The city of Metropolis, Illinois is expecting to attract a large crowd this weekend with the kickoff of its annual Superman Celebration. 20,000-30,000 people are expected to attend the celebration now in its 38th year.
Trish Steckenrider of the Greater Metropolis Convention and Visitors Bureau says she expects record crowds this year and anticipates a boost to the local economy. “But the entire economic impact when we look at those people that are coming in, spending the night, eating in our restaurants, shopping in our stores, filling up their cars in our gas stations, we look at an economic impact of about $3 million dollars plus for the city of Metropolis," Steckenrider says.
She says the Superman Celebration began in 1978 as a one-day local event and has grown substantially over the years. “Now we’re at a four day event where on Sunday we have a costume contest, we have a fan film festival that happens throughout the event and there’s just so much for so many people as we go through the four days."
Attendees have the opportunity to meet featured celebrities including Peter Facinelli and Mechad Brooks, stars of the CBS hit series “Supergirl,” as well as comic writers and artists.
The celebration begins Thursday and ends on Sunday, June 12.
