2008 will mark the 30th year Metropolis, Illinois has held its annual Superman Celebration. The dates this year will be June 12th through the 15th. During the past 30 celebrations the crowds have grown to over 30,000 flocking to the only town in America that is officially known as the "Home of Superman."
Each Second Full Weekend in June, the City of Metropolis IL, the "Home of Superman" celebrates their Favorite Son, Superman with this fun and festive celebration! Mark your calendars and plan to visit Metropolis this June.
Celebration Official Press Release
Ned Beatty, Allison Mack and Noel Neill will be the featured celebrities at the 30th Annual Superman Celebration to be held in Metropolis, Illinois June 12th thru 15th, 2008.
The Superman Celebration consistently tries to feature celebrities from all Superman genres and this year is no exception. "We wanted to have outstanding celebrities for our 30th year and I do believe we have accomplished that goal," stated Karla Ogle, chairperson for the Superman Celebration.
The legendary actor who was once called the "busiest actor in Hollywood" by Daily Variety; Ned Beatty will make his Superman Celebration debut in 2008. Beatty became affiliated with Superman in the original motion picture in 1978 playing Otis, Lex Luther’s evil henchman. Beatty’s career spans over 4 decades and includes over 150 motion picture credits, as well as numerous television roles.
Smallville sensation Allison Mack will also be in Metropolis for the first time during the 30th Annual Superman Celebration. Mack portrays Chloe, Clark Kent’s best friend in The CW’s acclaimed Smallville. Smallville is a wildly successful series that gives a new interpretation to the classic Superman mythology focusing on the life of a young Clark Kent and Lex Luther.
Noel Neill, the official First Lady of Metropolis, will return to Metropolis to celebrate her 60th Anniversary of portraying Lois Lane on the television series Adventures of Superman. Neill first portrayed Lane in 1948.
In honor of Noel Neill’s 60th Anniversary, a "1940’s Hollywood Ball" has been added to the event schedule for the Superman Celebration. “We are so excited to be able to honor Noel this year with a ball designed to relive the glitz and glamour of the 1940’s,” Ogle said.
Superman fans will have the opportunity to meet the celebrities during the autograph sessions held during the Celebration. There will also be question and answer sessions allowing fans to get their most pressing Superman questions answered by the stars.
Search for Superman Official Press Release
The City of Metropolis is looking for the perfect "Man of Steel" for their 30th Annual Superman Celebration taking place June 12th through 15th, 2008 in Metropolis Illinois. Though Spiderman is usually the comic book character known for webs, Metropolis' Superman will be found on the web. On March 15th, 2008, Metropolis Superman hopefuls will be able to log onto www.searchforsuperman.com to upload their Superman audition videos; cape and tights are highly encouraged."It takes a special person to portray Superman in Metropolis," says Karla Ogle, chairperson of the 30th Annual Superman Celebration. One may think a good physical build would ensure a good Superman, but in Metropolis personality plays a big part in who Superman will be. "We have a lot of children that come to the Superman Celebration, so our Superman must be a social person that can interact with children, teenagers, and adults alike," says Ogle. As stated in the rules, "The person selected to portray Metropolis' Superman must best represent what Superman stands for: Truth, Justice and the American Way. Every answer and comment must be true to what Superman might say."Applicants must have their auditions submitted no later than April 26th, 2008. Fans will then have the opportunity to vote online for their favorite choice from April 27th until May 10th. The Top 5 fan favorites will be revealed on May 12th. The Search for Superman Committee will then review the auditions of the Top 5 and select the 2008 Metropolis Superman. That person will not only receive the honor of being the 2008 Superman for the Superman Celebration in Metropolis, IL, he will also receive a check for $1000.00, round-trip travel expense to Metropolis for the Celebration, a Superman of Metropolis Award, six night stay in Metropolis, and a personal assistant during the Superman Celebration.
Autograph Sessions Official Press Release
Celebrity autograph sessions will work differently this year in order to help keep people from having to wait in long lines.
