Thousands of pop culture fans are expected to visit Hot Springs next weekend when Spa-Con IV takes over the Hot Springs Convention Center, kicking off with an appearance by Batman.
While the convention doesn't start until Friday, Sept. 20, the Caped Crusader will make a special appearance on Thursday, rappelling down the front of the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa at 7 p.m.
This will by the Dark Knight's second time to descend a building, having climbed down The Waters hotel last year.
Bill Solleder, director of marketing for Visit Hot Springs, said the idea of having Batman scale down a building happened organically last year. While talking to Traci Berry, who has since become the Northwoods Trails coordinator, Solleder learned that she has rappelled down multiple buildings.
"My mind just started going," he said.
Solleder said they didn't know how Batman's appearance would go last year, so they didn't market it much. He said he was surprised by how many people showed up. After that success, they are hoping for a large crowd to watch this year.
Registration for the convention will start at 5 p.m. Friday and will be open from 9 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, and from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22.
Solleder said VHS is looking forward to the event and he has a checklist of "things not to miss." The first is the Cybertronic Spree concert Friday in Horner Hall. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Second is to meet comic book artist Sam de la Rosa and watch him work. Solleder said most of the artists in attendance will be drawing and working while they are meeting with fans. "I'm excited to watch Sam work," he said, noting De la Rosa has worked for DC and Marvel with his work on Marvel's "Venom" being some of his most popular work.
Up next on Solleder's must-not-miss list is Saturday's cosplay contest, which starts at 7 p.m. He said every year the contestants "up their game" with their cosplay.
Saturday night's screening of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" is another must-see, he said, noting, "What better than to have Barry Bostwick introduce 'Rocky Horror Picture Show?'"
Extreme Costumes will also be at the event and have three big cosplay robots -- Bumblebee from "Transformers," the Hulkbuster suit from the "Avengers" films, and Reinhardt from "Overwatch." This will be Bumblebee's second appearance at Spa-Con.
A panel by artist Pat Moriarity called "Animating Your Comics," in Room 205 at 1 p.m. Saturday and the Superhero Run, which begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday on Convention Boulevard, round out Solleder's list.
"I think our guests are great," Solleder said.
Day passes for the event are $20, a weekend pass is $35 and a VIP pass is $125. Those interested in attending just the Cybertronic concert or just the screening of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" can purchase tickets to those events at $10 each. A day pass ticket includes those events.
A "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" tournament will also be held during the convention. Doors open at 10 a.m. A gamer pass is $25 and allows entry into both the concert and the movie. Competitors must bring their own controller.
The Garland County Library announced on Friday that those with Garland County Library cards can enter the Spa-Con Expo Hall for free from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Solleder said this partnership between Spa-Con and the library is good.
"So much about comic conventions is about reading and promoting reading," he said, noting that while comic conventions like Spa-Con are fun, they are also about literacy.
The library will host a library card sign-up drive from noon to 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Everyone who signs up during the drive will be entered into a raffle to win a pair of Spa-Con weekend passes.
Local on 09/14/2019