Superman Celebration: Fun for All

Metropolis’ biggest week of the year is drawing near.  From Thursday, June 10, through Sunday, June 13, the town of fewer than 7,000 people will become a real metropolis, or at least close to it, as thousands of visitors from around the country, and even around the world, visit for the 32nd annual Superman Celebration.

“It’s a chance for people of all ages to come together and just enjoy a weekend of fun,” explains Metropolis Tourism Director Angie Shelton. “You never know who you’ll meet…and you never know what you’ll see!”

As always, a big draw for Superman enthusiasts is the lineup of celebrities. Special guests at this year’s festival include Laura Vandervoort and Sam Witwer from television’s Smallville; Noel Neill and Lois Lane from The Adventures of Superman; Ilya Salkind, producer of Superman I, II and III; and the legendary comic book artist, Carmine Infantino.

In addition to Infantino, artists and writers, including Dave Beaty, Josh Elder and members of the Mid-South Cartoonist Association, will be among those who will share their love of comics with visitors to the celebration.

To honor Noel Neill, the “First Lady of Metropolis,” a statue of her likeness is scheduled to be unveiled at 10 a.m. Friday, June 11, at the corner of Eighth and Market streets. The slightly larger-than-life bronze statue will feature Neil in her famous pose as reporter Lois Lane. The statue will be the centerpiece of a newly constructed setting which features engraved bricks. Hundreds of people purchased personalized bricks to help fund the $65,000 project.

Celebration Co-Chairperson Karla Ogle explains there will be events for all ages during the festival.

“The Celebration will include a Smallville tent where free children’s activities are held each day, the “Man of Steel” tent where super strength competitions will draw interest, and the “Metro” tent were live music will be performed daily,” she says. “And, our Artist’s Alley will welcome visitors as a place to learn about the creation of comic books.”

Many popular events are returning to this year’s line-up including the $1,000 Costume Contest, Super Car Show, Supertrek Bike Ride, The George Awards and Auction, Superman Trivia, Color-A-Cape for kids, Superman Road Race, Super Dog Contest, and Supergirl and Superboy pageants, just to name a few.

Superman fans will have the chance to become an “Honorary Citizen of Metropolis” for the second year during the Celebration. Citizen certificates will be available for purchase at the Metropolis Chamber of Commerce during the Celebration and the mayor of Metropolis will conduct a “swearing in” ceremony at the Superman Statue.

New to this year’s line-up are Stump the Superman Expert, a Cheetos Eating Contest and game-show type event, “60 Seconds to be Super.”

During the four-day celebration, visitors can sample food items at numerous cafes-on-wheels and browse sidewalk sales.  The always-popular carnival brings all sorts of exciting rides, along with concessions, including corn dogs and cotton candy.

Right in the middle of all of the activities visitors will have the opportunity to pose with the world-famous 15-foot-tall bronze statue of Superman and tour the SuperMuseum, which holds the largest collection of Superman memorabilia in the world.

Metropolis, Ill., is the only town with the same name as the fictional city made famous in comic books.  It is located at the southern tip of Illinois where the Ohio River meets Paducah, Ky. Check the complete schedule of events for the Superman Celebration, or the Chamber of Commerce, 800.949.5740.

Schedule of Events:

Thursday, June 10

• 
Noon - Information and Souvenir Booth open at Metro Tent
• 5 pm - Opening Ceremony & Skit on Superman Square - Meet Superman!

• 5 pm - Sonshine Amusements Carnival opens at 500 E. Fifth St.

• 5:30 pm Sign-in for Window Painting Contest at Man of Steel Tent

• 5:30 pm - Lois Lane Award presentation, Helping Hands Award Presentation at Metro Tent

• 6 pm - Gospel Music with Cross Harmony at Metro Tent

• 7pm - The Kingsmen Gospel Concert in the Metro Tent

• 7pm - Superman Road Race at Fort Massac State Park

• 7pm - Color Superman Posters at Smallville Tent

• 7:30pm - Kids Karaoke at Smallville Tent
Super Friends Bowling at Bob’s Bowling

Friday, June 11

• 7am - 1/2 of Tickets for Autograph Sessions available outside of the Chamber of Commerce, 607 Market St. While supplies last.  Limit 2 tickets per person, limit one session per person.

