Phoenix Comic Fest 2018: What You Need To Know

PHOENIX, AZ – From muggles dressed up as witches and wizards to Michael Rooker dressed as, well, Michael Rooker, there is plenty of things to see for the next three days at Phoenix Comic Fest 2018. There will also be plenty to do.

This year's festival has more than 600 exhibitors and artists, celebrity panels, and plenty of activities geared toward kids.

Thousands are expected at the convention center downtown, creating parking and logistics hurdles that won't be hard to get over if you plan ahead.

Patch has put together a quick guide to help with with some of the bascis – and more. (Get Phoenix Patch's real-time news alerts and free morning news letters. Like us on Facebook. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app.)

Comic Fest organizers say there are three things that "you absolutely must know:"

• You need a badge to attend and to do pretty much anything while there you must have a Membership credential that you wear at all times;
• You can hope to get an autography or picture by attending a photo op or celebrity panel but there are no guarantee that you will get something by showing up – if you want a guarantee, the fest has a Buy page where you can do that;
• The fest says they are "firmly committed to providing a positive experience free of discrimination and bias. There is absolutely zero tolerance for any form of harassment. Speak out, speak up, and help keep cosplay comfortable and fun!"

Now that you know what you absolutely need to know, here are some things hat you probably should know:

What are the hours? 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday;

How early should you get in line for a panel? Earlier the better;

What kind of props can you bring in? First and foremost, this year – if it's made of metal, the answer is no. That said, you can can bring in lightsabers and wands, Wolverine claws (as long as they're not metal), non-metal swords, bows and arrows as long as the bows are loosely strung and the arrows don't have tips, and, of course, Ghostbusters proton packs. Not allowed – anything that looks like a weapon such as a gun, hand grenade, or bullets. And no fireworks, slingshots, and airhorns.

How will they know? Everyone will be going through security where there's a metal detector and people with wands (security type not magical). Additionally, all props will be inspected and tagged. Organizers recommend not bringing a bag or bringing a clear bag to speed things up;

How should I get there? You can drive. There are parking garages in the area. Remember this – there are thousands of others also going and if everyone drives, it's going to be a mess. Streets right around the Convention Center will be closed. If you can take light rail, you might want to give it serious consideration.

If you have more questions, check out Comic Fest's website.

Graphic via Phoenix Comic Fest.