Families enjoy cosplay fun at Chatham-Kent Expo

The Bradley Convention Center was transformed into a cosplay paradise Saturday as people portraying everything from superheroes to anime characters came out to enjoy the Chatham-Kent Expo.

Entire families were getting in on the fun at the Bradley Convention Center in Chatham, including the Edmondstone family from Chatham including dad, Colin, mom, Alie, and their 18-month-old son Rowan, who were representing Batman and Robin.

“It’s just fun, you get to connect with people. . . everyone’s having fun,” said Colin Edmondstone.

Having been to every Chatham-Kent Expo since it began nine years ago, Edmondstone said, “I was so excited the first time it came.”

Noting not everyone can travel out of town, he said, “It’s great to have an event in our own backyard.”

He added they also like the fact proceeds go back into the community.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chatham-Kent is sponsoring the event.

Edmondstone said it was special moment when Rowan got to meet Darth Vader.

The Jones family, who dressed up in their favorite Spider-Man costumes, missed out on last year’s event shortly after moving to Chatham from Mississauga.

But Barb Jones said that wasn’t going to happen this year.

“This was really exciting,” she said, noting their son Jerome Jr. is obsessed with Spider-Man.

“He’s got all the action characters, he watches the show and he’s got the games.”

Barb said little Jerome knew they were coming to the Expo, but Saturday morning they surprised him when they came running downstairs dressed in costumes.

“He was over the moon,” she laughed.

Jerome Jr. was definitely having a great time, especially being Spider-Man.

“I love it, I’m obsessed.”

“Dressing up is the best part,” said Jerome Sr.

He also enjoys seeing all the vendors and the hard work they put into their displays.

Madison Trozzi, of Blenheim, was having fun dressed as anime character Jotaro.

“I love cosplay, because it’s a chance to be creative,” Trozzi said.

“Everyone thinks you only put costumes on at Halloween and that’s not necessarily the case.”

She said cosplay combines different disciplines of being creative from putting on makeup to sewing.

“It’s just the love of sharing the different shows and the characters and you get to meet other people who like that sort of thing,” Trozzi said.

Dresden’s own Blumberg family, who have gained fame from the TV series We Bought a Funeral Home, were guests at this year’s Chatham-Kent Expo.

Arryn and Heather Blumberg were there with their son Rafferty and daughter Noa, where they took part in podcast and were interviewed on stage during the event.

“We got asked to come to this and we thought, ‘Why not?’” said Heather.

She joked someone suggested they get on the ‘horror circuit’ with the funeral home they purchased in Dresden that’s been converted into their family home.

“It’s been really fun, people have been fantastic,” said Arryn Blumberg. “It’s nice to meet people we wouldn’t normally see.”