I will be in Italy next Fall and excited to learn that the Lucca Comic convention is scheduled end October/early November. I have attended comc cons in San Diego and Philadelphia sounds so interesting! Any first hand knowledge/experience would be very much appreciated. From what I've read already, there will be booths all over the city with panels available for a fee. Already, this is so different from my previous experiences since you have to pay (a lot) to just enter the convention area. Curious if this is; in fact, open to the public except for the scheduled panels etc. Thanks for any and all advice.
Posted by
Boston
1770 posts
I drove nearby a few years ago when the event was starting and, while waiting in the resulting traffic jam, saw Princess Lia waiting for a bus with a Russian Calvary Officer - can't beat that. This year about a quarter of a million tickets will be sold over the 4/5 day event, and many more folks go w/o a ticket just for the street vibe. For a translation of a very good Italian story on the 2023 edition, put this url in Google translate: https://www.ilpost.it/2023/10/27/lucca-comics-disagi/
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1026 posts
I only have second hand knowledge by residents related how completely the event takes over the old town because of the number of visitors. One said the locals in the old town tend to leave town if they have anything else to do because of the disruption of the crowds in an already tight town.
If you're excited about event then it sounds like it will be immersive thing all through out the old town both with attendees as well as actual events. I expect it's something like Comic Con in San Diego Gaslamp but crushed into a much tighter area. Great if you're into it but much less so if you're not.
Have fun!
=Tod
Posted by
New York
310 posts
Most piazzas are taken over by tents for the Comics and Games fest, as well as the wall and outside. Lucca gets overrun by the fest and attendees. Yes, It's open to public, but It's probably a good idea to purchase tickets early. It's not something that interests me so I can't provide any real details, but its a big deal in Lucca. You also want make sure you make reservations early at any restaurants. You can find some videos of the fest on YouTube.
Posted by
OP
West Chester PA
119 posts
Thanks David ...I'll be staying in a town fairly close to Lucca for several months so it will just be a fun day excursion I think...no reservations for meals necessary I don't think. Can't imagine it would be as chaotic as San Diego but I'll keep checking various sites as the time draws closer for updates/times/events. Wondering if any celebrities show up for various panels etc. which could be interesting as well if the panels are priced reasonably.
Posted by
New York
310 posts
This year they capped the tickets at 80,000 per day. We were in Lucca for the beginning. We left the morning of the 2nd day.
Posted by
Saint Paul, Minnesota
1523 posts
There is a wonderful blog called Two Parts Italy by a woman who lives in Lucca. She has talked about and posted photos several times about the Lucca Comics and Games --- here's the most recent:
https://www.twopartsitaly.com/blog/2023/10/26/v8w18b3ed302cbd1vv9eerlpuh1gr3