48th Superman Celebration starts Friday in Metropolis

The 48th annual Superman Celebration takes over downtown Metropolis beginning Friday, when about 30,000 people will enjoy a weekend of celebrity appearances and autographs, live music, kids activities and costume contests.

The celebration will kick off at 9 a.m. Friday at the Superman Statue on Superman Square.

The celebration welcomes four celebrity guests from the Superman and DC Comics universe for discussions and autograph sessions. Available Friday and Saturday will be Neva Howell and Tim Daly. Caity Lotz and Alex Garfin will appear on Saturday. Other comic book artists and writers will also be on hand.

The Metropolis Super Con will offer comics, toys and collectibles for sale, and will feature pro wrestler Jerry "The King" Lawler.

Fans of events like Comicon will appreciate the elaborate costumes on display all weekend depicting various superheroes and supervillains by superfans from all over the country and abroad. They'll compete for cash prizes on Sunday after the Superhero Parade.

A newer event, the drone show, returns Friday night on the riverfront.

There's also kids pageants, a 5K run/walk, bike ride, car show, wrestling, trivia contests, Superman Jeopardy, an eating contest, and carnival rides. Click here for the full schedule of events.

The event is organized by the Metropolis Chamber of Commerce, the City of Metropolis and the Greater Metropolis Convention & Visitors Bureau. More information is available at supermancelebration.net or by calling the chamber at (618) 524-2714.

On the Net:

Superman Celebration website