The celebrities, with the exception of Noel Neill, will be together for ALL autograph sessions on Saturday, June 14 at the Metropolis Chamber building. Noel will be at the Metropolis Planet offices for the first two sessions and then join the other celebrities for the last two sessions at the Chamber.
The twist for this year's autograph session is that tickets will be issued for each session. Tickets will be free but are limited to 125 per session and will be available for pick at the Chamber.
Tickets will be available beginning at 10:00am on Friday, June 13. Only 2 tickets per person will be given away and each pair will be good for only one session. Tickets must be picked up in person as no telephone reservations are accepted.
Session A is from 9am - 10am, Session B is from 10am - 11am, Session C is from 3am - 4am, and Session D is 4am - 5am.
The celebrities will also be making an appearance at the Celebration Main Tent for a Q&A at 11:30am.
Event Schedule Official Press Release
Thursday, June 12
5:00 Opening Ceremony • Carnival Opens 500 block of East 5th
5:30 Special Recognition & Awards “The Dixie Melody Boys”
6:00 Gospel Music – “Forgiven”
6:30 Superboy/Supergirl Pageant practice Superman Square Smallville Stage
7:00 City of Metropolis Featured Gospel • “Helping Hands” Award
7:00 Superman Road Race at Fort Massac • “Lois Lane” Award Host: MCHS Track Team
7:30 Kids Karoke at Smallville Tent
Friday, June 13
10:00 “Super Fan” Baseball Game
10:00 Artists Alley Open
11:00 “What’s it Worth?” at Main Tent Smallville Tent
11:30 Freestyle Connection BMX Bikes Smallville Tent Prizes for Everyone!
Man of Steel Street
1:30 Marc Nobleman presents Mike Hardison, Clifford Helm & Friends
Story behind “The Boys of Steel”
Mike Mallory & WPSD
12:00 Writers Q & A Main Tent Mike Norton, Murphy Anderson Marc Nobleman, Josh Elder
12:00 Supersilly Games at Smallville
12:00 Sign-up Video Game Tourn. Main Stage
12:30 Mini-Seminar at Artists Alley Pictures & Prizes !!
1:00 Superman Jeopardy at Main Tent Man of Steel Street Hosts: Alex & John Rinaldi
2:00 Josh Elder program at Artists Alley • Metropolis Sports Park Writing for the comics
2:00 Video Tournament
2:00 Music with Nathan Betts Baymont Theater, Main Stage
2:00 “Superman Challenge”
2:30 “Muley” and Friends Puppet show
3:00 Kids Superhero Costume Contest
3:00 Artists Q & A Main Stage
3:30 Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Show
3:30 Michael Eury, Man of Steel Street
4:00 Mini-Seminar at Artists Alley Hosts: Zeta Zeta
4:00 Marc Nobleman presents: Fun & Messy Games the story behind “The Boys of Steel”
4:30 Meet Superman! Smallville Tent
5:00 Carnival Opens 500 block of East 5th
5:30 Freestyle Connection BMX
5:30 Guitar pickin’ on Main Stage
6:00 Magic with Kal Kotter Smallville Tent
6:00 Omega Force Exhibition Man of Steel Area, Man of Steel Street
6:30 Bluegrass Music Featuring
Hosts: Metropolis Fire Dept. Michael & Jennifer McLain
7th & Pearl Street
7:00 1940 Hollywood Ball, Contest for the Quick & Strong! Tribute to Noel Neill
7:00 Superhero Gameshow for Kids Smallville Tent
8:00 Superhero Costume Parade Everyone in Costume welcome to walk/Meet at Superman Statue
9:00 Fan Films Man of Steel Area
Saturday, June 14
8:00 Kiwanis Superman Bike Ride
9:00 Session A – Celebrity Autographs
10:00 Washer Pitch Registration Man of Steel STreet
Hwy. 145 across from Sonic
10:00 Session B –Celebrity Autographs Colgate Country Showdown
Noel Neill at Metropolis Planet Hosts: WMOK WGKY 111 East 5th Street
10:00 Artists Alley Opens Noel Neill, Allison Mack, & Ned Beatty
10:00 Super X-Games Metro*Chamber at 607 Market Street
10:30 Mini-Seminar at Artists Alley Man of Steel Street
Metropolis Sports Park
11:00 Weigh-in SLP Superman Classic
11:00 Meet Superman! Smallville Tent
11:00 Garden Walk & Luncheon
11:30 MCHS Cheerleaders perform!