• 10am - Noel Neill - Lois Lane Statue Unveiling with Noell Neil, the corner of 8th and Market streets.

• 11am-Noon - Noel Neill & Artist Gary Ernest Smith autograph and pictures at the Lois Lane statue.

• 11am- Artist Alley opens.  Watch for details soon about individual events and workshops.

• 11am - Superman Radio Show Live at Metro Tent
11am - Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Show at Man of Steel Area

• 11:30am - Superman Supersite Meet and Greet at Dippin’ Dots

• 11:30am - Program TBA at Artist Alley & Writer’s Way
Noon - Super Silly Games at Smallville Tent
Noon - “The Making of Superman The Movie” and Question and Answer session with Producer Ilya Salkind at Metro Tent

• 12:30pm - Cheetos Eating Contest at Man of Steel Tent
1pm - Superman Trivia Contest at Metro Tent

• 1pm - Program TBA at Artist Alley & Writer’s Way

• 1:30pm - Making Kryptonite with Jason Lindsey of Hooked on Science at Smallville Tent

• 1:30pm - Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Show at Man of Steel area

• 2pm - Superman Fan Baseball Game:  Metropolis Marvels vs. Smallville Meteors at Metropolis Sports Park

• 2-5pm - Artist and Editor Carmine Infantino at Artist Alley

• 2-9pm - Super City Slugfest - American Legion Baseball Tournament, at Legion Field

• 2-4pm - Meet Ilya Salkind, producer of the Superman movies, at Artist Alley
3pm - Program TBA at Artist Alley

• 3pm - “60 Seconds To Be Super” Gameshow at Man of Steel Tent

• 4-6pm - Meet Gary Ernest Smith, Noel Neil Statue Artist, at the statue

• 4pm - Kids Superhero Costume Conest at Smallville Tent

• 5pm - Sonshine Amusements carnival rides open at 500 E. Fifth St.

• 5pm - Meet Superman at Smallville Tent

• 5:30pm - Costume Parade for Everyone in Costume!  Meet at Smallville.

• 5:30pm - Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Show at Man of Steel Area
• 6pm - Omega Force Strength Team Exhibition at Man of Steel Tent

• 6pm - Music with Solid Rockit Boosters at Metro Tent

• 6pm - Artist Alley closes - reopen at 7pm

• 7pm - Superhero Gameshow for Kids at Smallville Tent

• 7:30 - Superman II Movie at Artist Alley and Writers Way - $3 admission

• 8pm - Fabulous 50s Dance at Baymont Theatre. Tickets required - $25.

• 8pm - “Clean Water Concert” - Consumed with Thirst event near Man of Steel Tent.

Saturday - June 12


• 7am - 1/2 of Tickets for Autograph Sessions available outside of the Chamber of Commerce, 607 Market St. While supplies last. Limit 2 tickets per person, limit one session per person.

• 8am - Kiwanis Superman Bike Ride - Fort Massac State Park
All day - Carnival rides and games 

• 9am - Celebrity Autograph Session A - with Laura Vandervoort & Sam Witwer.  At the Chamber.  TICKETS REQUIRED. 
• See 7am listings for Fri. & Sat.
9am - Noel Neill Appearance at Noel Neill/Lois Lane statue.

• 10am - noon - Meet Ilya Salkind, producer of the Superman Movies inside Artist Alley

• 10am-noon - Meet Comic Artist and Editor Carmine Infantino inside Artist Alley
10am- Making Kryptonite with Jason Lindsey of Hooked on Science at Smallville Tent
10am - Celebrity Autograph Session B - with Laura Vandervoort & Sam Witwer.  At the Chamber.  TICKETS REQUIRED. 
• See 7am listings for Fri. & Sat.

• 10am - Superman Challenge, sponsored by Metropolis Fire Department

• 10am - Washer Pitch Tournament, at Girl Scout House

• 10am - Artist Alley Opens - Watch for details on events and workshops to be announced

• 10am-9pm - Super City Slugfest American Legion Tournament - at Legion Field

• 10:30am - Freestyle Connection Freestyle BMX Bike Show at Man of Steel area

• 10:30am - Program TBA at Artist Alley
11am - Meet Superman at Smallville Tent - Photos and prizes!

