Comic Con returning to Sunrise Mall this month

By Sara Beth Williams–
The “Weekend Blender” Comic Con event is returning to the Sunrise Mall in August.

The event, dubbed “Not Your Typical Comic Con,” has resulted in increased pedestrian traffic in the mall in its past appearances. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 17, and Sunday, Aug. 18, and is slated to feature a myriad of vendors selling everything from kids’ toys and Lego sets to comic and vintage items, collectables, clothes, and custom 3D-printed cosplay weapons and armor.

Cosplayers roam the vendor fair, and cosplay contests are typically held each day of the event, giving local cosplayers the chance to dress up and show off their favorite comic book, movie, and TV characters.

Each event features a special celebrity guest. According to the event’s Facebook page, this year’s special guest is David Gonzales, from “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.” IMBD lists Gonzales as playing Ak-Rev, a drummer appearing in a band at the palace of Jabba the Hutt in the film.

In 2023, Hollywood stuntman Nick Palma made an appearance to sign autographs and pose for pictures. Palma’s IMDB credits include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II (1991) and III (1993). January’s Weekend Blender celebrity guest was Carla Perez, whose IMDB credits include Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1994-1996), and several Power Rangers spin-offs, where she played the villain, Rita Repulsa.

This August will be the second event in 2024 and the third time that The Weekend Blender has taken over the Sunrise Mall’s main thoroughfare. The event was last held at the Sunrise Mall in January 2024 and in July 2023. The debut event in 2023 brought a spike in foot traffic, according to Sunrise Mall Assistant General Manager Brooke Bolden-Mallory.

This year’s Weekend Blender will take place inside the Sunrise Mall on Saturday, Aug. 17 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 18 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The event is organized by Pete Salazar, who said his Weekend Blenders began in 2009 at the Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis, California, with a handful of vendors who sold arts and crafts, toys, and collectibles. Salazar told The Sentinel in January that he hopes to commit to two events per year.