Your guide to Superhero Saturday in Phoenix: Cosplay, special guests and more

Geeks of the Valley, start picking out your nerdy apparel of choice and fire up the Ectomobile. The season of cons and cosplay in Phoenix is kicking off this weekend.

From now until the summer heat threatens to melt your custom-built cosplay, nerd-friendly events will fill nearly every weekend, featuring some of the biggest — and geekiest — gatherings of the year.

First up is Superhero Saturday, a free outdoor “cosplay and comic” festival in north Phoenix.

The annual event, which benefits local charity Childhelp and Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenant Association, celebrates pop culture, costuming, gaming and other geeky obsessions.

Superhero Saturday was launched in 2019 by Phoenix police lieutenant Mark Schweikert. A Valley native whose geeky obsessions surpass those of most die-hard nerds (“I haven’t missed San Diego Comic-Con since 2001"), Schweikert says he created the event as a “love letter” to local fandom.

“It’s a low-risk, low-stress celebration people can attend without the costs of a big comic book event like Phoenix Fan Fusion, which can be daunting,” Schweikert says.

Taking place over a single afternoon, Superhero Saturday will teem with costumed characters, local artists, comic book creators and pro wrestlers. There’s also a massive car show, arcade games, live entertainment and a cosplay masquerade for prizes. And unlike most geek events, it's completely free.

"I don't care about making money on the show; it's about bringing people together," Schweikert says. "And if they can't afford certain extracurricular activities, they can come and have fun for free."

Here's everything to know about Superhero Saturday 2025 this weekend.

When and where is Superhero Saturday 2025 in Phoenix?

Superhero Saturday 2025 is on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 9610 N. Metro Parkway West. Outdoor activities will include a cosplay masquerade, car show, vendor marketplace, and professional wrestling matches. Meanwhile, Arizona Diamondbacks players will sign autographs inside Adelante Healthcare next to the event.

What time is Superhero Saturday?

Superhero Saturday runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Is there an age limit?

Nope. Superhero Saturday is a family-friendly event open to all ages.

How much is Superhero Saturday?

Admission to Superhero Saturday is free. The cosplay masquerade has a $5 entry fee for ages 14 and up. Autographs and selfies with special guests are sold separately. Front-of-line access is available as a $10 add-on per person.

Superhero Saturday special guests

Superhero Saturday will feature a modest roster of geek-famous guests. Headliners include character actor Keone Young, best known for playing Storm Shadow in ‘80s cartoon “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” and Alex McKenna, the voice of Sadie Adler in “Red Dead Redemption 2.”

Attendees can also get autographs from current Arizona Diamondbacks players Pavin Smith and Alek Thomas or geek out with comic book creators such as Stéphane Roux (“Birds of Prey”), Tony Parker (“Medusa”), Steve Rude (“Nexus”) and James A. Owen (“Starchild”). Professional cosplayers including Ivy Doomkitty are also scheduled to appear at the event.

How much are autographs and selfies?

It varies by guest. Young, for instance, will charge $65 for an autograph or selfie and $105 for both while McKenna will offer signatures for $45 and an autograph and photo combo for $65. Signatures from Smith and Thomas are $33.98 each per item with an additional $15 for a second single-item inscription.

Car show

More than 50 cars will be showcased at Superhero Saturday. The lineup ranges from iconic geek machines like the Ectomobile from “Ghostbusters” and a “Deadpool and Wolverine” vehicle to dozens of muscle cars and vintage rides.

Costumes and cosplayers

A geek event without costumes is like a Batman movie without angst, which is why Superhero Saturday will feature a legion of Arizona cosplayers such as Ivory Gayle Creative, Smol Giggle, Kristina Moser-McGinley and Polyxena Cosplay.

One of the event's centerpieces is an enormous cosplay masquerade that will dole out cash and other prizes. Trophies will go to top winners across multiple categories, including Novice, Journeyman and Masters. The cosplayer crowned Best in Show will win a round-trip Southwest Airlines ticket to any destination in the continental U.S. A “Fan Favorite” award, featuring a $300 cash prize, will go to the cosplayer whose post on Superhero Saturday’s social media earns the most likes by 4 p.m.

Entry is $5 per adult while kids 13 and under can participate for free and will receive a gift bag. Registration is available here.

Other activities at Superhero Saturday

Cosplayers won’t be the only folks rocking spandex outfits on Saturday. The grapplers from local pro wrestling promotion SLAMU will be crunching bodies and doing questionable things with steel chairs during various matches from 2 to 4 p.m.

Local cosplayer, aerialist and circus performer Ryann Kay will also perform astounding acrobatic feats of her own starting at 1 p.m.

Phoenix Fan Fusion will have a free-play video gaming zone with 12 stand-up arcade games. Local fandom group Blue Ribbon Army will host arts and crafts for kids throughout the day. Both will be located within a bustling vendor marketplace with over 70 booths and tables featuring local artists, craftspeople, and retailers selling geek-friendly items and merch. Well, maybe not waifu pillows — some lines shouldn’t be crossed.