An extensive “comic and pop culture experience” is coming to Lorton’s Workhouse Arts Center (9518 Workhouse Way) this weekend.
Comicworx, a convention-style event featuring celebrity guests, vendors and more, will take place at the campus tomorrow (Saturday) — the first such event in the history of the venue.
“There’s no better place to host a gathering of artists, fans and innovators on this scale, and we intend to set a new standard for what it can be,” Workhouse Arts Center CEO Keith Gordon said in a press release.
Starting at 10 a.m. — or 9 a.m. for early entry and VIP ticket holders — attendees can grab a glimpse of multiple cosplay showcases and meander through a wide selection of vendors. Celebrity meet-and-greets, panel discussions and interactive fan experiences are also on the schedule, which continues until 5 p.m.
The event will be headlined by the presence of John Swasey, a voice actor in popular anime works like “Attack on Titan,” “Fullmetal Alchemist,” “My Hero Academia” and “One Piece.” In addition to participating in a “Guess the Line” game on the main stage at 1 p.m., he will be taking photos and signing autographs for an additional fee.
The full schedule is below.
- 10:30 a.m.: Hero Yoga (Building W4)
- 11 a.m.: “So You Want to Be an Animator?” discussion, led by 20-year animation industry veteran Cameron Porter (main stage)
- Noon: “Cosplay Photography 101” (main stage)
- 1 p.m.: Guess the Line! (main stage)
- 2:30 p.m.: Cosplay Contest (main stage)
- 4 p.m.: Video Game and Anime Tunes! by Moonscape Ensemble (main stage)
“This isn’t just another pop culture event,” Gordon said. “ComicWorx is a bold expression of what the Workhouse does best — bringing creative communities together in a space built for imagination, collaboration and big ideas.”
Tickets for the event start at $17.59, which provides a general admission ticket and entry at 10 a.m. Early entry is available for an extra $5, while VIP tickets — which include early entry, front of the line access for autographs and more — are $39.
All tickets can be purchased online via the Workhouse Arts Center’s website.
While ComicWorx is the first event of its kind at the Workhouse, local comics and pop culture fans have flocked to the Dulles Expo Center annually since 2018 for the Fairfax Comic Con. That venue’s closure in December, however, has forced organizers to seek a new home for the convention.
