Salute to Supernatural con comes to New Jersey

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — For those who ga-ga for CW’s Supernatural, there’s no need to wait for the new television season to begin. The popular series will be featured in a Creation Entertainment convention Friday, July 8 through Sunday, July 10 at the Hilton in Parsippany, N.J.

Audience members can expect autograph and photo opportunities with many of the stars from the series, including Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins. Plus, there will be several exclusive events and vendors selling Supernatural gear.

The three-day event, billed as a “Salute to Supernatural,” honors the successful horror show created by Eric Kripke, which is about to enter its seventh season. The series follows the adventures of two brothers, Sam (Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles), as they hunt for demons and other things that go bump in the night. The surprising success of the hit show has created an unbelievably dedicated fanbase.

Tickets will be available at the door. There are several options. For the major enthusiasts, try the Gold Weekend Package, which costs $439. For that price, you’ll gain entry into the convention all three days, receive the best seats in the auditorium, get to meet most of the celebrities on hand and score an autograph, plus receive invitations to a Friday night karaoke jam, a celebrity brunch and a performance by the Brian Buckley Band.

One step down is the Silver Weekend Package, which costs $299; it includes just about everything that the Gold package features, except for the exclusive meet-and-greets at the brunch event. Preferred day tickets are also available, while general admission costs $20 on Friday, $25 on Saturday and $50 on Sunday.

A couple notes on Creation events: The convention is never over-sold, so you are guaranteed admission in the main auditorium, where all the action takes place. Gold and Silver patrons get to keep their same seats throughout the weekend, while general admission attendees come and go.

For the autograph sessions, fans are typically required to bring their own item to get signed. Plenty of official photos and products are on sale in the vendors room, including 8-by-10 glossies. The Gold patrons receive their autographs first, then the Silver group, and so on and so forth.

Supernatural fans will undoubtedly be the most interested in Sunday’s events, which include Padalecki and Collins. This is an important distinction for those looking to buy tickets: Celebrities typically appear on one day during a Creation convention. So, don’t buy a ticket for Friday’s event expecting to see the top billed talent.

On Friday, expect to see Gabriel Tigerman, Kim Rhodes and Corin Nemec. On Saturday, Creation will host Rick Worthy, Steven Williams (his first Salute to Supernatural convention appearance), Matt Cohen and Richard Speight Jr., who will be on hand Sunday as well. The final day of the con will see Padalecki and Collins sharing the stage, plus Brock Kelly.

How much are the autographs and photo opportunities? The price varies, but most of the talent charges $20 for an autograph and $40 for a photo op. Note: If you hold a Gold or Silver pass, many of your autographs are included in the package already.

The top draw is Padalecki, who commands $89 for a scribble and $129 for a photo. If you’re a die-hard fan, try the double photo op with Padalecki and Collins for $169 (limited availability). Collins by himself costs $49 for an autograph and $79 for a photo.

Saturday will see what promises to be an extremely interesting talk by Jason Gowin, star of TV’s Extreme Paranormal and The Paranormals. The discussion should be enthralling as it will touch upon “real” supernatural events. There will also be trivia games and a costume parade, two staples of Creation cons, plus many more panels and events.

Salute to Supernatural will take place at the Hilton Parsippany at 1 Hilton Court in Parsippany, N.J.

Click here for more information and a detailed schedule of events.

Heading to the convention? Let us know in the comment field below; be sure to tell us some good stories from the three-day event.