Superman Celebration
The Superman Celebration is an annual four-day festival held in Metropolis, Illinois, dedicated to honoring Superman and celebrating his enduring legacy in popular culture. Since its inception in 1979, the event has become a beloved tradition, drawing thousands of fans from around the world to the "Home of Superman."[1] Packed with activities like celebrity appearances, costume contests, art exhibits, and panel discussions, the festival brings the fictional world of the Man of Steel to life. With a giant Superman statue and a rich history tied to the character, the celebration offers an immersive experience for fans of all ages, making it a must-attend event for any Superman enthusiast.[2]
The Superman Celebration is organized by a collaboration between the Metropolis Chamber of Commerce, the City of Metropolis, and the Greater Metropolis Convention & Visitors Bureau. These local entities work together to coordinate and host the event, ensuring that it brings Superman fans from around the world to Metropolis, Illinois, for an unforgettable celebration. Their joint efforts help maintain the festival's long-standing tradition and success, making it a central event for the community and Superman enthusiasts alike.
Dates, Guests and Events
[edit]| # | Year | Date | Main Event | Celebrity Guests | Special Guests | Comics Artist and Writers | Official Superman | Special Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1979 | Jun-79 | 1st Superman Celebration | |||||
| 2 | 1980 | Jun-80 | 2nd Superman Celebration | |||||
| 3 | 1981 | Jun-81 | 3rd Superman Celebration | |||||
| 4 | 1982 | Jun-82 | 4th Superman Celebration | |||||
| 5 | 1983 | Jun-83 | 5th Superman Celebration | |||||
| 6 | 1984 | June 7–10, 1984 | 6th Superman Celebration | Margot Kidder | ||||
| 7 | 1985 | June 6–9, 1985 | 7th Superman Celebration | |||||
| 8 | 1986 | June 5–8, 1986 | 8th Superman Celebration | Kirk Alyn | First Superman statue, 7-foot fiberglass statue[3] | |||
| 9 | 1987 | June 4–7, 1987 | 9th Superman Celebration | |||||
| 10 | 1988 | June 2–5, 1988 | 10th Superman Celebration | |||||
| 11 | 1989 | June 1–4, 1989 | 11th Superman Celebration | Noel Neill | ||||
| 12 | 1990 | June 7–10, 1990 | 12th Superman Celebration | |||||
| 13 | 1991 | June 6–9, 1991 | 13th Superman Celebration | Jack Larson | Jim Hambrick moves to Metropolis, IL[4] | |||
| 14 | 1992 | June 4–7, 1992 | 14th Superman Celebration | Hambrick opens the Superman Museum[5] | ||||
| 15 | 1993 | Jun 3-6, 1993 | 15th Superman Celebration | New Superman Statue inauguration, 15-foot bronze statue[6] | ||||
| 16 | 1994 | June 2–5, 1994 | 16th Superman Celebration | John Haymes Newton Kirk Alyn Phyllis Coates |
Tommy Bond | |||
| 17 | 1995 | June 8–11, 1995 | 17th Superman Celebration | Gerard Christopher | Travis Ford | |||
| 18 | 1996 | June 6–9, 1995 | 18th Superman Celebration | Jack Larson | ||||
| 19 | 1997 | June 12–15, 1997 | 19th Superman Celebration | Noel Neill | George "Goober" Lindsey | Tom Nagy | ||
| 20 | 1998 | June 11–14, 1998 | 20th Superman Celebration | Lane Smith | Jon Bogdanove Rick Stasi |
|||
| 21 | 1999 | June 10–13, 1999 | 21st Superman Celebration | Alex Ross | Kerry Gammill Rick Stasi |
|||
| 22 | 2000 | June 8–11, 2000 | 22nd Superman Celebration | Margot Kidder Marc McClure |
