Westside Comic Con: Washington County's First Comic Con Comes to Hillsboro

Every year, fans across Washington County make the trip to Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, Rose City Comic Con in Portland, Dragon Con in Atlanta, San Diego Comic Con. Some of us fly across the country for these things. Westside Comic Con is what happens when the people making those trips realize there is no reason the west side of Portland can't have one of its own. This is Washington County's first dedicated Comic Con. It is a nonprofit. It is happening May 23 and 24, 2026, at the Wingspan Event and Conference Center in Hillsboro. And it is being built by the kind of people who already go to these things and know what makes them good.

Why Washington County

This area already has the fan base. You have comic shops, you have Rune and Board, you have libraries doing comic themed events, you have neighborhoods full of people who grew up on this stuff and never stopped loving it. What nobody had done was put a bigger event together locally. Westside Comic Con fills that gap. Two days of comics, graphic novels, gaming, cosplay, workshops, panels, and popular arts at a venue that can grow with the event over time. The Wingspan Center has room. The community has the appetite. The team behind this is focused on getting the foundation right and building something that keeps getting better.

What the Weekend Looks Like

The expo hall runs 9am to 6pm both days. VIP badge holders get early shopping access starting at 9. Programming and events keep going until 10pm. You will find panels running throughout the day, a Walk of Fame with guest creators, an artist alley, cosplay meetups and contests, and a vendor hall packed with the kind of stuff you came to browse and probably take home.

The gaming hall is hosted by Rune and Board, which is one of Washington County's own gaming stores. Tabletop and board gaming all weekend.

Saturday night keeps going after the expo hall closes. There is a ticketed burlesque show and a drink and draw with visiting artists. This is not a convention that shuts down at 6pm.

Workshops and Panels

The programming is a mix of free and ticketed. Free panels cover introductory topics like foam smithing, where you learn how cosplayers build armor out of EVA foam. Ticketed workshops go hands on with materials and deeper instruction. There is a filmmaking workshop. There is a Mecha Totoro build. And if you have a topic you are genuinely excited about, the team takes proposals for community run panels and workshops. The idea is that the best programming comes from people who actually care about what they are teaching.

Guests and Creators

One of the things that makes the Pacific Northwest special for this kind of event is how many comic book writers, artists, and creators actually live and work here. Westside Comic Con is leaning into that. The guest lineup is still being built out and announcements are ongoing, but the focus is on spotlighting regional talent and keeping the event rooted in the creative community that already exists in this part of the country. Featured guest applications are juried, and the roster covers comics, film, gaming, cosplay, and popular arts.

The People Behind This

Laura Hoover is the convention director. She and her husband started going to conventions together years ago. Sakuracon in Seattle came first. Then Dragon Con in Atlanta became an annual trip, which surprised even her because she never thought she would fly across the country for a convention and keep going back. But it became about the community and the freedom to just be yourself in that space. Now their son is getting involved. Her husband does gaming. She does cosplay. The whole family is in it.

That personal investment is what drives how Westside Comic Con is being put together. The board is a working board. Programming is community driven. And the whole thing is set up so that when people walk in, they feel like they belong, whether they have been going to conventions their whole life or this is their first one.

Giving Back to the Community

Westside Comic Con partners with a spotlight charity each year, with a portion of proceeds going directly to the organization. The nonprofit structure means ticket revenue cycles back into funding future events and community programming. Badges start at $25 per person for the weekend, with a family pass for two adults and two kids. The Hero Pass program partners with local businesses to offer discounts to badge holders, so attendees have a reason to head into Hillsboro for dinner and shopping over the weekend. Local nonprofits can also apply for a community booth to connect with fans and potential supporters.

Get Involved

Volunteers are welcome. The board is looking for people who want to help shape the direction of the event, not just show up to meetings. Vendor applications have a wait list this year, but submissions carry over for next year. Artists can apply for spots in the artist alley or Walk of Fame. And if you have an idea for a meetup or gathering between conventions, Laura is open to hearing pitches. The whole thing is built on the idea that the best stuff comes from the community, not from the top down.