Costumed fanatics storm downtown for colourful kickoff to Calgary Expo

Thousands of costumed fanatics stormed through downtown Calgary for the fifth annual Pow! Parade of Wonders on Friday.

Watch the highlights from the 2017 Pow! Parade of Wonders in Calgary

7 years ago

Duration 0:38

Thousands of costume fanatics dressed up for the annual cosplay extravaganza.

The event kicks off the 12th Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo, which runs through Sunday.

As the Flash ran circles around Batman, and Chewbacca photobombed the Joker, the Calgary Eyeopener's Angela Knight covered theparade live as participants marched fromCentury Gardens toOlympic Plaza.

This year's expo expects more than 80,000 fans over four days to celebrate all genres of pop culture comics, gaming, anime, horror, fantasy, sci-fi and more.

Some of the biggest names expected to make an appearance include:

• Firefly's Nathan Fillion.
• Irish actor Kristian Nairn, who plays Hodor on Game of Thrones.
• Calgary's own Todd McFarlane, creator of Spawn.
• James Marsters, who first came to fame as Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Adrian Paul of Highlander: The Series fame bundled up in a sweater to take in the parade. He was just one of several stars to take part on Friday as the Calgary Expo officially got underway.

Spawn creator Todd McFarlane and Mayor Naheed Nenshi take the annual Pow! Parade selfie at Olympic Plaza.

The fifth annual Pow! Parade of Wonders kicked off the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo in downtown Calgary Friday morning.

Kristian Nairn, known as Hodor from the popular TV series Game of Thrones, took in the parade.

Jack Sparrow was all in for a new route from Century Gardens to Olympic Plaza.

Doctor Who was among thousands of cosplayers who took to Calgary's streets. Calgary Expo officials said registration for the parade was up this year, but the weather was a little on the cold side.

This little Superman was super pumped as Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, who grew up in Calgary, officially announced the opening of this year's Calgary Expo.

Participants brought thousands of bright, colourful costumes into downtown Calgary.

Jason Mewes, of Jay and Silent Bob fame, also took to Facebook Live to show off Calgary's Pow! Parade of Wonders.

Hellboy poses with fans after the opening ceremony of the Calgary Expo.

Predator prowls through Olympic Plaza after the parade.

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