Are superheroes your thing? Do you geek out when it comes to your favorite fandom? Do you just love a good time? If you answered “Yes” to any of this, then Phoenix Fan Fusion is the place for you! Filled with many different fandoms, Phoenix Fan Fusion has something for everyone. Fan Fusion is the “signature pop culture event of the Southwest,” says Director of Events and Activities for Fan Fusion, Mac MacKellar. “It is every nerdy, geeky, fandom all rolled into one.”
Running May 24 to May 26, Fan Fusion will be packed so make sure to secure some tickets. The sooner you purchase tickets the cheaper they are! You can find admission information at phoenixfanfusion.com. Children 12-and-under get free admission with a paying adult. Unlike many other big fandom events, once you get your ticket for Phoenix Fan Fusion, there are almost no other costs once inside the convention.
With over a thousand hours of content at the event, there will be many things to choose to do. There are stalls, classes, shows, panels, wrestling, competitions, and much more! The different fandoms displayed at the event are countless. With anime, books and authors, comics, cosplay, DC, Disney, Doctor Who, fantasy, and gaming, just to name a few. "No matter what your fandom is, no matter what you’re into, there will be something for you at Fan Fusion.” says MacKellar.
There are many events and activities on the horizon of this year’s Phoenix Fan Fusion. MacKellar mentions how excited he is for the new addition to this year’s fusion – Sunset Meteor’s Carnival. “I’m really excited for Sunset Meteor’s Carnival. It’s going to be a new interactive game area focused on youth.” This new youth event will have games like those at a fair or carnival.
MacKellar explained that he got involved in Phoenix Fan Fusion 14 years ago when he took his young children there. “My first thought was, ‘this could be so much better.’” MacKellar’s work for Phoenix Fan Fusion took off from there. He talked with the organizer and was soon hired as Youth and Family Manager for the Fusion. He then proceeded to hire Jill Oliver, around 2012. Oliver is currently the Youth and Family Content Producer. Since 2010, MacKellar and Oliver have continued to improve Phoenix Fan Fusion. Oliver says, “We’ve seen it grow.” MacKellar adds, “We’ve made it grow.”
Oliver and MacKellar shared their favorite parts of Phoenix Fan Fusion. “For me,” says Oliver, “being able to see kids run around with no fear, no judgment…the people who are there want to celebrate with them. And in my mind, that is powerful.”
MacKellar shares, “One of the things I most enjoy are the attendees. Just being able to turn around and watch someone walk into an event that I had a hand in creating, and just [seeing] their jaw drop.”
Having an insight into what goes into the jaw dropping event that is Phoenix Fan Fusion was amazing. I hope you can have the opportunity to go and see all the passion and hard work that is put into the fusion. Go get your geek on!
