I’ve been a fan of all things geeky since the 1970s. Growing up in an era when geeks weren’t socially accepted, I briefly let mainstream culture suppress my fandom, stopping purchases of comic books and avid reading and watching of science fiction and fantasy.
Downtown Knoxville brought me back into the fold.
In 1992, after seeing a campus flyer for a Star Trek convention, I hiked to the World’s Fair Exhibition Hall to see George Takei, Star Trek’s Captain Sulu. I came home to a fan community I didn’t know existed through fan conventions, or “cons” as they are known. Knoxville has a rich history in cons, especially in downtown, and an incredibly strong community throughout. There’s a good chance you could find a place here as well.
Since those days, geek culture has became pop culture, and now, just culture. I’ve attended 90 cons across the U.S. since 1992 and introduced over 150 students to the fan community through my high school comic book club. I’d like to be the geek who invites you to explore this world and the many conventions in Knoxville’s center city.
What Happens at a Con
Everyone’s experience is different, ranging from weekend-long reunions to a few hours of fun. For me, cons are often the most concentrated gathering of creatives I experience each year, and, forgive me for waxing philosophical, fans weave a collective fiction that mirrors the stories we love. For many, they’re a glimpse of a better world and a chance to embrace the identity we cherish.
Part of that identity is experienced through cosplay, the most visible part of our community. Their costumes and poses transport you to other worlds. Here’s a look at a few from the Fanboy Expo Anime, Toy and Gaming Convention cosplay contest.
Celebrities, artists and voiceover professionals are the focus for others, and Knoxville has hosted a dizzying variety of them. Panels and walks of fame allow you to meet and interact with these guests.
Vendor halls offer a wide variety of goods, including toys, art, comics and food. Cosplayers and cosplay contests offer a visual appeal (ask permission before taking a picture; it’s protocol). Comic book artists sketch and sell art. Demonstrations, fan discussions and more fill the day at a con. And, I’m only scratching the surface.
A Big Tent
Bill Langford of the Comics Exchange on Chapman Highway has been in the business for 26 years. He is a vendor at conventions and his store sees a significant bump on con weekends. Langford told me, “the main thing I want people to know is don’t be afraid to come to a comic convention. It’s a huge tent. There’s all kinds of people; there’s no prerequisites.”
The large tent in downtown Knoxville continues to evolve in unique ways. It was touching to see Dee Snider of Twisted Sister meet Caroll Spinney, the voice of Big Bird. Little House on the Prairie fans connected with Knoxville’s cosplay community, while Gene Simmons of KISS had a lively debate with one of Langford’s booth employees about the artist for a Marvel comic. Professional wrestlers have joined the ranks of celebrities, and fandoms ranging from Star Wars and Star Trek to lesser-known properties are increasingly represented.
The Conventions
Each convention held in the center city has a unique purpose and feel. So, let’s meet the cons.
Mag Comics Expo (April 5, 2025)
Mag Comics Expo, now in their fourth year, started out as a grant to the Pellissippi State Magnolia Campus library. Grant Mincey, professor of Biology and organizer of the con, gave me the history. With a large population of English Language Learners, the head librarian loaded the library with graphic novels. Sequential art paired with text formed a bridge for learning English. Due to the high demand, the librarian secured a grant to host a 2022 comic themed convention.
Attendance has grown from 250 to 700. The con balances academics and fandom. Mincey told me that the library is “like walking into a comic shop.” The cosplay contest is the most popular event at Mag. Game tournaments are packed, and the 2025 con is adding an all-day viewing room for classic sci-fi movies. Over 50 vendors will be present throughout the building, and a kids track offers events for younger attendees.
Mincey told me that Mag Comics Expo is a “funky festival-like atmosphere with live music and everything, just try to help set us apart a little bit from other folks. And this year, we’ve got one of our English professors, Russ Harper, who’s bringing a punk rock band with them, and they’re going to explore the rebellious history of punk rock…We also were able to get Black Atticus, who is Knoxville’s Poet Laureate.” Student clubs are featured, and enrollment information is available for attendees. There is no cost for Mag Comic Expo, and Mag is a great chance to explore cons for first-timers. Nirvana Comics will host a Saturday after-party at Central Cinema featuring pizza and a showing of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for $15.
The Knoxville Book Festival (April 5 – 6, 2025)
The first Knoxville Book Festival is happening this year, and we’ll have full coverage next week, but it’s worth mentioning now. Right Brain Productions is hosting 80 authors over two days at the Knoxville Convention Center. Authors will be grouped by genre, with panels, signings, and more. This year’s headliners include Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse series) and James Dashner (The Maze Runner). Organizers aim to attract around 2,000 fans, with plans to grow the event in the future.
