FAN EXPO Chicago 2024 makes a perfect family experience

FAN EXPO Chicago kicked off August 16th and ran through the 18th, hosted at the Donald E. Stephens Center in Rosemont, IL. Fandom families attended the annual pop culture event to celebrate everything about fandom. Whether you're a fan of Disney, Star Wars, classic TV shows, or a bit of everything, FANDOM EXPO embraced it and lived it with passion.

While I love meeting celebrities from my favorite media this year—I met Cole Sprouse of Riverdale, the legendary William "Bill" Shatner from Star Trek, and Mark Hamill (!) from Star Wars, to name a few—the absolute joy stems from the family bonding with pop culture. Remarkably, the phenomenon ties everyone together in some strange aura that cannot be entirely described by words but by feeling and living in the moment.

FAN EXPO Chicago 2024 provides the family bonding

I've seen kids dressed up in cosplay and their parents taking in a whole new vision of the characters all weekend. The average costumes were Star Wars and Scooby-Doo, due to Hamill's and actor Matthew Lillard, who portrayed Shaggy Rogers in the 2002 live-action comedy Scooby-Doo and currently voices the budding detective in animation, presences.

And there was plenty of Bluey around, so it was all good.

When the kids got tired from walking from shopping down the countless square footage of fandom and retro toy vendors, a 'Kids Zone' was set up. The young fans had a variety of activities to participate in, engaging with other like-minded kids. Activities ranged from storytimes to coloring, playing games, a cosplay Red Carpet parade, and slime-making with Chicago's very own Windy City Ghostbusters. It was a special treat if you're a fan of Ghostbusters, such as the kids and me in my family.

The best part of it all, FAN EXPO Chicago allowed parents to pass down their childhood fandoms to their kids. For example, for those who grew up in the1980s, a decade when films and television shows were iconic, the kids of these parents are now experiencing their magic.

Helpful tips for when you attend a convention with your child

Conventions are awesome for they allow us to express ourselves through fandom, and connect with others who share the same ideas. However, conventions are also densely populated, and FAN EXPO Chicago alone this year reached a peak of 78,000 attendees, with Saturday being their busiest day.

It can be overwhelming, especially when you have your kids in tow. So what can you do to amplify the safety, while providing your children a fun time?

We have some tips to help you out.

• Give a valid description of your child, including physical, age, health issues (if any), and name to security and staff in case of the unwanted event if they go missing.

• Keep in contact with your teen at all times if they decide to venture off independently and want to explore.

• If you are able, carry your younger children (infancy to six or seven years) or have a stroller. While the latter may feel like a burden, many people don't mind them.

Be on the watch for more family-fun entertainment right here on the Parent Watch!