Cosplay all day, Mad Tea Party all night

June 20 & 21 2015 at Shriners Auditorium, Wilmington Mass.; don’t miss the “Alice in Wonderland 150th Un-Birthday Steampunk Mad Tea Party”

WILMINGTON, Mass. – Are you seeking an escape from the real world into the fantasy of cosplay (costumed play)? A fundamental part of any comic con is cosplay, the opportunity to dress up in imaginative costumes representing a guest’s passion for pop culture – whether the costume reflects a character from a film, TV show, video game, comic book, or Japanese anime/manga. Cosplay is just one element of the largest celebration of popular culture in New England, the Northeast Comic Con and Collectibles Extravaganza. This Father’s Day weekend event takes place Saturday June 20 and Sunday June 21, 2015 at the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, Mass. (99 Fordham Road). General show hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. Sunday; separately ticketed VIP and cosplay experiences are both Friday and Saturday night, June 19th and 20th.

For those ages 18+ who are interested in showing off their costumes, Northeast Comic Con offers “Create-A-Hero/Villain/Character” contests and a chance to show off your skills and costumes in a “Cosplay Death Match” and the “CosplayDating Game” led by professional cosplayer/producer Chris Doherty. To enter the contests, simply show up to the venue in your costume and register next to the Cosplay Stage. Cosplayers are welcome to capture their creative costume at the booth of SciFi Photo Guys, featuring scores of green screen-enabled digital images for your backgrounds to accentuate any cosplay character.

After the con on Saturday night, there’s the curiously mad after-party … a separate ticketed event for cosplayers who like to dance, listen to music and show off their attire. This party will be as unique as the costumed players themselves. Celebrating the actual publishing of Lewis Carroll in 1865, the “Alice in Wonderland 150th Un-Birthday Steampunk Mad Tea Party” will feature Wonderland’s many styles from John Tenniel, to Steampunk, and including Disney versions of the characters from the literary wonder that is as fresh today as it was then. Held on Saturday June 20th at the Crowne Plaza Woburn starting at 9 p.m., this Mad Tea Party includes live entertainment sponsored by Geekbeat Radio WEMF and Boston 8-Bit, a Mad Hatter fashion show, a contest with all those who come in their finest tea hat/bonnets with prizes for different categories, dancing, snacks, and a cash bar. Click here to purchase tickets to this separate event: http://goo.gl/nnBjdg

According to Gary Sohmers, show producer, “People cosplay for a variety of reasons, but mostly just for fun. Northeast Comic Con welcomes cosplayers and strives to create a safe, imaginative, creative place for pop culture fans and those in the established cosplay community to socialize and show off their amazing costumes.”

TV show characters inspired the first cosplayers, and fans of Adam West (Batman, Family Guy) are invited to share a VIP experience with this legendary hero celebrating the 50th anniversary of his first TV episode. This VIP experience include free gaming play on the exclusive Starship Horizon bridge simulator as well as live entertainment, free soft drinks and snacks and a cash bar.

More about Northeast ComicCon: This year’s event features a 40,000 sq. ft. entertainment experience for all nerds and the people who love them. In addition to the cosplay events, other event highlights include free-play video game arcade and tournaments, workshops for K!DZ, and celebrity autograph signings and panel sessions. Guests can shop at 100+ vendors of vintage and modern toys, comic books, collectibles, art, jewelry, fashion and pop cultural artifacts. In between Father’s Day shopping, guests of all ages will enjoy music, contests and entertainment to marvel at between sessions and booths.

With free parking, regular Northeast Comic Con admission ticket prices are among the lowest in the industry. Advanced tickets are now available for purchase online; ticket prices will be higher at the door. Children under 7 are free when accompanied by an adult. Cosplay contests are free but registration is required. The Alice in Wonderland event on Saturday June 20th is a separate ticketed event, here: http://goo.gl/nnBjdg

For schedules, packages and advance tickets, visit NortheastComicCon.net. For show inquiries, email garysohmers@gmail.com. For media passes, interviews and sponsorship inquiries, contact Julie Dennehy, Dennehy PR, Julie@dennehypr.com.