The Office Super Fan Festival debuts at Marketplace at Steamtown and Levels in Scranton July 24-26
Despite ending in 2013 after nine seasons on NBC, “The Office” is just as popular as ever, but it has been years since Scranton celebrated the hit comedy show with a convention in the home of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.
That all changes in 2020 with The Office Super Fan Festival, a brand new event that will feature cast members, screen-used props and wardrobe, trivia and cosplay contests, a disco party, Dundie Awards, vendors, artists, and more. It will be held at The Marketplace at Steamtown and Levels Bar & Grill in downtown Scranton on Friday, July 24 through Sunday, July 26.
“We wanted to do something for the fans of the show ‘The Office.’ We wanted to give them a place where they could go to get away from their busy lives, meet other DunderMifflinites, and talk about nothing but ‘The Office.’ Why did we do this? Because we are literally just fans wanting to do something nice for other fans who love the show as much as we do,” the organizers wrote on the festival website.
Confirmed guests include Leslie David Baker (who played Stanley Hudson), Hidetoshi Imura (Hidetoshi Hasagawa), Noel Petok (Troy Underbridge), Jackie Debatin (Elizabeth the Stripper), and Tom Butts, a collector who specializes in screen worn/used movie and television props, wardrobe, and memorabilia. Clarks Summit magician, mentalist, and comedian Denny Corby, who recently appeared on “Penn & Teller: Fool Us,” will serve as the official emcee of the event. His family owns the only paper company in Scranton, housed in the famous building from the show’s opening.
“‘The Office’ was a TV staple in the Corby home. If you met Denny, you’d swear he was a cross between Michael Scott, Jim Halpert, and a touch of Andy Bernard,” his bio notes.
Tickets, which are $80 for the entire weekend, are on sale now at officefanfestival.co.
The Office Super Fan Festival activities and features include:
Cafe Disco – Levels Bar & Grill (519 Linden St., Scranton) will host an adult mixer with drinks and lots of music/dancing on Friday and Saturday night. A small area at The Marketplace at Steamtown (300 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton) will be designated as Cafe Disco Jr. for younger convention-goers.
Office Olympics – This will be a timed relay-style event. Each competition will consist of three two-person teams playing a series of mini games that must be completed in order to move on to the next game. There will be a photo op/medal ceremony at the end of each competition. The best time overall throughout the weekend gets a prize package.
Dundie Awards – A Michael Scott impersonator will host this limited event with skits and entertainment. Everyone in attendance will receive their very own award. Tickets for the awards are already sold out.
Yankee Swap – Will you end up with a teapot, oven mitt, or a video iPod? Simply bring a gift in the $15 range to the Marketplace stage at the appointed time and battle it out for the gift you most desire. All ages are welcome to participate in this event.
Celebrity autographs and photos – Meet the actors and chat with them at their table for free; no purchase is necessary other than weekend admission. Actors will have a fee at their table for autographs on photos or your own items. Selfies will be available for purchase as well. Professional photo-ops and group photos will be available.
Actor Q&A panels – Each actor will take part in a Q&A panel where audience members will have a chance to ask them whatever they want. This is located on the upper floor of Levels Bar & Grill. VIPs have guaranteed priority seating at this event.
Live music – Superfans Zach and Mikayla Dodge are a husband and wife acoustic duo who are scheduled to perform. They were featured in The Office-isms 12 Days of Christmas video shared by Rainn Wilson.
Prop and wardrobe museum – There will be a large display of props, wardrobe, and items that were actually used on screen during the filming of “The Office.” This area will be open all weekend.
Office Roast – This will be a fan-driven event staged at The Marketplace at Steamtown with zingy one-liners and insults about your favorite and least favorite characters of the show, followed by “Boom, roasted!”
Office cosplay contest – All ages are encouraged to dress up as their favorite character. Categories include Best Baby/Toddler Costume, Best Youth Costume, Best Adult Costume, Funniest, Most Original, Best Lookalike, Best Group, Best Performance, and Best Overall Costume.
Fan film contest – Create a fan video related to “The Office” to be entered. Winners will be selected from the following categories: Funniest, Closest to the Original Source Material, Best Original Short, and Stand-Out Performance/Actor. Prizes will be awarded for each category.
No. 1 Office Super Fan Contest – Each person has only one minute to impress the judges with what makes them the biggest “Office” fan. Participate or listen and enjoy hearing about everyone’s diehard passion for the series. Prizes will be awarded to the winner.
Fan art contest – All ages are encouraged to enter and display their fan art. There will be an overall grand prize and first, second, and third place in each age group.
Quoting Bee – Every episode delivers several memorable quotes. Contestants must be able to finish lines word-for-word to progress to the next round. There will be both adult and youth rounds for prizes.
Office Triviocalypse – Start building your team (up to six), studying, and thinking of clever names. The biggest and best fans will duke it out to be the ultimate trivia champion and claim the prize.
