The Edmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo wrapped up Sunday after three days of celebrating pop culture.
Fans of all ages celebrated pop culture. Thousands shopped at hundreds of vendors and exhibitors, checked out panels and workshops and met their favourite stars and creators. They also dressed up in costumes and cosplayed with other fans.
Richard Spilsted, a NAIT grad, is a cosplayer and attends the event every year.
“I’ve been a professional Santa Claus for the past four years. Now that I retired, I’m going ‘geez I wish I can keep another way of income the other 11 months,” said Spilsted.
Spilsted is a culinary arts graduate with a business degree. He spent two years as the head chef at restaurants in the Edmonton area. Now retired, he found a new hobby.
Spilsted created two characters that have iconic beards, that match his own. This past weekend, he debuted his Gandalf costume and his Dumbledore costume.
“The Dumbledore costume got selected by the people here to go into the final 50 of the costume contest.”
Spilsted says he’s already dreaming up new character ideas to debut next year.
