You’ve made it to Fan Expo Denver-though if you see people dressed as superheroes, wizards, or maybe the entire cast of a space opera, don’t worry, you haven’t wandered into another dimension. Right here, in the heart of Denver, pop culture takes over once a year in a celebration that’s something like the world’s friendliest invasion of imagination.
Back in 2012, the air buzzed with a different kind of excitement as thousands of fans, creators, and cosplayers gathered for the very first time. The convention was the brainchild of Pop Culture Classroom, an educational nonprofit with a big mission: use comics and games to teach, inspire, and offer everyone a chance to be a hero, at least for a weekend. That year, 27,700 people swaggered through the doors, ready to meet their heroes, learn a few tricks of the trade, and maybe even argue over who’d win in a fight-Superman or a Jedi. As the event grew, breaking the 100,000 visitor mark in 2015, it became one of the biggest fan conventions in the U.S. Denver, it seemed, had plenty of capes and wigs just waiting to hit the daylight.
But, as every great comic book teaches us, heroes sometimes face hurdles. In 2019, a lawsuit from San Diego Comic-Con over the event’s name meant a quick rebranding-from Denver Comic Con to Denver Pop Culture Con. Then, the world threw its own plot twist with a pandemic in 2020, forcing the event to take a pause. But just like a classic story arc, there was a new beginning. In 2021, Fan Expo HQ swooped in, bringing new energy (and a new name), but Pop Culture Classroom remained a key player as the event’s heart and charity.
Fan Expo Denver is more than costumes and collectibles. There are workshops on makeup and special effects, celebrity Q&As that make your nerd heart flutter, and the legendary Cosplay Classic, where creativity gets the spotlight. Kids can dive into STEAM learning in the Pop Culture Classroom Kids’ Lab, while aspiring artists sharpen their skills in the Comic Book Corral and 8-Bit Lounge.
And if your stomach’s rumbling after all this excitement, fans also pick the name of a special Convention beer every year-think “Brews Wayne” or “Hulk’s Mash.” If you see a superhero sipping something suspiciously foamy, now you know why.
So, take in the vibrant chaos and remember: at Fan Expo Denver, everyone’s a little bit super.
