Dragon Con 2016 commences

Over the next five days, the streets and hotels of Atlanta will be overrun with fans of all kinds as Dragon Con 2016 commences. Specifically, the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, Westin Peachtree, and Sheraton Atlanta will host Dragon Con events and activities, along with AmericasMart Building One and Building Two. Although activities begin as early as Thursday, Sept. 1, the official opening ceremony isn’t until Friday, Sept. 2 at 6:00 pm.

It's record breaking

This year promises to be a phenomenal year with over 400 guests and an anticipated record breaking 75,000 attendees (that’s 10,000 more than Dragon Con 2015). Another exciting addition to this year’s fanfare is that Atlanta’s CW69 will be broadcasting the annual Saturday morning parade at 10:00 am, live. There are speakers, panels, and special guests from many genres, including movies, television shows, gaming, puppetry, robotics, literature, comics, and more. They’ve even established their own award to recognize excellence in science fiction/fantasy, the Dragon Award. You really can’t ask for a better way to celebrate 30 years of Dragon Con!

Well, there is one thing to add to that list. Jim Henson’s Labyrinth is also celebrating 30 years. In recognition of that, The Center for Puppetry Arts is hosting Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Journey to Goblin City, a special exhibit in their museum. It opens Friday, Sept. 2, but Dragon Con guests were able to purchase tickets to a special event Thursday night, a masquerade ball! Dragon Con is also celebrating through their puppetry track with special guest Brian Henson, Jim Henson’s son.

Special guests

This year, fans can expect to see William Shatner and Alexander Siddig, celebrating 50 years of Star Trek; Alex Kingston from Dr. Who; Gillian Anderson from X-Files; Jack Gleeson from Game of Thrones; Firefly’s Alan Tudyk; James Marsters, better known as Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer; David Anders and Rose McIver, alums of both Once Upon a Time and iZombie; Charlie Cox from Daredevil, a Netflix original; Sam J. Jones and Melody Anderson from Flash Gordon; and Gil Gerard and Erin Gray from Buck Rogers.

Other shows, movies, and franchises that will be represented include: Mystery Science Theater 3000, Farscape, Battlestar Galactica, Stargate, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Legends of Tomorrow series, Guardians of the Galaxy, Gotham, Grimm, Torchwood, Dark Matter, Ghost Hunters, The 100, and Rogue One.

Convention co-chair Rachel Reeves expressed her excitement, “We are delighted to have so many guests from so many of today’s most popular or, in the case of classic science fiction, best loved shows and movies to join us for our 30th Anniversary celebration.”

If you can’t make it this year, then be sure to check in with us. TheCelebrityCafe.com will be present at Dragon Con, and will be providing you with coverage of some of the key events. You can follow us on Twitter via @celcafe and Facebook via TheCelebrityCafecom for updates. You can also follow me on Twitter @carissashuman, or go to the source @DragonCon. They are also available on Facebook via DragonConOfficial .