Back again for the 2018 season, Salt Lake’s comic convention FanX 2018 is a three-day September event filled with guest celebrities, authors, cosplay professionals as well as amazing artists and other such “geek-merch” vendors.
Taking place in the same venue as previous years, the massive Salt Palace Convention Center, tens of thousands of fans head into the halls and try to figure out their day’s schedule. There are a few main areas in which you can spend your weekend at this con, you can start just by browsing inside the vendor areas to get that T-shirt with Deadpool you eyeball, a rare SNES game, henna tattoo or maybe some snacks. Or you can head to one of the tables for the talented authors that have brought their last book for a special signing only available at FanX. Additionally, you can head to the Artist Alley for amazing drawing, illustration, and photography-based creations.
Whatever you opt for first, checking a FanX schedule is definitely advised. Schedules will tell you when you can get a photo with your favorite star, when speed dating or movie review panels might be getting underway, or the main panel events that take place inside the Grand Ballroom with seating for up to 5,000 fans at once. In the Grand Ballroom, you will have an opportunity to ask your favorite actor, creative, writer, or personality a question of your choice and listen to their experiences with regards of their career and or advice to aspiring, young creators.
This year’s event boasts a number of guests to be hosted in the Grand Ballroom, including; Star Wars Actor Ian McDiarmid, Jurassic Park and Thor: Ragnarok star Jeff Goldblum, Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo, DC Universe actors Caity Lotz, Brandon Routh, Smallville stars TomWelling and Michael Rosenbaum as well as many more throughout the full list for all three days.
Whether you spend one day or stick around for all three at FanX, spend $200 on photo ops and merch or if you spend hours on end in the panels, getting better and better seats as you outlast the other fans around you, There is something for every geek at this con. Fans are encouraged to open up and share their knowledge and love with others that they might never have had the opportunity to meet. It’s a space to talk, discuss and maybe even argue, in good fun, about their flavor in the never-ending amount of geek and popular culture.
Manu Bennett comes to Salt Lake City to talk about The Hobbit, Spartacus and all things geek during FanX 2018. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Michael Rooker brings cookies for some lucky audience members with good questions. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Karl Urban says his tips for aspiring actors include: show up on time, know your lines and be nice. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Karl Urban, star of Star Trek, The Two Towers and Dredd is welcomed on stage to a roaring applause. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Michael Rooker speaks with Yandu as he is asked if he would be interested in more work with Guardians of the Galaxy. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Gaten Matarazzo surprises the crowd as he does the does the worm on stage at FanX 2018. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Gaten Matarazzo is taken aback by FanX fans and Star Wars Cosplay professionals singing Happy Birthday while on stage. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo says his hair was much easier to manipulate than people think for this role in Season 2. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Alejandro from Salt City Cycle ready to take the tired con-goers to their nearby destinations. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
FanX attendees are whisked away after by Thor on a bike taxi after a long day of geekdom. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Ian Mcdiarmid tells the excited FanX crowds that it is “…my first time in Salt Lake City… It won’t be the last.” Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
The emperor himself, Ian McDiarmid thinks it would be interesting if Palpatine had ever gone to a psychiatrist. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Mark Sheppard shows FanX audience members the photo of him giving Jim Beaver a smooch. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Mark Sheppard gives advice and shares stories about his career and being on the set of Supernatural. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Walking Dead’s Tom Payne, Steven Ogg and Austin Amelio share stories about their experiences with their characters while making the hit show. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
DC Universe stars Brandon Routh and Caity Lotz discuss fry sauce and how it possibly is “sweat form the angels.” Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
DC Legends of Tomorrow Caity Lotz shows the audience her skills in back-up break dancing. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
During celebrity panel breaks, we get dance breaks. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Paige O’Hara and Robby Benson stars of the beloved, animated Beauty and the Beast movie take the stage at FanX 2018. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Voice actors unite! Twisted Toonz Panel collect and display the talents of many great animated and video game stars as the reenact famous movie screenplays as different characters. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Twisted Toonz is always a big laugh as voice actors break script and insert their own flavor. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Ant-Man star Evangeline Lilly and illustrator Rodrigo Bastos Didier share with FanX their newest passion— a not so child-friendly book series “The Squickerwonkers.” Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Smallville stars Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum joke around while answering questions from FanX fans and Rosenbaum states “… this is probably my favorite con …”Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Michael Rosenbaum travels to the back of the giant ballroom and finds that fan who does “not want to talk!” and escorts him up to the front. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Actor Rainn Wilson tells fans “I don’t think I could ever play a normal person … Like … a Mormon dad …” Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
“Sorry man, New York, Chicago is a half a pound of cheese in every bite… Thin crust all the way.” Rainn Wilson throws his vote in the age-old debate of Chicago vs. New York style pizza. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
David Tennant is unimpressed by the formula to fry sauce as he states “You mix … Ketchup and mayonnaise … That’s IT?!” Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
The Doctor, Killgrave and a hundred other roles is asked by fans what his favorite Shakespeare role is. “Hamlet” easily comes to mind. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
FanX staff get down on stage in the main ballroom in between Guest Panels. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Jeff Goldblum is greeted on stage in Salt Lake City at FanX 2018. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Jeff Goldblum is told by audience members that he would be a great Emperor if he were to play a role in a Star Wars movie. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Jeff Goldblum blesses the audience with water droplets from his bottle while on stage at FanX 2018. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Star Trek star Brent Spiner tells audience members that he enjoyed playing both and unemotional android and emotional after the character Data received an emotion chip during the series. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Stephen Hawking guest starring on Star Trek: The Next Generation was probably “the greatest moment in tv history.” Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Spirits are abound and overlook the crowds during FanX 2018. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Deadpool and Harley Quinn shop for swag at the official merch table. Pictured; Kayla Richardson and Levi Shied Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Amazing leather work involved with these Winter Soldier and Black Widow cosplays. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Alisha and Alex McIntosh cosplay with a great take on the iconic Labyrinth characters Jareth and Sara. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
With an impressive Big Daddy and Little Sister cosplay, Jennifer Klag and Brhianne Atchley at FanX in the Vendor Hall. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Milla and Michael Hancock are a really cool cosplay of Sally and Jack Skellington. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Sierra Bennett with her very cool Hela cosplay based off of the latest Thor movie. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
The amount of talent and enthusiasm for great cosplay and getting selfies with these groups are part of the fun of FanX. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
Stephanie Godwin stalks her pray as the Winter Soldier at FanX 2018. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
A great Winter Soldier Cosplay from Stephanie Godwin! Seen in the halls inside FanX 2018. Photo: www.Lmsorenson.net
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