Hopes to bring 'largest festival of its kind' back to Harrogate

Thousands of comic art fans flocked to the festival. Picture: Andrew Benge.

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More than 11,000 fans attended the Thought Bubble Festival, the largest of its type in the UK, at the convention centre earlier this month, following 12 successful years in Leeds.

The event has become one of the most important dates of the year for lovers of comic art, with some of the biggest names in the world attending the 2019 show, including artists and writers from Marvel, DC, Netflix, 2000AD, Image, Adobe and more.

There are hopes to make the festival an annual event. Picture: Andrew Benge.

After the coup of securing such a festival, Harrogate Convention Centre director Paula Lorimer said there are now hopes for Thought Bubble to become a firm fixture of the town's annual events calendar.

She said: "What an absolutely brilliant event, we knew this could be big but the turnout was just incredible. The organisers of Thought Bubble put their faith in Harrogate, and it paid off with a hugely successful weekend, some great coverage and lots of very happy visitors.

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"I'd love to see Thought Bubble established on Harrogate's calendar of arts events."

Festival manager Chloe Green, said: "Thought Bubble 2019 was a huge success. There were so many unexpected moments that warmed my heart that I just didn’t expect.

"Seeing kids and adults of all ages, who’ve travelled from all over the world, become instant best friends because of their mutual love for comics and their art, was super special for me. We truly have the friendliest comic con in the world.

"It made all the hard work we’ve put in, the late nights and these achy bruised legs completely worth it. And I cannot wait to do it all again.”

Before it came to Harrogate from November 9-10, Thought Bubble held a number of events across Yorkshire - including Great British Bake Off Star Kim-Joy attending The Lighthouse School in Horsforth, famed comic writer and current head of the Joker comics, Brian Azzarello hosting a sold-out talk at Leeds Art University, and a host of children’s workshops, exhibitions, talks and panels across Leeds, York and Harrogate.