GalaxyCon is back in downtown Raleigh this Thursday, and the convention center is about to get very busy. For four straight days, fans will pack into celebrity panels, cosplay contests, pro wrestling shows and a sprawling exhibitor hall, while a free street festival spills out onto nearby blocks. Veterans of the event warn that peak times get tight, so expect crowded sidewalks, long lines for autographs and photo ops, and downtown restaurants running at full tilt.
When and where
The main convention runs Thursday through Sunday at the Raleigh Convention Center. According to ABC11, GalaxyCon's biggest annual show is expected to draw more than 50,000 attendees, with event hours set for Thursday 2 p.m.–1 a.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–1 a.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Exhibit hall hours close earlier each day. The venue is listed at 500 S. Salisbury Street on the Raleigh Convention Center calendar.
Who's on the schedule
The guest list on GalaxyCon features headline names like Hayden Christensen, Ralph Macchio and William Shatner, alongside comedy duo Cheech & Chong and a long roll of TV, film and voice actors. The lineup also includes The Office alums Angela Kinsey and Rainn Wilson, Danny Glover, Steve Burns and voice talents such as Tara Strong, Vincent Martella and Alyson Stoner, among many others. Across the weekend, attendees can expect Q&As, panels and specialty programming on multiple stages.
Street Fest and downtown impacts
The festival footprint has grown in recent years to include a free Street Fest, with live music, food trucks, pro wrestling and outdoor celebrity appearances that give non-badge-holders a taste of the action. WRAL has covered the Street Fest expansion, and the City of Raleigh's special events notices have previously flagged temporary closures on Cabarrus and Fayetteville streets during GalaxyCon weekends. Drivers and residents should plan for detours, less curbside parking and heavier pedestrian traffic in and around the convention zone.
Tips for attendees
Badges, VIP upgrades and autograph or photo-op tickets are easier to snag in advance, and GalaxyCon spells out pass benefits on its ticket page, including which experiences require separate purchase. Downtown parking and hotel rooms fill up quickly, and the VisitRaleigh listing and hotel partners typically highlight recommended options and package rates. Families bringing kids should check the show's rules for child passes and consider arriving early on busy days to cut down on wait times at registration and celebrity tables.
"Anyone who has come to our Raleigh show knows that it isn't the stars or the activities that make GalaxyCon a success. It is the fans taking photos together, helping each other fix a costume, cheering each other on, and working together to create one of the most inclusive events imaginable," Mike Broder, founder and president of GalaxyCon, said in a statement to ABC11. With celebrities, fan meetups, panels and a street-level party on the schedule, downtown Raleigh is bracing for a very full weekend.
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