Arquette, Matthew Lillard and more), various Twilight cast members (Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone and more), Jennifer Morrison (“Once Upon a Time,” “House”), Mara Wilson (Matilda), Tori Spelling (90210), Jojo Siwa (“Dance Moms,” “Dancing with the Stars”) among other movie and television stars, as well as many familiar voice actors, professional wrestlers, singers and more.
   Snap a professional pic with and/or get an autograph from your favorite actors, artists, creators, and writers. Take a walk around the convention floor and you may just bump into someone famous — some actors like to arrive in disguise, so keep your eyes peeled!
2. Panels
   RI Comic Con offers a variety of panels to suit all your creative and informational needs. On Friday, break out your Team Edward merch for the “Spending Time in the Twilight” panel with franchise stars Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Kellan Lutz and Peter Facinelli or prepare to take notes at the “Don’t Stop at One Book, Write a Series!” panel. On Saturday, take a trip back to the Clone Wars with the voice actors from the hit animates series, or join cast members from “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” for the “Two Shows, One Lasting Story” panel. Stop by on Sunday to score a chat with Neville Longbottom (a.k.a. Matthew Lewis) himself or join Micheal J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Tom Wilson for a Back to the Future reunion. There are so many options; you’ll have a hard time choosing which to attend! Some panels do have limited seating so be sure to get there early and reserve your ticket for free. Head here for the full schedule.
3. Cosplay Contests
   One of the best parts of Comic Con is the excuse to dress up as your favorite character even after Halloween is over — and you can win a prize for it! The adults contest will take place on Saturday from 5:30–7:30 p.m. in the Omni’s Narragansett Ballroom while the kids contest will be held on Sunday from 4–5 p.m. in the Omni’s Waterplace Ballroom. Find more information about the rules, guidelines and rubrics here.
4. Multiple Attractions
   If you’re a reality dance competition fan, you’re going to want to catch Jojo Siwa live on stage at the Omni on Friday night. Storm chasers, meanwhile, should plan to block their schedules off for a special Twister screening with Helen Hunt. Future Jedi can also get in on some lightsaber training, 90s kids can relive the Blockbuster Experience and the charitable amongst us can help raise funds for the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer with Team Zombie Leader. Find more exciting events here.
5. Gaming
   Got a game you’ve always wanted to learn to play? Or are you a master gamer? RI Comic Con has you covered with explainers on and tournaments for the likes of Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, Smash Bros and more. They also have a whole slew of board games available for free play throughout the weekend.
6. After Party
   You can keep the fin going well after the regular convention hours by attending the afterparty from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday night at the Omni Hotel. This year’s theme is “Enchantment Under the Sea” so be sure to don your best Ariel or Aquaman cosplay.  Tickets are $25 for general admission or $40 for VIP (includes VIP entry, exclusive seating, a complimentary drink and a complimentary prom photo) and guests must be twenty-one or older to attend. Purchase your tickets in advance here.

For more information about RI Comic Con, check out the website at ricomiccon.com.