Del Rio Comic-Con returns for 15th anniversary this weekend

Cosplay contests, celebrity panels and an expo floor full of authors, vendors and special guests made Del Rio Comic-Con one of the city’s biggest weekend draws as it marked its 15th anniversary at the Del Rio Civic Center.

The two-day event was scheduled for May 9 and 10 at 1915 Veterans Blvd. in Del Rio, with the city calendar listing the opening at 10 a.m. Saturday. Organizers set adult admission at $10 a day, with children and teens at $5, while children under 5 and seniors 65 and over were admitted free.

The schedule turned the Civic Center into a full weekend stop for families and fans. Organizers listed game tournaments in the Cottonwood Room, food vendors outside the building and a lineup that also included authors, artists, celebrity panels and an artist alley. A weekend guide said the convention ran Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

That mix gives the event a broader local effect than a typical fan gathering. With low-cost admission, food on site and two full days of programming, Comic-Con was positioned to bring steady foot traffic to the Civic Center area and give local businesses another reason to see a busy spring weekend. For a community-size event in Del Rio, that kind of turnout matters just as much as the costumes and collectibles.

Organizers have also framed the convention as a community milestone, calling it a celebration of “15 incredible years together.” The anniversary theme, along with the return of guest announcements and ticket sales in the weeks leading up to the event, has helped make Comic-Con a recognizable part of Del Rio’s May calendar.

For local artists, vendors and families, the convention offered a visible place to gather without the cost of a major trip out of town. In a city where weekend plans often compete with school, work and travel, the annual Comic-Con has become one of the clearest signs that Del Rio can host a large, family-friendly event with its own local momentum.