60K expected to attend sold out Calgary comic expo

Thousands of fans, including many dressed as their favorite characters, helped kick off the 2013 Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo on Friday night.

Over the weekend, about 60,000 people are expected to gather at Stampede Park to see their favourite stars, writers, artists and more.

• LISTEN: The CBC's Chris dela Torre speaks to a 'cosplayer' who travels to attend comic book expos.

The expo is a chance to shop, mingle and, well, nerd out overvideo games, comics, TV shows, movies and anime.

The event started with hundreds participating in acosplay parade, which ended at Olympic Plaza.Cosplay iswhen fans dress up and act like their favourite characters.

Many of those same people will compete in a costume contest Saturday

Tickets for the event sold out months ago.