Fanboy Expo (July 11-13)
Fanboy Expo is currently the largest con in downtown Knoxville. David Heynen started selling autographs at another Knoxville con called AdventureCon around 2006. When AdventureCon folded, Heynen decided to open Fanboy Expo, starting at the Jacob Building in 2012. The con almost didn’t see a second year. Heynen told me that he “absolutely got kicked in the teeth. We had about 1,300 people show up. I needed like 2,600 to show and thought for sure my wife was going to leave me because I’d lost all the money, basically.”
Returning in 2013, the summer con grew in attendance to 25,000 to 35,000 fans (using passes through the door accounting). He’s been told that attendance at KCC is only surpassed by Fantasy of Trees. When asked why the response to the con, Heynen noted that “These are small metropolitan areas in comparison to other places. But there is so little of what we would call…nerd culture, coming to them that when something does come, like a Fanboy Expo…they just latch onto it, and it becomes the cornerstone of their nerd culture for the rest of the year.”
Fanboy added an Anime, Toy and Gaming con in the spring that mainly appeals to younger fans. Attendance at that show grew 20% from last year’s first con to 4,100 passes sold. The show will return in 2026.
Heynen called the summer show a beast and a “true pop culture show so we try to hit as many of the franchises and different genres as we possibly can.” The summer con will host a Superman reunion with four Supermen, two Supergirls and a Lois Lane actress on the same weekend as the new Superman movie. Elijah Wood from The Lord of the Rings, one of Heynen’s personal fandoms, will be visiting.
Actors from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, crime drama Bones and the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be in attendance. Alec Baldwin, William Shatner and Billy Dee Williams will headline. Gene Simmons from KISS is making a return this year as well.
Fanboy is one of three cons in America that specializes in classic television and is the Southern hub. Heynen said, “it’s kind of a thing now that if you are an old TV star, you’re going to eventually do Fanboy Expo in Knoxville.” For classic TV fans, the cast of Dallas was recently announced.
Everyone in the family can find a fandom they enjoy. Announcements are still ongoing, so check their website for more information.
CreepyCon (August 1-3, 2025)
CreepyCon, launched in 2017 by Right Brain Productions, was founded by Bradley Drake, Diana Waldeck, and Jennifer Johnsey, who bring 40 years of experience with Halloween-themed attractions like FrightWorks. What began as a Friday night event at the KCC with 2,000 attendees has since grown into a three-day convention drawing over 7,000 people.
CreepyCon returned to the convention center for the past three years. Johnsey told me that “we needed more space. It just kept coming in size. And then we were adding a bigger stage and more entertainment. Entertainment has always been more important to us than guests and things like that.” For CreepyCon, the focus is horror-themed events throughout the weekend rather than celebrities.
Waldeck told me that for CreepyCon “literally every time you turn, something is happening. There’s aerial artists, there’s zombie shooting games, flesh hook suspension, side shows. There’s makeup demonstrations, workshops, classes, panels…we want people to be able to buy their ticket and be able to stay as long as they want and feel like they got their money’s worth.”
This year’s theme is supernatural and paranormal. Scream Queen and Zombie Beauty pageants, along with adult and kids’ costume contests will also be offered.
Economic Impact on City
Cons are also big business. Kim Bumpas, President of Visit Knoxville said the following about the economic impact of Fanboy Expo:
“The Fanboy Expo Knoxville Convention is a great addition to the lineup of Knoxville’s annual festivals and events. It’s an annual “fan” favorite, bringing in celebrity guests like Elijah Wood and William Shatner, offering visitors the chance to meet iconic stars. Over 9,500 people attend this event, with an estimated economic impact of over $10 million. It’s known as ‘Tennessee’s largest pop culture event’ for a reason!”
To illustrate potential growth, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau reported a $71.4 million direct impact from DragonCon (just down the road from us), which hosted 72,000 fans in 2023. Heynen believes Fanboy Expo could grow to 50,000 attendees. One limitation he mentioned is the need for more hotel rooms, which downtown is addressing with two new hotels, including the AC under construction. CreepyCon organizers also emphasize the importance of “heads in beds” and collaborate with Visit Knoxville to offer a lodging code for discounted downtown hotel stays.
90% of Fanboy’s attendees are local or regional; however, they regularly pull attendees from Europe and around the United States. The Book Festival has sold passes mostly regionally with an early attendee from Puerto Rico.
Calendar and Links to Cons
Returning to the start, let me be the fan that invites you to come see what fandoms in center city cons hold for you. Check out the list below for links to the websites for each con. I hope to see you there. So say we all.
- Mag Comic Expo – April 5, 2025
- The Knoxville Book Festival – April 5 – 6
- Fanboy Expo – July 11 – 13
- CreepyCon – August 1 – 3