SiliCon with Adam Savage announced dates, prices, and the initial guest list for the 2022 show. The show will once again be at the San Jose Convention Center on Saturday, August 27, and Sunday, August 28. Prices vary from $20 US to $400 US for various ticket options. The initial guest list includes Christopher Lloyd, George Takei, and Alan Ritchson. What can you expect for this year’s show?
Show Details
SiliCon with Adam Savage returns to the San Jose Convention Center for the second year in a row. If you paid attention to the press release, the organizers claimed that this is the seventh annual show. Yes and no. It’s seven years for the organizers who had previously put on Silicon Valley Comic Con from 2016 to 2019.
The first year of SiliCon as an in-person show got cancelled from COVID-19 in 2020. The organizers switched to virtual workshops that led up to last year’s in-person show in 2021. This is the third year for SiliCon and the second year for an in-person show.
Another interesting detail that wasn’t in the PR was how many people attended last year’s show. Because of COVID-19, fear of large groups in public, and wearing face masks, I think only 2,000 people attended. That reminded me of the Big Wow Comic Fest that came before Silicon Valley Comic Con. I prefer a smaller show with a few thousand people than a Super Bowl-sized show with 70,000 people.
On a side note, the organizers for Big Wow Comic Fest put on their first annual San Jose Comic Con last year. I don’t think it was a coincidence that they scheduled their show on the same weekend as SiliCon. I couldn’t attend because the light rail was out of service for a quick ride between the shows. The date for their 2022 show hasn’t been announced yet.
Ticket Prices
The ticket prices are in line with prices from last year.
- A two-day adult pass is $80 US.
- A VIP Gold pass with priority lines, lounge access, and two autograph sessions is $200 US.
- A VIP Platinum pass also includes all premium panel events and a cocktail party for $400 US.
- Discounted tickets for children, military, and seniors are available.
Should you get the regular pass or the VIP pass?
- If you’re local to Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, get the regular pass.
- If you’re traveling from outside of the San Francisco Bay Area or out of state, get the VIP pass.
If SiliCon continues to be a smaller show, pricing for the VIP packages need to drop a bit.
Initial Guest List
The initial guest list includes Christopher Lloyd, George Takei, and Alan Ritchson.
Will the guest list get better than this? Probably not. The usual suspects from older movies and TV shows will fill out the celebrity guest list. Other guests will include NASA astronauts and scientists, authors, artists, and creators.
Virtual Workshops
The first virtual workshop will take place on Saturday, May 14, 2022, from 11:00AM to 1:00PM Pacific. “Foamsmithing A Foam Fantasy Helmet” with Bill Doran.
The second virtual workshop will take place on Saturday, May 21, 2022, from 11:00AM to 1:00PM Pacific. “Build A Cyberpunk Headset” with Sophy Wong.
The third virtual workshop will place on Saturday, June 11, 2022, from 11:00AM to 1:00PM Pacific. “Dragon Horns!” with Beverly Downen.
The registration and materials for the virtual workshop is $39 US to $49 US. A combo registration for all three workshops is $108 US. You can also buy optional tools like a hot glue gun, heat gun, cutting mat, and hobby knife with the registration. The workshop videos will show up on the SiliCon YouTube channel.
I expect SiliCon to be slightly larger with more people attending this year. Wearing masks will be recommended but not required. If the pandemic doesn’t take a turn for the worse between now and then.