11:30 Celebrity Q & A Main Stage Hosts: WMOK & WGKY
Noel Neill, Allison Mack & Ned Beatty
12:00 SuperSilly Games Smallville Tent Smallville Tent
hosts: MCHS Cheerleaders
12:00 Sign-in for Petal Tractor Pull Baymont Theater
Beside Smallville Tent
12:00 Carnival Opens Man of Steel STreet
12:00 Video Game Tourn. Sign-in Smallville Tent
Hosts: Zeta Zeta--Man Of Steel Street
12:30 Freestyle Connection BMX Bikes Baymont Theater-Man of Steel Street
1:00 Josh Elder program at Artists Alley
1:00 SLP Superman Classic Ohio Valley Chapter of AACA
Bench Press & Dead Lift Competition
1:00 Superman Jeopardy Artists Alley
Main Tent Door Prizes & Super Fun!!
Hosts: Alex & John Rinaldi
1:00 Color a Cape with Metropolis Planet Man of Steel Tent--Smallville Tent
Fort Massac State Park Making comics for Kids & Teens
2:00 Superdog Show
Noel Neill at Metropolis Planet Smallville Tent
111 East 5th Hosts: Massac County Youth Fair
Allison Mack & Ned Beatty at
2:00 Video Game Tourn.
Metro*Chamber 607 Market Carpenters Union Hall
2:30 Sign-in & Sound Check Main Tent
3:00 Magic with Kal Kotter
Allison Mack & Ned Beatty at Smallville Stage
Metro*Chamber 607 Market
3:00 Session C Celebrity Autographs
3:00 Mini-Seminar at Artists Alley
Hosts: Thors Gym
3:00 Sign-in for Beautiful Baby Contest Chiropractic Works Back of Smallville Tent Competition for bikes & boards
3:30 Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Show
4:00 Marc Nobleman Presents
Pictures & Prizes!! Story behind “The Boys of Steel”
4:00 Session D Celebrity Autographs
Bench Press & Dead Lift Competition Noel Neill, Allison Mack, & Ned Beatty
Man of Steel Street Metro*Chamber 607 Market Street
4:00 Beautiful Baby Contest
Curtis House Museum 405 Market Smallville Tent
Hosts: Metropolis Garden Club Hosts: Zeta Zeta
5:00 Colgate Country Showdown
Smallville Tent Main Tent
5:00 Sign-in Superboy & Supergirl Pageant
5:00 Super Auction Preview
5:30 Freestyle Connection BMX Bike Show 500 block of East 5th
6:00 Superboy & Supergirl Pageant
6:00 Super Auction Dinner
6:00 Classic Rock with Timeless
6:00 Block Party
6:00 Cruisers on Superman Square
6:00 Omega Force Exhibition Man of Steel Street Man of Steel Street
7:00 Awards at Super Auction
8:00 Superman: The Movie Tribute to Christopher Reeve
8:00 Super Auction
Sunday, June 15
8:00 Rotary Car Show at Fort Massac State Park
9:00 Four Rivers Church Service--Main Tent
10:00 Sign-in $1000 Superhero Costume Contest --Back of Main Tent
10:00 Artists Alley Open
10:00 Superhero Gameshow for Kids-Smallville Tent
12:00 $1000 Superhero Costume Contest-Main Stage
1:00 Omega Force Exhibition-Man Of Steel Street
2:00 Color a Giant Comic!! Smallville Tent
2:30 Shake your Groove thing with “Body & Soul” Main Stage
3:00 Super Scavenger Hunt-Smallville Tent
3:30 Sign-in for Guinness World Record Attempt-Table at back of Main Tent
5:00 Attempt at Guinness World Record-“Most People dressed as Superman”
Celebration Concludes, See you next year!!
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