Pensacon 2024: What we know about next year's dates and who is coming

The bad news is Pensacon is coming to a close.

The good news is that it is only 362 days until Pensacon returns to once again bring together fans of science fiction, fantasy, horror, comics, anime and much more.

The downtown Pensacola event, now in its 10th year, packed the Pensacola Bay Center over its three-day run Friday through Sunday. Pensacon founder and CEO Mike Ensley announced Sunday the event will return Feb. 23-25, 2024.

"It's been our most successful year ever," Ensley said of this year's iteration. "We have more people come to the show this year than have ever been. The 10th anniversary, people came out to celebrate and we're thrilled that they did."

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Over the course of the event, thousands of people packed into the Bay Center to meet celebrities, actors and artists; to show off their cosplay and marvel at the creations of others; to buy lightsabers, posters and comic books; and to revel in the company of others with similar hobbies and interests.

Ensley, looking back at the convention's growth over the past decade, was humbled by the support.

"I think I'm more grateful than I am surprised," Ensley said. "I think that Pensacon has become an institution now in Pensacola. People look forward to it all year. We have lots of business partners, community partners, everybody gets into it. If you go to the airport, you'll see it. If you go downtown, you'll see it. Even if you go out to some of the outlying places, people are all dressed up or putting out signs welcoming our guests and we love it."

Along with announcing the 2024 convention dates, Ensley announced eight initial guests for the 11th iteration of the event:

• From the hugely popular anime series “Death Note,” voice actors Alessandro Juliani, Brad Swaile, Brian Drummond and Shannon Chan-Kent.

• From the long-running animated comedy series “American Dad!,” voice actors Rachal Macfarlane and Jeff Fischer.

• Gigi Edgley, best known as Chyanna from the popular science fiction series, “Farscape.”

• Veteran actress Mackenzie Phillips, best known for her work in “American Graffiti” and “One Day at a Time.”

Pensacon will continue to add and announce guests throughout the year. Fans are urged to follow Pensacon.com and its social media pages to keep tabs on new announcements and ticket sale information.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacon 2024 date; ticket, guest list info for Pensacola convention