Photos: Creature Kon draws more than 500 film fans from across the North

Northern Ontario film lovers gathered in full force as Creature Kon made its return to Sudbury on Sept. 25 and 26. Designed as a specialized pop-culture gathering centered on movie and television lovers, the two-day convention transformed the downtown Radisson Hotel into a hub for fans eager to connect, collect, and meet iconic stars without having to travel far from home.

Co-organizer Eddie Levesque told Sudbury.com about the expansion of this year’s lineup and the growing community surrounding the event.

“This year’s con features our biggest guest lineup,” Levesque said, noting that the convention brought in “seven celebrity guests spanning from seven different decades of movies and TV shows, from someone in the ’70s and ’80s all the way to 2026, being one of the kids from Stranger Things season five”.

Those celebrity guests included the American Scream Queen herself, Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead) as well as Miko Hughes (Pet Sematary) Maksim Blatt (Stranger Things, Season 5) Zack Ward (Freddy vs. Jason, Transformers, Resident Evil) Matthew G. Taylor (Resident Evil: Apocalypse) Lynn Lowry (The Crazies) and Brigitte Kingsley (Dark Rising).

Levesque said that while the event began last year with a focused niche, the Kon has evolved into a broader home for film lovers. “It started as a horror convention because I’m the horror guy, but we’ve since branched out into sci-fi and fantasy,” Levesque said. “Now, you can think of us as a pop-culture comic-con, but for movie and TV fans”

With attendance surging past expectations, Levesque added, “We have 500-plus attendees right now, and as we speak, there are still 200 that I haven’t checked in yet, so we’re hoping to see even more.”

Those attendees included Melanie and Daniel Pitre, who were so enamoured with Creature Kon they’re thinking of volunteering next year. The two told Sudbury.com they were thrilled to experience such a fun event right in their own backyard. “Usually you hear about these things going on in Toronto, not in our community,”said Melanie. “So this is exciting because it’s right here in Sudbury and easier for us to access. Having this in our community is a dream come true.”

“With all the filming going on in Sudbury in recent years—like Resident Evil, which was one of the biggest movies filmed here—now to have these big celebrities at conventions is amazing” said Daniel.”We don’t have to leave town to see these people and relive our childhoods.”

For the Pitre’s, meeting the celebrity guests in person was an unforgettable highlight. “Seeing Zack Ward, being a big Resident Evil fan, was a big thing for me because I found he did such an amazing job in the movie,” said Daniel.

For Melanie “Meeting Miko Hughes was amazing—I grew up watching him in Kindergarten Cop and Wes Craven’s New Nightmare. It was just amazing to be able to talk with them and connect,” she told Sudbury.com.

Beyond meeting the actors, the two said they were blown away by the extensive two-floor marketplace. “Out of all the festivals we did this year, this is the biggest one for vendors,” Daniel said. “I’m loving all the stuff we’re buying here — I have to go back to the ATM!”

Featuring vendors traveling from across Ontario, including Thunder Bay, Ottawa, Markham, and Timmins, Melanie said she felt like “a kid in a candy store,” adding, “Between finding things you usually wouldn’t find and having conversations with different people, it’s just been an amazing experience.”

Beyond the celebrity meet-and-greets, Creature Kon offered a full slate of activities and attractions for visitors throughout both days. Collectors could spend hours exploring aisles packed with hard-to-find memorabilia, custom artwork, rare collectibles, and unique genre merchandise. The celebration extended into interactive panel discussions, autograph signings, photo opportunities, and community networking, creating an unforgettable weekend that’s sure to leave attendees eager for the next edition.

Jenny Lamothe is a reporter with Sudbury.com.