We made it out to C2E2 in Chicago this weekend. The Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo highlights comics, anime, books, board games, TTRPGs, toys, movies, and everything pop culture. It was held for the first time in 2010 to a crowd of 20K+ attendees. Now it attracts nearly 100K visitors, hundreds of vendors and exhibitors, and top stars like this year’s Christopher Lloyd, Mads Mikkelson, Freddie Prince Jr, Tara Strong, Christina Ricci, and more.
It can be a busy and hectic event, especially if you are unfamiliar with Chicago and its venue the McCormick Place. We break down how to prepare for your C2E2.
Parking
Unless you are staying at a nearby hotel, you will need to find a place to park. McCormick Place has three designated parking garages for its venue. The best strategy is to purchase a spot online in advance through their website. This guarantees you will find parking when you arrive. Though you can’t choose a spot specifically, it is much better than driving around searching for open parking. We got a spot in Lot C which was $38 for the day.
Where to Get Your Ticket
If you register early enough, your ticket will be mailed to you. If not, you will need to go to the Will Call counter. It’s very big and intimidating within the venue, and the maps provided are not very helpful in navigating the space. The biggest reason for this is because there is no mark for “You are Here”, leaving you to figure out where exactly you are in this multi-building, multi-story complex. Thankfully, there are plenty of staff to direct you.
The Will Call counter is a massive room with 10+ sections for ticket pickups as well as additional sections for exhibitors, press/VIP, and more. Despite the huge number of attendees, it was a very smooth and fast process.
What to Wear
Cosplay is a plenty at C2E2. Whether you are dressing up or wearing your regular clothes, comfort is key. We logged well over 10K steps even though we were only there about three and a half hours. There are escalators and multiple staircases to get around. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes or cosplay that you can easily walk around all day in. When navigating through the exhibitor and vendor areas, it can be quite cramped and people will bump into you. There are a few places to sit at actual tables and chairs, but you’ll most likely end up sitting on the floor. Keep all this in mind when choosing your outfit.
What to Pack
While there are restaurants and foods stalls, none if it is cheap or that healthy. If you are able, it’s best to pack your own lunch, snacks, and drinks and carry them with you in a backpack. These are allowed inside the venue, so don’t worry.
Packing portable chargers is a good idea if you will use your phone a lot. Bring any medicine you may need, especially if you are prone to headaches, back pain, or don’t usually spend hours on your feet. This will help you from having to exit the convention early due to pain.
A Note on Navigating the City
The good news is, it’s hard to get lost because tens of thousands of people are all going to the same place. That’s also the bad news. Chicago is plenty busy on a normal day, but this makes it even more congested. Pack some patience with you as you wait in potentially long traffic lines to get to the convention. Depending on what roads you take, there could be tolls getting in and out of the city. We avoided tolls on our way in, but on our way out we took the $12 toll charge.
Have Fun!
The most important thing is to enjoy this massive convention that is nearly right on the lakeside! The views are beautiful, the people are friendly, and it’s a fun and vibrant atmosphere.
Enjoy your C2E2!
