The Blair County Convention Center is hosting the annual event that began Friday afternoon and will end Sunday evening. This year, the event is expected to have its biggest turnout to date; 6,000 participants from nearly 30 states are predicted to show up to the event.

Casey Bassett, event promoter, said the diversity of what Sci-Fi Valley Con has to offer is part of what attracts so many participants.

“We have a lot more than just science fiction stuff,” Bassett said.

One of the event’s biggest attractions is the panel of celebrity guests.

Rayden Yeager, 9, of Altoona gets some air while cosplaying as a Palico cat from the video game “Monster Hunter World” at Sci-Fi Valley Con on Friday. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

In addition to hosting speaking panels and Q&A sessions, the celebrity guests are participating in numerous autograph sessions and photo ops.

This year’s panel includes a wide range of celebrities. “Supernatural’s” Mark Pelle­grino, David Haydn-Jones and Adam Fergus are all in attendance, in addition to a number of other actors and cartoon voices. Billy West, Rodger Bum­pass, Rob Paulsen, Maurice Lamarche, Seth Gilliam, John Russo and David Lee Madison are all on the list of this year’s featured celebrity guests.

Paulsen, who voices Yakko from “Animaniacs,” Pinky from “Pinky and the Brain,” Snowball from “Rick and Morty” and Donatello and Raphael from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” says that he loves the opportunity that Sci-Fi Valley Con provides him to interact with so many fans.

“The thing I love the most is the opportunity to meet people with whom I’ve been ‘friends’ for over 30 years, but haven’t met in person,” Paulsen said. “These characters I’ve had a part in creating affect people on such a deep level.”

In addition to hosting the celebrity guests, Sci-Fi Val­ley Con welcomes 300 vendors and exhibitors. Other events for the weekend in­clude multiple gaming rooms, trivia tournaments, a scavenger hunt, a charity auction, quick sketch artists, “con quest,” costume contests, lightsaber demos, cosplay, and Nerf on the lawn.

Proceeds from a number of the events, including the scavenger hunt, auction and quick sketch artists, will be benefiting children’s hospitals through the Extra Life foundation.

The auction is made up of pieces donated by many of the artists attending the convention.

This year, the event has cap­tured the attention of 33% more people than years past. The community atmosphere is part of what attracts so many participants.

“We like to keep things as down-to-earth as possible,” Bassett said. “We have a really good atmosphere where people can come be themselves and know no one will judge them.”

In addition, the organization recently announced a Pittsburgh convention that will be held in May 2020. With the appeal of the Pittsburgh and Altoona conventions being held back-to-back in the coming year, even more participants have shown interest.

Participants are already impressed by the turnout and excited for what the weekend has to offer.

“The turnout is great; I’ve been steadily busy already,” Paulsen said. “People from all walks of life are connected by these characters. I’m so grateful to be here.”