ORLANDO, Fla. – Thousands of comic book, sci-fi and video game enthusiasts are expected to come to Orange County Convention Center this weekend for MegaCon.
The exact number is 45,000, which is up 7 percent from last year, according to MegaCon owner Beth Widera.
People were already lined up for tickets Friday.
"I've always wanted to go to one of these," said Miguel Mendoza, a first-timer at MegaCon. He said his brother, Juan has been going for years.
"It's just home basically," Juan said. "It really is."
Convention-goers say MegaCon is as much about the costumes as it is the vendors. People spend thousands of dollars on costumes.
Juan said his costume cost around $100 but the costume price can go up to thousands.
"I am dressed as the female pyramid from Silent Hill video game," Amanda Baker said. She said she spent months putting together her costume with foam board, glue and spray paint.
Vendors are setting up booths inside to sell comics, T-shirts and sculptures.
Widera says the convention is getting more and more popular.
"This is a weekend they can put on a costume and be whoever they want to be," Widera said. "You get to be something that you always worshiped."
This year, Joseph Morgan from the Vampire Diaries will be at the convention, along with Tom Felton, who plays Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies.
The convention also features speed dating.