Fun for the whole brood at Pop Culture Expo

A WEEKEND of pure escapism is due to unfold tomorrow week when the Bendigo Pop Culture Expo, delivered by the Melbourne Comic and Toy Fair, sets itself up in the Bendigo Exhibition Centre for two days of unadulterated enjoyment.

Attendees can look forward to trawling through a mammoth 165-plus stalls featuring everything from comics, vintage and modern toys, figures and pop vinyls to posters, books, Lego, trading cards, anime and gaming.

There’ll also be a cosplay competition, free-play gaming, an installation from Bendigo’s The Great Escape, a 360-degree photo booth and live action role playing.

The Bendigo Lego User Group and the Bendigo Whovians Society will be present, plus, it wouldn’t be a Pop Culture Expo without a bunch of niche celebrities in attendance, including Neil Fanning (the voice of Scooby-Doo), Lani Tupu (sci-fi series Farscape), Jay Anthony Franke (90s sitcom California Dreams) and Wayne Pygram (Farscape/Star Wars).

Melbourne-based organiser Nyen Andrews said he was prompted to bring the Expo to town due to popular demand.

“The amount of people that asked us to (do something) regional has been phenomenal, so we decided to bring it out Bendigo way,” he said.

“It’s that central location which brings everyone else together and I’m quite confident there’ll be a lot of demand for it.

“Rather than travelling all the way down to Melbourne, you’ve got it right in your own backyard.

“It’s going to be very much a good fun, family-friendly event.”

The Bendigo Pop Culture Expo takes place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October, 10am to 5pm at the Bendigo Showgrounds. Enter via Gate 1.

Tickets can be purchased at Trybooking.