STATE COLLEGE, Feb. 27, 2026 — Get ready to embrace your inner Jedi, Trekkie, or duelist: the Happy Valley Comic and Collectibles Convention is expanding to fill the entire Nittany Valley Sports Centre this weekend, bringing a galaxy of fandoms to Centre County on Feb. 28 and March 1.
A Convention Doubling in Size
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The convention is growing from 50,000 to 100,000 square feet, offering more space for vendors, games, and immersive experiences.
Now in its fourth year, the convention is more than just growing—it’s doubling down. Organizer Thomas Range explained, “Every year we’ve increased with attendance, and this year we’re actually taking the whole Nittany Valley Sports Center. So instead of 50,000 square feet for the past three years, this year it’s going to be 100,000 square feet. Really looking forward to that.” The expanded space promises a more comfortable and engaging experience for attendees.
What can attendees expect at the Happy Valley Comic and Collectibles Convention? The convention will feature celebrity guests, comic artists, vendors, gaming opportunities, and cosplay events, creating a vibrant hub for pop culture enthusiasts.
Celebrity Sightings and Comic Creators
The convention is rolling out the red carpet for a stellar lineup of celebrity guests, including Tricia Helfer, known for her roles in “Battlestar Galactica” and “Lucifer”; Tracee Lee Cocco, a veteran of the “Star Trek” universe (“The Next Generation,” “Deep Space Nine,” and “Voyager”); Allyson Leigh Rosenfeld, a voice actor from “Pokémon” and other anime series; Ray Hurd, recognized for his work in “Dragon Ball Z” and other anime shows; and Olliver Wyman, from “Yu-Gi-Oh” and other animated projects.
For comic book aficionados, over a dozen artists and creators will be in attendance, including Fabian Nicieza, co-creator of the iconic anti-hero Deadpool. Attendees can also browse offerings from over a dozen comic book dealers, publishers, and vendors specializing in sports and collectible cards, toys, and more.
Immersive Experiences and Family Fun
Range emphasized that the expansion isn’t just about adding more tables. “We definitely have more room for Jedi training. They actually have to call it Padawan training because Jedi is copyrighted, but Padawan is not,” he said with a laugh. A larger gaming area will accommodate fans of “Yu Gi Oh,” “Magic the Gathering,” “Pokemon,” and board games. The increased space will also alleviate congestion in the vendor areas.
The weekend’s events include three costume contests, “Magic: The Gathering” tournaments, and Pokémon card play. Cosplay groups like the Grumpy Ol’ Green Guy, Happy Valley Chewie, Garrison Carida of the 501st Legion, Jedi from the Malachor Temple, and Penn State’s Alliance of Heroic Hearts will add to the immersive atmosphere.
Fans can pose for photos with a mock-up of the USS Solstice bridge, brought by a Starfleet cosplay group from Pittsburgh. And for those who love the classic TV show “Supernatural,” a car styled after “Baby” – the iconic Impala – will be on site for photo opportunities and even a chance to sit behind the wheel for $10.
Penn State’s All-Sports Museum will also have a display at the convention, and many of the interactive attractions, including the museum and the Padawan training, are available by donation.
Tickets and Accessibility
Tickets are $20 at the door on Saturday and $15 on Sunday, with two-day passes available for $30. Online ticket purchases are discounted, and buyers will receive a limited-edition collector’s pin featuring this year’s logo. Online sales close on Feb. 14 to allow time for pin production.
To ease parking concerns, shuttle buses will run from East Halls and a secondary lot near the airport. Children 10 and under are free with a paying adult on Sunday, and children 5 and under are free both days. College students can enter for $8 per day.
“If you bring the kids and they just want to explore, it could cost them nothing other than the ticket to get in,” Range said.
Attendees who opt for the Early Entry Add-On will gain access at 9:15 a.m., ahead of the 10 a.m. opening, and receive a limited-edition Batman comic book drawn by artists at the show. “There’s only a thousand of them made,” Range explained. “If you do the early entry option… you get this $40 comic. So basically, you either think of it this way, I’m getting this comic and I’m going to the convention for free. I’m going to the convention, but I’m getting the comic for free.”
For Range, the event is about more than just collectibles. “I think everyone longs to be with people that have similar thoughts or similar interests,” he said. “Centre County is no different. There are comic book people here, there are anime people here, there’s gamers in this area. So when a convention’s around that all of these different people can meet up that they would have never met before, it gives you an opportunity to go and do that and meet people that are very similar to you.”
Attendance has grown from around 2,000 in the first year to over 6,000 last year, and organizers hope to welcome 7,000 to 8,000 attendees in 2026.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.happyvalleycomiccon.com.
