ATLANTA (AP) - More than 30,000 storm troopers, super heroes and
sci-fi junkies will be in Atlanta this weekend for Dragon Con,
billed as the south's largest gathering of popular culture.

The event, which is held every Labor Day weekend in Atlanta,
runs from Friday until Monday and celebrates science fiction, film,
music, art, horror, anime and costumes. Saturday features one of
the weekend's most popular events, a parade of nearly 1,000
characters through downtown Atlanta.

Several celebrities are expected at this year's convention,
including ``Lord of the Rings'' and ``Goonies'' star Sean Astin;
Hayden Panettiere from ``Heroes''; Robert Englund, who played the
striped sweater-wearing slasher ``Freddy Krueger''; Adam West, who
played the original television ``Batman''; and ``Star Trek'' cast
members including George Takei and Robert Picardo.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)