The National Cartoonists Society is delighted to announce that it has chosen the city of Huntington Beach, California, to host the inaugural NCSFest, a celebration of comics and cartoon art from all over the world. Based on the comic art festivals that are hugely popular in Europe, the festival will be held over the weekend of May 17-19, 2019.

Hundreds of the world’s most celebrated creators are expected to attend the three-day event, participating in seminars, exhibitions, workshops, panel discussions and signing sessions, the vast majority of which will be free to the public. Downtown Huntington Beach will be the setting, with all events staged beachside, on the iconic pier, at the city’s Arts Center and library and in local hotels and businesses, all within easy walking distance.

So far the guest list is star studded with both U.S. based and international creators like Daniel Clowes, Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, Patrick McDonnell, Luke McGarry, Sean Phillips, Dana Claire Simpson, Simon Thorpe and Graham Drury from the UK’s VIZ, myself, with MANY more creators from all over the world to be announced.

Main Street, Huntington Beach. Photo credit: OC Register

A long stretch of Main street, going from the pier into town, will be turned into a street fair filled with creators and artists on Saturday and Sunday. Tables at the inaugrual NCSFest are only $200 for the weekend for non-NCS members and only $100 for members who are not regeistered for the Reubens (which takes place at the same time just down the shoreline). NCS members who are registered for the Reubens? Table space is FREE!

Many thousands will be thronging the streets of this popular tourist town, making this a unique opportunity to bring your work to not just those attending the festival, but to a larger potential audience.

But you need to jump onboard right away. The deadline for application is Dec 14th! Visit the NCSFest website for all the details on the Fest and Artists Alley/exhibitor space! Here’s a direct link to the application page!