By MJ Wilke

 

NOTE: Emerald City Comicon has been postponed until some time in summer of 2020. 

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Emerald City Comicon (ECCC) is March 12-14, 2020, at the Washington State Convention Center. Located in the heart of Seattle, this comicon tends to be a bit of a whirlwind and can be exhausting with so many things to do and see.

 

Pack for rain and hills.

The daytime temperature can range from the low 50s to the high 70s, and there is always a chance of rain.

 

Tip: Pack a rain jacket or hoodie not an umbrella. People in the Pacific Northwest tend to not use umbrellas.

 

Also plan to walk up and down hills; the city of Seattle is built on seven of them. At some point during your stay, you will have a steep climb in downtown. For some, it will be an every-morning walk to travel the few blocks from their hotel to the convention center—straight up a hill.

 

Explore the con.

The Washington State Convention Center is a somewhat sprawling labyrinth, and the con has programming, events, and exhibits in every nook and cranny. It is best to look at the map in the programming guide. The main part of the convention center spans both sides of the street connected on the upper levels. Go searching; you may find a Beer Garden tucked away in a corner on the first floor or food trucks literally in the alley.

 

Beware the slow hotel elevators.

This convention fills the majority of hotels in the downtown area. Since these are all skyrise-style hotels, everyone needs to use the elevators to go anywhere. During morning hours when guests are leaving for the convention, going to breakfast, or checking out, expect long waits for an elevator.

 

Take a Nerdy side trip.

Make time in your schedule to visit the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), formerly the EMP Museum. Current exhibits include “Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds,” “Fantasy: Worlds of Myth and Magic,” and “Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction.” With “Star Trek,” “The Princess Bride,” and “Blade Runner” memorabilia on display—not to mention countless other iconic items from films, television, and books all in one place—you could argue that this is nerd mecca.

 

Whether you spend a couple hours Thursday morning before Emerald City Comicon opens or plan a whole day, it is well worth the trip. For more geekie hot spots in Seattle, check out our Nerdy Places. 

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For more about Emerald City Comicon and galleries of past years, check out our Comic-Con Travel page.