Fulfilling their wildest dreams, the organizers of this year's Fan Expo Canada event here in Toronto are having to contend with a record-breaking attendance as lines the length of many city blocks remain constantly outside the expo's entrances today, the second day of the show. Inside, the halls are packed shoulder-to-shoulder, escalators are constantly bringing in new crowds and every panel, every booth, every autograph sessions seems to be buckling under the weight of a frightening number of attendees. The exceptional part of this phenomenon is that everything is moving. The crowds are moving, the lines are moving, and yet they remain constantly long and thick. 

The Expo's security were quick to react to the waves today, locking down alternate entrances and setting up barriers to try to direct the flow of the crowds. This made it seem impossible to enter the Expo at first, but the traffic did move. True to the reputation of the fans of comic books, anime, fantasy movies, and games in attendance, everyone was polite, patient, and very kind to each other. No fights, no raised voices, no rushing, only the most sincere apologies when backpacks or costume props collide.

Many of the people I bumped into today told me that this was their first Fan Expo despite this being the show's fifteenth year in operation. 

Part of the larger draw this year has been the large number of celebrities in attendance for autograph sessions. Despite an average fee of $30 for a signing and $40 to get your picture taken with the guest, lines for access to the stars were long and packed.

Lou Ferrigno 

Beau Bridges 

Walter Koenig 

Bruce Campbell 

Although the main hall hosted actors and actresses from film and television, the Expo also hosts additional sessions for notable creators of comic books and anime too. The trick, with all the crowds in the halls, is both finding them and getting to them.