• 11am - Weigh-in for Bench Press and Dead Lift Competition, Man of Steel Tent

• 11:30am - Celebrity Q & A Session with Laura Vandervoort and Sam Witwer at Metro Tent - open to public, no tickets required
• 11:30am - Superman Friends Meet and Greet at Dippin’ Dots
Noon - Super Silly Games at Smallville Tent
Noon - See a real life Man-of-Steel pull a firetruck - at Man of Steel Tent

• 1pm - Color-A-Cape with the Metropolis Planet staff, on courthouse lawn

• 1pm - Superman Trivia at Metro Tent
1pm - Superman Classic Bench Press & Deadlift Competition, Man of Steel tent
2pm- VIP Celebrity Autograph Session with Laura Vandervoort & Sam Witwer. TICKETS REQUIRED. 
• See 7am listings for Fri. & Sat.

• 2-4pm - Meet Ilya Salkind, producer of the Superman Movies inside Artist Alley

• 2-5pm - Meet Comic Artist and Editor Carmine Infantino inside Artist Alley

• 2pm - Superdog Contest at Smallville Tent
2pm - Program TBA at Artist Alley

• 3pm - Noel Neill Autograph Session at the Metropolis Planet.

• 3pm - Honorary Citizens of Metropolis Swearing In Ceremony at Superman Statue

• 3pm - Sign-in for Beautiful Baby Contest at Smallville Tent

• 3pm - Meet Wrestler Handsome Jimmy Valiant at Man of Steel Tent

• 3:30pm- Celebrity Autograph Session C with Laura Vandervoort & Sam Witwer. TICKETS REQUIRED.
• See 7am listings for Fri. & Sat.

• 3:30pm- Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Show at Man of Steel area

• 4-6pm - Meet Lois Lane Statue Artist Gary Ernest Smith at Artist Alley

• 4pm - Beautiful Baby Contest - at Smallville Tent

• 4:30pm - Celebrity Autograph Session D with Laura Vandervoort & Sam Witwer. TICKETS REQUIRED. 
• See 7am listings for Fri. & Sat.

• 5pm- Sound Check for Colgate Country Showdown at Metro Tent

• 5pm - Sign-in for Little Miss Supergirl and Superboy at Smallville Tent

• 5pm- Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Show at Man of Steel area

• 6pm - Colgate Country Showdown at Metro Tent
6pm - Omega Force Exhibition at Man of Steel Tent

• 6pm - George Awards and Auction at Baymont Theater. Hosted by Jim Hambrick, Super Museum owner
• 6pm - Supergirl and Superboy Pageants - at Smallville Tent

• 6pm - Antique Car Association Poker Run, Classic Cars at Washington Park

• 6:30pm - Doors close at Artist Alley

• 8pm - Fan Films, Top Films shown with awards presented (doors open at 7:30)

• 8pm - Renegade Wrestling - at RPW across from Ft. Massac (doors open at 6pm.  Admission, children under 5 free) 

• 10:30pm - After Hours Costume Dance at Artist Alley

Sunday - June 13


• 8am - Rotary Club Super Car Show at Fort Massac

• 10am - Artist Alley opens - closes at 4pm

• 10am-Noon Sign in for $1000 Costume Contest

• 10:30am - Winners for Comic Art Contest announced at Artist Alley

• 10:30am - Stump the Superman Expert contest at Metro Tent

• 11am - Noel Neill appearance at Lois Lane Statue

• 11am - Kids Superhero Gameshow at Smallville Tent

• 11am - Program TBA at Artist Alley and Writer’s Way

• Noon - $1000 Superhero Costume Contest at Metro Tent

• 1pm Kids Karaoke at Smallville Tent

• 1pm - Omega Force Exhibition at Man of Steel Tent

• 2pm - Color a Giant Comic at Smallville Tent

• 2pm - Swearing In Ceremony for Honorary Citizens of Metropolis

• 2:30pm - Character Karaoke at Main Tent
3pm - Superman Scavenger Hunt at Smallville Tent

• 4pm - Superman Celebration concludes with Closing Skit at Superman Statue