Stacking Up at C2E2 2025!

Location: McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois

Dates: April 11th to 13th, 2025

Chicago, Illinois, is one of the largest cities in the United States and, as such, holds many different conventions each year. Along the shoreline of beautiful Lake Michigan sits the famous McCormick Place, which holds many conventions, most famously the Chicago Auto Show. In recent years, one convention has started to become increasingly popular: the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, better known as C2E2.

Boasting a 15-year run, C2E2 has been steadily growing in popularity since 2010, and this year, I got to see why! Celebrity guests, cool vendors, and amazing artists were all in attendance, alongside the ever-present cosplayers and guests who have a love for the nerdy, geeky, and gaming worlds. Sporting over 85,000 guests in 2024, C2E2 is one of the largest conventions held in Chicago each year, usually selling out at least one day, if not all three.

Why Should I Attend C2E2?

That is a question most convention goers ask themselves about each convention. What is special about this one? Why spend my money here, rather than going to one that I have been to before? What is there to do at this convention? How does this convention compare to others that I have attended before?

Glad you asked! C2E2 touches on many different fandoms, from WWE stars to Lord of the Rings cast members, artists selling and showing their custom-made wares, as well as plenty of vendors selling games, collectibles, and, of course, comics. The ticket price is reasonable for the size of the convention, and plenty of things to do and see for free (though not as much as some conventions I have attended). Tickets come in normal convention manners, such as single day, full weekend (3 days), VIP, as well as specialty tickets. The lowest cost ticket for an adult is between $60 and $80 for a single-day ticket, depending on the day. For the full weekend, the cost is around $125, which is not bad, as other conventions cost double that at times!

While other conventions are similar to C2E2, what sets it apart is the sheer size, time of year, and the actual location of the convention. As mentioned before, C2E2 had over 85,000 attendees in 2024, while its twin show Fan Expo Chicago sported around 75,000, and while it does not seem like a lot of people, when you place them all in one building, it can change the feel of the convention. The time of year is essential to the success of the convention, too, because not many other conventions are done around this time. This is one of the first conventions each year that happens in the Chicagoland area, and that means more people are itching to start the convention season and show off all their cool cosplay that they have been working on all winter. The location of this convention is also key to its success, because most conventions in Chicago are held at the Donald E Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, which is near the O’Hare airport. The problem with holding a convention in Rosemont is that it is further from the downtown area, further from neighboring states like Indiana and Michigan. And while geographically it is not a big difference in distance, Rosemont is on the other side of Chicago from these states. This means fighting the ever-hectic and hazardous driving of the expressways, and can make the commute much longer than the distance should take. So, being at the McCormick Place in downtown Chicago, it is much easier to drive from almost every direction outside or inside the city.

Next, we can talk about what to do at the convention once you arrive!

Attending the Convention

Now that I have convinced you to purchase a ticket for this 3-day convention, let’s talk a bit about what to do when you arrive.

First things first, which is getting to the convention. Because of the location, the convention center actually has a Metra Train station connected to one of the lower levels, making it easy for those who do not want to drive, or those who do not own a vehicle, to get to this convention for super cheap. Those who wish to drive, there will be plenty of parking all around the convention center, just follow the various routes, and get to a parking spot. I highly suggest either pre-purchasing a parking spot or getting to the convention early each day to park your car, because the closer parking lots and parking garages fill up once it hits midday.

Now, once at the convention center, there will be plenty to do and see. There is the convention floor, and, like most conventions, this is the meat and potatoes of the event. Here, attendees can find collectibles, vendors, demos, celebrities, cosplayers, artist alley, and even a Live Action Role Playing arena, where you can grab a foam shield and sword and fight with friends and other attendees! There is also food and drinks, as well as room to just wander around, talking with your friends who came with you.

The other area of this convention would be the various floors where attendees will find private rooms with a variety of games being played, panels being held, and just rooms to relax and get off your feet after walking the convention floor for hours each day. These upper floors are usually quieter, less crowded, and you can usually find a nice cushioned seat, or a new cool group of people to meet. TTRPGs, board games, and various gaming companies hold some of these rooms for their demos and to just give attendees a chance to learn and play for free. There are a few lounges specifically for VIPs, families, and even one lounge that is held for groups like the LGBTQ+ community. Some of the lounges need specific tickets and badges to get into, but most are open to anyone attending the convention.

The panel rooms are also found on these floors, and they fill up quickly. So quickly, that I was unable to attend the panels due to so much to see on the convention floor, that I would get distracted by cool art and collectibles, and I lost time and did not make it to the panels early enough to gain entry. But panels this year included the cast from Lord of the Rings, Trivia games, how-to workshops, and even an exhibition from an esports group, among many others. I would highly recommend attending at least one or two of these panels!

Even More Con Stuff!

After a long day of roaming the convention floor, going to panels, playing tons of games, buying really cool art pieces, and meeting celebrities and cool vendors, sometimes attendees are still hyped up and wanting more convention stuff to do, even when the convention floor is shut down for the night.

Well, this convention holds after-hours events, such as after parties and cosplay contests, as well as various local bars holding events to come get a drink with special prices, areas for convention attendees to meet up! There are also some cool events where attendees pay for a separate ticket for shows or meet-and-greets with celebrities. Sometimes it is just a panel, other times sharing a drink and hearing the celebrities' stories. There is karaoke, a comedy showcase, and even a “Nerdlesque” (nerd version of burlesque) show, which are all included with the purchase of your convention ticket and are located right there in the convention center. Be warned, some of these shows are 18+ or 21+ because of content or because alcohol is served, but that is only a couple of the shows.

The Wrap Up

While there are tons of conventions happening all the time, throughout the Chicagoland area, and even in other cities and states, C2E2 brings a unique take on the convention-going experience for a very reasonable price. Each day is packed with panels, events, and what time is not packed can be spent walking the convention hall and playing games with friends and strangers!

This is a must-attend convention for everyone!