Pensacon ... the final frontier .... These are the voyages of Downtown Pensacola. It’s a three-day mission: to explore strange new events.... To seek out celebrity photo ops and unique speakers and panels.... To boldly go to the Pensacola Bay Center on Feb. 22-24, where many fans have gone before!

Founded in 2013, Pensacon (Pensacola Comic Con) is the premiere comic book and pop culture convention on the Gulf Coast, an all-inclusive event that encompasses Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, Comics, Anime, Gaming and more. For three days each February, Wookiees, Daleks, Hogwarts students and Ghostbusters become a common sight in our historic downtown. The event has become well-known for its eclectic celebrity panels that reunite casts from classic favorites and introduce the latest fan faves as well.

Over the years Pensacon has brought many celebrities to Pensacola, and Pensacon 2019 features a full lineup of celebrity guests, writers, actors and artists—from Batman and Star Wars to Battlestar Galactica and Stranger Things—including actor William Shatner, actress Tara Reid, skateboard pro Bam Margera and more than 100 other fan favorites. The schedule includes immersive events for the whole family including a Cosplay Contest, Lip Sync Showdown, IHMC Robotics Tours and a Short Film Festival. The event is expected to draw more than 30,000 spectators, many of whom will adorn themselves in extravagant “cosplay” costumes in honor of their favorite comic, movie or video game characters. 

This year once again you'll find traces of Pensacon sprinkled throughout downtown Pensacola, as the fun reaches throughout our historic streets at venues including the REX Theatre, the Saenger Theatre and several restaurants, clubs and concert venues. You’d have to be Mad-Eye Moody to miss Harry Potter’s Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at The Fish House. Live long and prosper in the world of Star Trek at Atlas Oyster House, and don’t make the wookie mistake of missing the Cantina from Star Wars at The Deck Bar! Further north, you'll find merry musings, tall tales and lovely libations flowing in Middle Earth at Perfect Plain Brewing Co. with hoppy beers fit for a hobbit and enough tankards to satisfy a small army of trolls. 

Official Pensacon venues include the Pensacola Bay Center, Grand Hotel, Saenger Theatre, Pensacola Little Theatre and The REX Theatre. Look for the full schedule of events on the Pensacon website or on the Pensacon mobile app. And be sure to follow @DowntownPensacola on social media as we’ll be posting photos and updates continuously throughout the event. Help us kick-off Pensacon 2019 on Friday, Feb. 22 beginning at 5pm during a special Pensacon-themed Gallery Night and launch the weekend into an experience that will truly be out of this world!

[PHOTO CREDIT: Pensacon]