Capital City Comic Con will not take place next year, with organizers looking to March 2024 for its eventual return.
The comic book and entertainment industry showcase had a successful 2022 edition, which took place in September. The multi-day event is traditionally held in March, however, and was moved from its usual spot on the calendar this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
”We can’t do it again in a few months time,” Destination Greater Victoria CEO Paul Nursey said. “There’s quite a bit of work to do for this to happen in March. It’s just not feasible.”
Destination Greater Victoria and its producing partners, the Downtown Victoria Business Association and Cherry Bomb Toys, all agreed that the event should remain a March-based event. September is one of the busiest times of the year for arts and culture events on Vancouver Island, he added.
“It doesn’t really work [holding it in September.] We did that this year on a one-time basis, to honour tickets purchased from the previous postponement.”
Nursey said Capital City Comic Con saw 5,500 visitors through its doors in 2022 and provided a big boost for the tourism sector. Many of the guest speakers and fans travelled internationally to participate in the festival and conference, which is a showcase for the comic book industry and for actors from a variety of cult films and television shows.
It is important to not rush the upcoming edition, Nursey said. “There’s a very loyal following of that fan culture here in Victoria."
mdevlin@timescolonist.com
