Walker Stalker Con San Francisco 2015 Review ~ JeanBookNerd

Walker Stalker Con

January 31-February 1, 2015

Fort Mason, San Francisco

February 7, 2015
by James Vallesteros

There are an abundance of conventions every weekend and it is usually a show that features a collection of different universes from comics, movies, and television. For Walker Stalker Con, its main focus is on the hit Television Series on AMC, The Walking Dead. This con differs from the usual con as it is specifically themed and made for The Walking Dead and its legion of dedicated fans.

Cosplayers at WSCSF

Walker Stalker Con is a show that goes on the road all over the United States. For its California stop, the event coordinators chose San Francisco. One would think that it should be in Southern California because of its easy access to the Hollywood elites. However, Fort Mason off the coast line in the San Francisco Bay Area perfectly captured the essence of The Walking Dead. Fans weren’t only immersed by the Celebrity guests such as Steven Yeun, Emily Kinney, Scott Wilson, David Morrissey, and others, the two Piers on which the Herbst and Festival Pavilion sits on Fort Mason embodied the feel and look of an episode of The Walking Dead. The run-down look of the Pavilions and the buildings that surrounded the area provided the perfect opportunity for great looking photo-ops with the Cosplayers on-site.

The beautiful scene at Fort Mason

The one thing that Walker Stalker Con offered to fans that not many other cons do is the access to meet their favorite characters from the show. Walker Stalker Con San Francisco was headlined by nearly 50 celebrities, mainly from The Walking Dead. San Francisco was also treated by horror icon, Robert Englund, who famously slipped on the four-clawed glove in The Nightmare on Elm Street series. A late announcement also provided Doctor Who fans to meet the eleventh incarnation of the Doctor, Matt Smith, alongside Soothsayer Amy Pond, Karen Gillan.

The Festival Pavilion housed the vendors for the convention. There were plenty of booths to get those hard to find collectibles and also buy one-of-a-kind art. The rear of the Festival Pavilion are autograph booths where fans were able to meet some of the show’s cast. Herbst Pavilion was mainly autograph booths with an immaculate stage at the rear for panels, costume contest, and an exclusive concert featuring Emily Kinney. Before the con opened up, the lines to get into either of the showfloor wrapped around the exterior of the buildings. However, once inside, it didn’t feel crowded and it didn’t take effort to get from one place to another. The lines for the autographs for celebrities were maintained professionally. Fans were able to enhance their experience by purchasing VIP badges. This allowed them to be in a special VIP line, separate from the general admission to see their favorite celebrities.

MiniGlenn with Steven Yeun (Photo-Op)

Walker Stalker Con was a success! It delivered everything it had advertised for. It is a place to show your fandom for a universe that many people have a love for. The combination of shopping at the vendor booths, getting the opportunity to meet celebrities and take pictures with them, and the beautiful atmosphere that Fort Mason and the San Francisco Bay Area brought is an incredible experience like no other. If you are looking for a place to see your favorite actors from the show, as well as showing off your fandom by dressing up as a Walker, Rick Grimes in a dirtied up flannel, Glenn Rhee in his riot gear, or even Carol in a bloody poncho, Walker Stalker Con is definitely the place you will want to be. There are six more stops for 2015 with Chicago in February, followed by Dallas, Orlando, Boston, Atlanta, and New York/New Jersey. If you happen to live near these cities, be sure to check out Walker Stalker Con and be prepared to be entertained.