Mike Carlin Noel Neill |
Jeph Loeb Ed McGuinness Doug Hazelwood |
Scott Cranford[7] | |
| 23 | 2001 | June 7–10, 2001 | 23rd Superman Celebration | Jeff East Valerie Perrine Sarah Douglas Jack O'Halloran |
Noel Neill | Alex Ross Kerry Gammill John Thompson |
Scott Cranford | |
| 24 | 2002 | June 6–9, 2002 | 24th Superman Celebration | Adam West Julie Newmar Noel Neill |
Scott Cranford | |||
| 25 | 2003 | June 12–15, 2003 | 25th Superman Celebration | Bob Holiday Yvonne Craig |
Larry Thomas Ward Noel Neill |
Steve Rude | Scott Cranford | Noel Neill became "The First Lady of Metropolis"[8] |
| 26 | 2004 | June 10–13, 2004 | 26th Superman Celebration | Jackson Bostwick Lou Ferrigno |
Noel Neill | Scott Cranford | ||
| 27 | 2005 | June 9–12, 2005 | 27th Superman Celebration | John Schneider Margot Kidder Noel Neill |
Mark Waid Steve Stanley Lin Workman |
Scott Cranford | ||
| 28 | 2006 | June 7–10, 2006 | 28th Superman Celebration | Michael Rosenbaum | Noel Neill Stephan Bender |
Michael Dougherty Steve Rude Marv Wolfman |
Scott Cranford | |
| 29 | 2007 | June 7–10, 2007 | 29th Superman Celebration | Helen Slater | Noel Neill Jerry Maren |
Jon Bogdanove Len Wein Jake Black Lin Workman Kevin Williams Steve Stanley Jake Black Andrew Chandler Jay Chuppe Anton Wade Janet Wade |
Scott Cranford[9] | |
| 30 | 2008 | June 12–15, 2008 | 30th Superman Celebration | Allison Mack Ned Beatty Noel Neill |
Michael Eury Josh Elder Marc Tyler Nobleman |
Murphy Anderson Lin Workman Dave Beaty Antone Wade Micah Stewart Jason Rawley Eddy Zeno Lonnie Cruse Bruce Scivally |
Josh Boltinghouse[10] | |
| 31 | 2009 | June 11–14, 2009 | 31st Superman Celebration | Justin Hartley Phil Morris |
Noel Neill Beverly Washburn |
Mike Norton Gail Simone John Ostrander Daniel Peretti Larry Ward |
Josh Boltinghouse | |
| 32 | 2010 | June 10–13, 2010 | 32nd Superman Celebration | Laura Vandervoort Sam Witwer |
Noel Neill Ilya Salkind Carmine Infantino |
Dave Beaty Josh Elder Trevor Hawkins |
Josh Boltinghouse | Noel Neill's Lois Lane Bronze Statue inauguration[11] |
| 33 | 2011 | June 9–12, 2011 | 33rd Superman Celebration | Mark Pillow Tracey Lewis Brandon Routh |
Alaina Huffman Sam Huntington |
Dave Beaty Josh Elder Jamal Igle Freddie Williams II Trevor Hawkins |
Josh Boltinghouse | |
| 34 | 2012 | June 7–10, 2012 | 34th Superman Celebration | John Glover Cassidy Freeman |
Gerard Christopher John Rockwell Sandra Taylor Noel Neill |
George Pérez Terry Beatty Larry Tye Larry Ward Dean Zachary Jim Hall |
Josh Boltinghouse | |
| 35 | 2013 | June 7–10, 2013 | 35th Superman Celebration[12] | Michael Rosenbaum Alessandro Juliani |
Margot Kidder Tracy Scoggins Laurie Mitchell Roberts Gregory Moffett |
Art Baltazar Brett Breeding Ron Frenz Chris Sprouse |
Josh Boltinghouse | |
| 36 | 2014 | June 12–15, 2014 | 36th Superman Celebration | Dean Cain Billy Dee Williams |
Valerie Perrine Aaron Smolinski |
Elliott S! Maggin Ken Bailey Sean Dulaney Lonnie Easterling Charles Ettinger Jim Hall Mitch Foust Jason Rawley Tyrone Reed Dean Zachary |
Josh Boltinghouse | |
| 37 | 2015 | June 11–15, 2015 | 37th Superman Celebration | Candice Patton Caity Lotz John Shea Stacy Haiduk Diane Sherry Case |
Kurt Busiek Alex Saviuk Mike Norton John Jackson Miller Randyl Bishop Ken Bailey Sean Dulaney Lonnie Easterling Mitch Foust Benjamin Glendenning Jim Hall |
