It was another exciting weekend in the city of Cornwall, as CAPE, or the Cornwall and Area Pop Event, returned once more (like any good superhero franchise) – this time attracting more than 3,500 excited visitors for the Saturday and Sunday festivities on April 20th and 21st, 2024. People of all ages, many in glorious costume (ranging from Evel Knievel and Deadpool to fantastical personal creations), flooded the Benson Centre, primed to explore its many exciting booths. . . fans were excited to see similar items from previous years, including retro toys, Funko pops, original artwork, comic books and literature, while they were also lucky enough to find some new vendors offering up unique items that have not been seen at the event for many a year – including vintage movie posters (Rolled & Folded Movie Posters), old school video games (Video Game Mansion), and a cool array of goodies from Cornwall Stamp Co. – Rock & Roll Print Shop.
And let us not forget the celebrities that graced Cornwall with their presence over the weekend. Founders and organizers Randy Sauve and Carol Grant were able to bring in Teen Wolf and Swamp Thing star Crystal Reed for a special Saturday appearance, while Mikaela Hoover (seen above) – the voice of Floor the Bunny in the box office sensation Guardians of the Galaxy 3 was able to make it for the two days. Character actor Matthew G. Taylor, who has featured in numerous name productions, including Resident Evil – Apocalypse, Pacific Rim, and The Umbrella Academy, to name but a few, also enjoyed the weekend crowds. Famed Montreal comedian Mike Paterson (photo to right), who is not new to Cornwall, having hosted a comedy show starring iconic funny man Mike MacDonald at the Port Theatre (not too long before the legend passed away), also made his CAPE debut. Take note of his performance as Big Beard in the 2022 movie Prey (which is part of the ever enjoyable Predator franchise). Lastly, we cannot forget the Blumbergs from the Discovery+ show We Bought a Funeral Home, who were quite the hoot. As always, everyone was gracious with their time, posing for photos and signing autographs for fans young and old.
With next year being the tenth anniversary of the inaugural event, we will wait with bated breath for Randy and Carol to weave their magic and construct another special weekend for 2025 – as CAPE continues to thrive. . . the eager vendors already handing in their renewal forms for next year perfect proof of its continued success. So, start planning for next year’s adventure today, because we all know with anything superhero related, time flies!