Because I was out of town, I missed the debut of PopFest in January. After hearing great reviews from friends who attended, I made sure not to miss its return last weekend.
Despite powerful storms, I made the 30-minute trip to Naperville Yard Indoor Sports Complex, about 30 minutes southwest of Chicago. Upon entering the venue, my buddy Tony and I were immediately impressed. After opening on time, a rarity for such events, staffers quickly handled ticketholders. Of special note was a young girl who was extremely helpful and professional.
Once inside the convention area, we saw more than 150 vendors offering all sorts of pop culture items. Funko Pops were the most abundant product and certainly the most popular. I picked up a couple, and I don’t even collect them. I also bought a few cars for my grandnephew.
In addition to the vendors, there was cosplay, gaming, giveaways and other fun activities. Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle was the celebrity guest, and he drew a huge crowd, well-managed by staffers.
The indoor field allowed for 40,000 square feet, giving plenty of room to maneuver despite the large crowd. The soft artificial turf also made it more comfortable walking the aisles all day.
One great part of the convention was giving exposure to local businesses, like Joseph White’s Whitney Collectibles. After starting his business online, White recently opened a retail shop in nearby Glen Ellyn. PopFest exposed his business to thousands of potential customers in one day.
I go to many similar conventions, but PopFest gets my praise on every level. There was no announcement for the next PopFest, but I will be there and am already looking forward to it.
— John Wroblewski, online writer
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Sep 6, 2024Indio, California is “Hot” Right Now, and We’re Not Talking About the Weather
Although most travelers are familiar with the name Palm Springs, the oldest city in the Greater Palm Springs region is Indio, California, Coachella Valley's "City of Festivals,” which has been experiencing an exciting downtown revitalization.
Sponsored Content
Remarkable Medellín
Visiting Medellín in Colombia: The Country of Beauty is like stepping into a fantastic story — literally, as the city in the Western Colombian Andes region inspired Disney’s Encanto. Here, valleys, the world’s tallest palms, vibrant communities, colorful houses, garden-like balconies and more prove reality is more picturesque than anything on film. And it’s especially more tempting following Medellín’s remarkable transformation, shedding its troubled past and reawakening as a city of innovation, art, cultural richness, modern infrastructure, thriving tourism and resiliency.
September 2024
Sep 6, 2024Escape to Tahiti for a Captivating Island-Hopping Cruise
The 118 islands of French Polynesia reveal themselves layer by fascinating layer, with the spirit of mana (vital force) linking them all the way from Tahiti to the remote reaches of the Marquesas. This is part of the world best savored on a journey that dives as deep into culture as natural beauty, both above and below the water’s surface. A cruise makes it easy to cover a lot of ground while unpacking just once (and sneaking in some work done in comfort, too, during at-sea days). And cruising offers particular appeal within this semi-autonomous French territory sprawling across nearly 2 million square miles of ocean and covering five archipelagos.
Daily
Sep 6, 2024Experience the Awe of Fall Foliage at These 5 U.S. Hotels
‘Tis the season for flannels, pumpkin spice and beautiful fall colors. With seasons changing, leaves turn to stunning gold, red, orange and yellow, making it the perfect time for travelers to hit the open road and explore five fall foliage hotels in the United States.
Sponsored Content
Share Miles with Family and Friends with United Airlines
As you look ahead to winter travel, United Airlines and its MileagePlus loyalty program introduced MileagePlus miles pooling, which allows members to contribute and combine miles into a joint account. Groups of up to five members can now share and redeem miles in one linked account. As the first and only major U.S. airline to offer this feature, United also allows any MileagePlus member, whether relatives or close friends, to be in a pool with other members.
Daily
Sep 6, 2024Finnair Celebrates 5 Years of Platinum Wing Lounge
Finnair’s exclusive Platinum Wing lounge in Helsinki opened in summer 2019 and recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. Open to Finnair and oneworld’s top-tier customers, the lounge offers travelers a place to drink, dine and unwind pre-flight. Featuring Nordic-inspired design, the lounge offers areas for working, relaxing and dining, accommodating up to 155 customers at a time.
Take a Look at Windstar’s New “Star Seeker”
Daily
Sep 5, 2024eFlyer Reviews
Sep 4, 2024The Shelbourne Review
Facing the vast St. Stephen’s Green in the heart of Dublin sits the iconic and historic The Shelbourne. Few hotels master the perfect blend of history and luxury, but The Shelbourne gets it right. The site of the signing of the Irish Constitution in 1922 granting the Republic of Ireland its freedom from England, The Shelbourne has hosted its fair share of notable figures, from Michael Collins to Princess Grace Kelly to John Ford, the latter of which was the name of my suite.
Sponsored Content
Elevate Your Travels with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
What if you could earn rewards and benefits when traveling, shopping and relaxing at any IHG-branded hotel? Well, you can with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
eFlyer News
Sep 4, 2024Illinois Becomes First Great Lakes State to Ban Certain Single-Use Plastic Bottles in Hotels
All hotels in Illinois with 50 or more guestrooms are now required to eliminate the use of small, single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products in individual rooms and public bathrooms beginning July 1, 2025. By Jan 1, 2026, all hotels are expected to make this transition.
ShareThis