This February I took my sister to her very first comic con! We had a great day at Missouri Comic Con 2024, which is in its second year, but its first time at the Springfield Expo Center. There was a bit of disorganization leading up the to the event, but I thought the actual con went very smoothly from wristband pick-up to getting autographs.

Bigger and Better for 2024

Apparently, their event was so well attended last year that they needed a larger space. Springfield Expo Center had the most space in town when you combine the use of all three buildings. And it was still packed!

The advance details were scarce when I first started planning this Missouri trip, so much so that I sent them an e-mail asking if the convention was really happening. I also sent them a message through Facebook. I finally got a reply back saying yes it was happening, but not much else.

So, I replied back and asking if they do media passes and never heard anything. That seemed to be the theme up to the day of the convention, as I talked to other people who also didn’t hear back. They did finally start addressing questions on their Facebook page the week of the convention. Many of the posts were people complaining about not getting a lot of information.

In the end though, they pulled off a good convention and managed to make a multiple building event run fairly smoothly.

Tips for Attending Missouri Comic Con

I’m hoping to visit again and go with my sister to MCC 2025! If you are attending, here’s a few tips for next year:

Do Early Wristband Pick-up

This is one of the things they did that really helped ease the crowd at the door. Watch the Facebook page or their website for the early wristband pick-up announcement. We went the night before and easily got our wristbands with a minimal wait. Check-in was easy, and we were ready to walk in the door the next day.

Plan for a Bag Search

If you have to carry a bag, make it small and easy to look through. You’ll go through a bag check every time you enter a building. With the vendor and guest area in one building, and the panels across the street, you’ll probably go in and out several times. We also stepped out a few times just to enjoy the cool air outside. It gets hot with the crowd!

Eat Before You Go

This is the one thing they really need to work on- getting food and drinks took over an hour in line. Thankfully there were plenty of water fountains around, so we didn’t get dehydrated, but they really need to at least have more concession areas with drinks available. I’m used to the cons in Florida that not only have concession areas, but food trucks and full bars!

I never saw the line get short the whole time. The concession area was one small window, and then there was a little maid cafe cart upstairs that was selling muffins. There are no food places within walking distance if you don’t want to walk a mile in a costume.

Get a Ticket in Line

If you want to get an autograph but see your person might need to leave to go do a Q&A, go ahead and get in line. When they need to leave, make sure you get a ticket and that will hold your place in line. Their handler person should be handing them out.

Then you can leave and attend their panel or do whatever you want until it’s time for them to return. When they get back, you’ll get to jump to the head of the line! We ended up being 5th in line when we got back so we actually moved up faster.

See You Next Year!

I’m really hoping to attend again with my sister next year, and maybe even vend this time or do a panel. They seemed to pull it together at the end and get everything organized. And all the people working at the event were really nice and helpful. I’m glad it was so well attended and hope it continues to be an annual event.

Check out the Instagram Reel of our day at Missouri Comic Con 2024

About the Author

Candy Keane is a digital content creator and long-time cosplayer, most well-known for being on the cover of the Star Wars documentary Jedi Junkies. After making costumes professionally for over a decade, she now writes about geek culture and mom life, and continues to cosplay for fun, while sharing her love of costumes on Instagram @SewGeekMama. Her first children’s book, I’m Going to My First Comic Convention, was published in 2020 and won a Story Monsters Approved award for Excellence in Literature.

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