YAY! Lilac City Comicon 2019 posted its panel schedule, and I will be hosting “The Haunted Mansion: 50 Years of Creativity” on Saturday at noon! So, you know I’ll be there.

The good thing about Lilac City Comicon is that you can do almost everything you want without having to worry too much about seating. There are some panels that will be packed full and you might have to sit in the back row, but for the most part, you’ll be able to see the panels you want without having to sacrifice.

So, while spending time on the floor getting your favorite con swag and meeting cool people is great, if I were going to go to Lilac City Comicon as a journalist or guest, rather than a vendor and presenter, here’s what I would do.

On Saturday, there’s plenty of time for me to be on the floor and go see panels. Since the first performance on the main stage is music and trivia, the morning is the best time to get my shopping spree first look on. Take a spin or two through Artist Alley, se who’s there, what they’re offering, and what kind of contests and freebies there are. We all love freebies! I generally look for books to read from authors I don’t know, and new books from indie writers that I can’t find anywhere else like Kaye Thornbrugh, Fishtank Books and Catbeard the Pirate.

At 11 am, I’d catch Carrie Merrill talking about “Understanding and learning the writing process,” and I’d stay for my panel because I’m a Disney fan and I love creativity. At 1 pm, it’s a toss up between Randy Havens and “Indie Publishing” with Oneshi Press. I’d lean toward Randy Havens because he’s closer to the food court and “Stranger Things” is a great show.

At 2 pm, it’s another tossup. Chris Kattan is a bona fide star, but “Jedi Philosophy” is intriguing, especially for Star Wars fans. I’m going to Ogden UnCon a week later, and Kattan will be there. That makes it easier to choose “Jedi Philosophy.”

The three o’clock hour brings a panel on cosplay and a Power Rangers panel on the main stage. Neither one of those is really my thing. I might get a snack, some water or coffee and then walk around the floor again. Supporting authors and artists is important. IT would also give me an opportunity to get a closer look at the booths that I passed by earlier. And if Hacksaw Jim Duggan is at his booth, I’d seriously consider stopping by for a photo and a HOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

At 4 pm, I’ll definitely be hitting up the main stage for Brian C. Baer’s presentation. (Full disclosure: He’s scheduled to be signing books at my table at some point during the convention.) “Horror in Comic Books” with Blacky Shepherd will be a cool panel, but I’ve got to support the guy who wrote a complete book on “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” that changed my entire view of history and children’s television. Seriously, Baer’s book is amazing.

At 5 pm, the cosplay contest will be in its pre-setup phase with photos and prejudging. If I were a conscientious journalist/blogger who wanted a maximum number of page views, I would go to this part of the contest. There are sure to amazing costumes and performances that would make for good visuals. The more individuals you get in their cosplay, the more likely you are to get them to share your content. However, seeing the “Lions” short really appeals more to me because I love movies, and since the actual cosplay contest doesn’t start until 6 pm, I could essentially do both.

On Sunday, you’ll have the opportunity to really enjoy the convention’s atmosphere. At 11 am, Selfie Dad is giving away his stuff in a contest. However, I would probably head to the Flash of Earth 90 panel and see what they’re saying about the speedster.

At noon Falk Henstchel is on the main stage, and I’d be there in the front(ish) rows. Hacksaw Jim Duggan at 1 pm follows Hentschel, so I’m only moving seats if someone tall sat in front of me. Duggan was one of my childhood heroes. I got to see him wrestle live, and I always watched the then-called WWF. Bring on the 2×4!

At 2 pm, “Life Lessons from Nintendo” could be a great panel, but it’s up against a film screening of “Moon Knight.” It’s another tossup, but I am leaning toward the film. At 3 pm, I know that there’s only an hour left of the show, so I’m going to make sure I find an artist and/or writer (probably writer first) to buy something from – if I haven’t already blown my budget. Maybe, I’ll be the customer that turns someone’s con from good to great. If I can do that for someone and get a great book or piece of art out of it, then I’ve made my own con experience super.

What are you looking forward to most at Lilac City Comicon 2019? Leave your comments below.