Comics, Cards, Collectables, Cosplay & Colourful Creations all on Cardiff Met Campus
IF comics, film, LEGO creations, Pokémon cards or collectables are your thing, Cardiff has an unusually packed weekend in store this weekend.
Three events are heading to the National Indoor Athletics Centre (NIAC), Cardiff Met Cyncoed Campus, 9 Cyncoed Road, Cardiff CF23 6XD, bringing together film and television stars, cosplayers, LEGO enthusiasts, card collectors, traders and families across the weekend.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS WEEKEND’S EVENTS:
WHAT’S ON 1: CARDIFF FILM & COMIC CON – Today & Tomorrow (Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 September)
The biggest of the three is Cardiff Film & Comic Con, returning for two days of celebrity guests, autograph and photo opportunities, comics, cosplay, memorabilia and specialist traders.
Doors open from 9am to 6pm on Saturday and 9am to 5pm on Sunday. Among the headline guests currently announced are Brian Blessed, Craig Charles, Colin Baker, Julian Glover, Eve Myles and Kai Owen, alongside a wider guest list that includes Paul Chuckle, Julian Bleach, Femi Taylor, Valerie Leon and Sue Hodge. Guest appearances remain subject to work commitments.
There will also be a dedicated Cosplay Zone, including the popular cosplay masquerades on both days, and a Comic Zone where visitors can meet creators, browse back issues and new releases, discover original artwork and hunt down collectables. A programme of guest talks runs throughout the weekend, with many of the talks included free with admission, subject to available seating.
Standard single-day admission is £11 for adults, £5 for children or £23 for a family ticket, while a standard weekend ticket costs £16. Early Entry, from 9am, costs £18 for one day or £32 for the weekend. A £1 booking fee applies per ticket, and celebrity autographs, professional photos and some premium talks cost extra.
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WHAT’S ON 2: CARDIFF BRICK FESTIVAL – Today (Saturday, 12 September)
Running alongside Saturday’s Comic Con is the Cardiff Brick Festival, a celebration of all things LEGO, open from 10am until 4pm.
This one should have plenty of appeal to children and grown-up builders alike, with impressive LEGO displays, speed-building competitions, hands-on activities and a dedicated building area. Traders will also be selling everything from individual bricks and minifigures to new and retired LEGO sets and accessories.
Early Entry costs £15 per person from 10am and includes an extra hour at the event plus a LEGO gift. Standard admission is £8 for adults, £6 for children or £22 for a family of two adults and two children. Children under five are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult, while carers accompanying someone who requires assistance also enter free.
It could be a particularly good choice for families looking for something interactive rather than simply an exhibition to walk around.
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WHAT’S ON 3: CARD MARKET CARDIFF – Tomorrow (Sunday, 13 September)
Sunday sees Card Market Cardiff arrive at NIAC, running from 10am until 4pm and bringing together collectors, players and traders from the rapidly growing trading-card scene.
Expect tables filled with Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Lorcana and other trading card games, alongside sports cards covering football and American sports, entertainment cards, memorabilia, autographs and other collectables. Visitors can buy and sell cards, meet dealers and fellow collectors and make use of a dedicated trading area. The organisers are also advertising interactive activities and a retro gaming element.
Tickets are £12 for Early Bird admission from 10am, £9 for adult general admission, £5 for children or £25 for a family ticket.
So whether your collection involves comics, bricks or trading cards, Cardiff Met’s Cyncoed Campus may well be the place to be this weekend. The fact that Film & Comic Con overlaps with the Brick Festival on Saturday and Card Market Cardiff on Sunday also gives serious enthusiasts the opportunity to combine events and make a full day of it.
With celebrity guests, cosplay, giant brick creations, rare LEGO sets, Pokémon cards, comic artwork and specialist traders all gathering in one location, get set for a Cardiff pop culture invasion this weekend!