Salt Lake Comic Con Fan X 2015 3-Winner #Giveaway!

The wildly popular Kid Con is back too!

It's back! One of the most popular events ever and popular around the whole country, as people join in the fun of dressing up and "becoming" their favorite characters from cartoons, t.v. Shows and movies!  

For Those of you who attended Salt Lake City Comic Con in September 2014 and came away wanting even more, I've got great news! Salt Lake Comic Con Fan Xperience is back, with a smaller, high-quality event with event founders Dan Farr and Bryan Brandenburg announcing a significantly lower amount of  tickets being allotted.   There will be only 50,000 tickets per day, as compared to the maximum crowd attendance of 120,000 people one day at Comic Con 2014, overwhelming the arena on opening day in September. With this and other improvements, this year's Salt Lake City FanXperience shouldn't  be one to be forgotten for those privileged to attend!

As a volunteer and attendee at the SLC Fan X 2014 I can attest there is something for everyone and it brings out the inner nerd in all of us!  It brings the whole family together, as the kids can dress up, attend KidCon and see other kids dressed up in their favorite characters.  Also, with one-of-a-kind vendors congregating at the event, you'll be sure to find gifts and collectibles you could never find on Amazon.  

The Comic Con Organization also gives back to the community.  They have worked to donate and work with 18 charities and public organizations including Boy Scouts of America, Firemen & Friends For Kids, Huntsman Cancer Institute, & Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital.  Also, in the near future, they will be partnering with the American Red Cross at the event itself.

If you aren't impressed with huge, pressing crowds, this is the event for you.  With the huge crowds of September still in many people's minds, it might be appropriate to understand what actually happened.  Basically, the founders didn't realize the huge popularity of the event.  Complimentary tickets were given out as a gesture to schools, law enforcement personnel, fire department personnel, military and individuals in need.  This is a standard procedure for most major events and the average redemption rate for an event is under 25%.  But for this hugely popular event, the redemption rate for these tickets alone was at 97%!  This put the already highly attended event over the top!  Now the organizers of Comic Con are excited to put their experiences to great use and Fan Xperience 2015 will be amazing! 

This year's star roster includes Carrie Fisher, Morena Baccarin, Felicia Day, Tom Felton, Brandon Routh, Christopher Lloyd, Alaina Huffman and many more! 

I, along with my two lovely Co-Hosts, Housewife Eclectic and Dawn's Delights, am pleased to announce that 3 winners will be able to participate in the fun and excitement of Comic Con Fan Xperience 2015!  1st Prize - Two 3-day passes to Fan Xperience 2015!  2nd Prize - One 3-day pass to Fan Xperience  2015 and 3rd Prize - 2 Commemorative Collectible Pins from  Comic Con Fan X 2014 and 2015!  Enter the Rafflecopter Form below!  Good luck! 

Please consider liking each and every one of  the participating bloggers on Facebook!  We work hard to bring great information and giveaways like this to you!

This blog did not receive any monetary compensation for this giveaway.  Also, this giveaway is no way sponsored, endorsed by, affiliated with, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google or any other social media platform.  No participating bloggers are responsible for delivery of prizes. Thanks to all the Utah Blogs who participated along with A GAL NEEDS...to promote this giveaway. Also special thanks to Troy Hulse, Sr. Volunteer Manager, at Comic Con!
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Mixture Of Nature And Suburbia In Sandy #Utah

I'm a native California girl but that was a long time ago...when you could walk on the San Joaquin River levees and trails alone and not be afraid of being accosted by exhibitionists, transients, pick-pockets and more.  (The last time I visited, it was a exhibitionist, yikes!)  It's still beautiful, don't get me wrong, but those days are gone for me.

It seems like I've always lived in beautiful places, like the 10 years I spent in Floyd, VA, so green, so humid, so close to the Blue Ridge Parkway...I loved it so much!

Now it's Utah that I call home, and I love it here too!  I lived for several years in Provo, UT.  It's a college town, home to BYU and UVU.  Then we moved north to the Sandy/Draper area.  At first I wasn't sure I'd like it.  I'm sort of an introvert, who loves to get away to nature.  I crave places that aren't crawling with people.  I need places to be able to walk and be by myself, to meditate and reflect and let my dog roam while I'm doing so. 

Sandy is in Salt Lake County and close to many fun events and shopping areas.  But I was so happy to find that it also has a slice of the most beautiful nature around and the solitude I love is right in my back yard!  As a matter of fact I really consider Dimple Dell equestrian, hiking jogging and recreation area my backyard.  Dimple Dell is an expansive park offering hiking, biking & horseback riding along with ponds, streams & picnic areas.  It is like a huge nature park in the middle of the suburbs  It goes for miles and has many trails.  There are many entrances to the park.  One trailhead entrance is right by 24-Hour Fitness in Sandy at 10365 S 1300 E.

I frequent just a small part of Dimple Dell, just enough to fit in a 50-minute walk with my border collie, Evee,  several times a week.  I have carved out my own route, one that I know isn't too well-traveled. 

I even have my own private bench to take in the gorgeous mountain view! 

Another great thing about living in Sandy/Draper area are the many places to bike.  I like to bike on Wasatch Blvd, where you can get gorgeous views of the city below or bike towards Little Cottonwood Canyon.  The Pepperwood Area towards Draper is also gorgeous to bike through and there are several parks and mountain biking trailheads you can take.  I like going earlier in the morning because the traffic is a little heavier during the day and unfortunately there aren't designated biking lanes for some of the way. Most drivers, however, are very considerate, if you don't hog the road.  I also recommend using lights both on front and on back of your bike, or a reflective vest or a light on your helmet.

If you are in a crowd-loving mood we have plenty of places and events here for that as well!  As a matter of fact, Sandy specializes in events and venues of all kinds!  The shopping is amazing.  Just get off I-15 at 123rd South and you have restaurants galore and the South Town Mall is right there, with Dillard's, Macy's, and R.E.I. to name just a few.  Both Trax and Frontrunner Trains are accessible in both Sandy and Draper, heading as far north as Layton and south to Provo (Frontrunner only). 

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium - This 9th largest aquarium in the United States is located here in Draper at 12033 South Lone Peak Parkway.  It is a childhood dream come true for founder and CEO, Brent Anderson.  As a child, he was given a book about the sea from his grandma,  It awed and inspired him so much that as an adult, when asked what he would do if he knew he couldn't fail, he knew he had to bring his youthful dream to reality.  The Aquarium has 4 main galleries - North American River Otter Exhibit, Ocean Explorer, South American Explorer, and a 300,000 gallon shark tank! 

Sandy Amphitheatre - Located on the corner of 9400 South and 1300 East, this Amphitheatre is open during the summer and has amazing concerts!  It has a capacity of 2,750 and allows people to bring in their own chairs.  It is a truly unique concert experience!  I live so close to it that I can hear the music in the evenings when I'm sitting outside on the porch or have the doors and windows open.

Rio Tinto Stadium - Soccor has become a big deal in Utah, ever since REAL Salt Lake made Rio Tinto Stadium their home.  This is located on 9256 S. State Street in Sandy.  I've been to a game and it's packed! 

As you can see, the area where I call home has a lot to offer!  You really ought to come and explore!  And let me know when you come...we'll do lunch!