Josh Boltinghouse | ||
| 38 | 2016 | June 9–12, 2016 | 38th Superman Celebration | Mehcad Brooks Peter Facinelli Marc McClure Michael Landes |
Jon Schnepp Holly Payne Jerry ""The King"" Lawler |
Jon Bogdanove Rick Burchett Brian K. Morris |
Josh Boltinghouse | |
| 39 | 2017 | June 1–4, 2017 | 39th Superman Celebration | Dean Cain James Marsters Margot Kidder Sarah Douglas |
Amanda Conner Jimmy Palmiotti John Ostrander Gwenda Bond Todd Aaron Smith |
Josh Boltinghouse | ||
| 40 | 2018 | June 7–10, 2018 | 40th Superman Celebration[12] | Brandon Routh Shaun Sipos Blake Ritson |
Jack O'Halloran Jeff East Aaron Smolinsky Ilya Salkind John Newton |
Alex Saviuk Art Baltazar Michael Eury Peter Poplaski Philo Barkhart |
Josh Boltinghouse | |
| 41 | 2019 | June 6–9, 2019 | 41st Superman Celebration | Helen Slater Erica Durance Katrina Law |
Marv Wolfman[13] | Josh Boltinghouse | ||
| CANCELLED[14] | 2020 | CANCELLED | CANCELLED | CANCELLED | CANCELLED | CANCELLED | CANCELLED | |
| 42 | 2021 | July 30-August 1, 2021 | 42nd Superman Celebration | Stacy Haiduk K Callan Ian Mitchell Smith Nicholle Tom |
Chad Hardin Blake Armstrong Ale’ Garza Steven Walden Mostafa Moussa Jim Hall |
Josh Boltinghouse | ||
| 43 | 2022 | June 10–12, 2022 | 43rd Superman Celebration | George Newbern Michael Rosenbaum Tom Welling |
Jeff East Jack O'Halloran Douglas B. Meyers Michael Mammo |
Rick Burchett Trevor Hawkins |
Josh Boltinghouse | |
| 44 | 2023 | June 9–11, 2023 | 44th Superman Celebration | Tyler Hoechlin Nicole Maines Jesse Rath |
Sam J. Jones | Trina Robbins Ed Gross |
Josh Boltinghouse | |
| 45 | 2024 | June 7–9, 2024 | 45th Superman Celebration[15] | Elizabeth Tulloch Brandon Routh Kristin Kreuk Mark Pillow Gil Adler |
Gregory Moffett Beverly Washburn Raushan Hammond |
Karl Kesel Zach Howard Mark Spears Ed Gross Todd Aaron Smith Steve Walden |
Josh Boltinghouse | Action Comics #1 Mural Innauguration[16] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Superman Helps Put Metropolis on the Tourism Map". Governing. June 3, 2022.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/1972/08/08/archives/superman-rescues-metropolis-again-once-again-superman-comes-to.html
- ^ Museum, Super. "Super Museum". Super Museum.
- ^ "Meet Morgan Hambrick: Inside the Collection". Collector's Call.
- ^ "Super Museum | Enjoy Illinois". Enjoy Illinois.
- ^ "HOME". Metropolis Tourism.
- ^ "Scott Cranford | Additional Crew, Actor, Producer". IMDb.
- ^ ""First Lady of Metropolis" Noel Neill Dies at 95". WKMS. July 5, 2016.
- ^ Ramone, Marcus (July 1, 2008). "A história de Scott Cranford, o Super-Homem de Metrópolis". UNIVERSO HQ.
- ^ "Our Official Superman - Josh Boultinghouse". supermansupersite.com.
- ^ "Noel Neill – The Original Lois Lane | CapedWonder Superman Imagery".
- ^ a b "Super-Homem.COM". www.super-homem.com.
- ^ "Marv Wolfman Attending the 2019 Superman Celebration - Superman Homepage". March 27, 2019.
- ^ "Virtual 2020 Superman Celebration - Superman Homepage". June 10, 2020.
- ^ NEWS@PADUCAHSUN.COM, TERRA TEMPLE, DYLAN PAYNE | The Sun (June 8, 2024). "Metropolis welcomes its super family during Superman Celebration". The Paducah Sun.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Action Comics #1 Mural Ribbon Cutting During Superman Celebration".