A Day of Whimsy and Wonder: The POW! Parade and Calgary Expo 2025
Calgary’s streets and the BMO Centre buzzed with magic on April 25, 2025, as the POW! Parade of Wonders kicked off the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo with a burst of creativity and joy. As someone who cherishes the lift these events bring to your day, you captured the spirit perfectly with your video and photos—some from the parade itself and others from the Expo grounds at the BMO Centre. The parade, a vibrant celebration of cosplay, and the Expo’s costume-filled wonderland reminded everyone how much fun it can be to simply watch, soak in the spectacle, and let the imagination run wild.
The Parade: A Moving Gallery of Creativity
The 11th annual POW! Parade of Wonders turned Calgary’s Culture + Entertainment District into a living canvas of pop culture fandom. Starting at Haultain Park and winding its way to the BMO Centre’s Grand Staircase, the parade showcased thousands of cosplayers in costumes that ranged from adorable to awe-inspiring. Your video captured a standout moment: a cosplayer dressed as a fierce, horned fantasy creature with massive, tattered wings, proudly holding a “Picketing Hell” sign—a clever nod to Diablo’s underworld. The creativity on display, from handcrafted armor to whimsical props, was a testament to the passion of Calgary’s fan community.
Watching the parade was like stepping into a storybook where every character comes to life. Kids dressed as Baby Yoda toddled alongside towering Transformers, while groups of friends channeled entire casts—like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or the Avengers. The joy of spectating comes from the sheer variety: every few steps brought a new surprise, whether it was a meticulously detailed Iron Man suit or a playful cardboard Bowser. For you, setting up your folding chairs early paid off, giving you a front-row seat to this heartwarming display of geeky pride that instantly brightened your day.
Beyond the Parade: Costumes at the BMO Centre
After the parade wrapped, the magic continued at the Calgary Expo grounds at the BMO Centre, where the energy of the POW! spilled into a weekend of fandom (April 24–27). Your photos from the Expo grounds captured more incredible costumes that added to the day’s delight. Wandering through the bustling halls, you spotted characters like a regal Loki, a steampunk-inspired Doctor Who, and even a family dressed as the Incredibles—each costume a little burst of joy that kept the smiles coming.
What makes watching these performances so uplifting is the uninhibited creativity and camaraderie. Cosplayers at the Expo weren’t just showing off;
