UPDATE (March 13): Christopher Lloyd will not appear at this year’s at Emerald City Comicon. Replacing him is fellow “Back to the Future” actor Lea Thompson. Thompson is known for her role as Michael J. Fox’s mother, Lorraine McFly.

Thompson will be replacing Lloyd for the SIFF screening of “Back to the Future” and Q&A at the Uptown Theatre. Lloyd has apparently signed on with a sitcom and couldn’t make his schedule work with his ECCC appearances.

Christopher Lloyd, the actor known for playing eccentric characters since the 1970s, is coming to Emerald City Comicon in March.

Lloyd had a part in the classic 1975 film “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” but didn’t shoot to fame until he played The Reverend Jim Ignatowski on TV’s “Taxi.” The character had to be one of the most eccentric and quirky ever put on the small screen at the time.

Since then he’s starred in the “Back to the Future” film series (only the first one was worth watching), “The Addams Family” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” I’m going to stop there, not because his resume his lacking but because it’s too long. He has over 25 movies and TV appearances in 2011 and 2012 alone.

I’m not even sure how he’s going to find the time to fit in an appearance at ECCC. But, apparently he is.

Two other guests recently announced are voice actors Billy West (“Ren and Stimpy,” “Doug”) and John DiMaggio (“Transformers,” “Batman: The Brave and the Bold,” “Kim Possible”). Emerald City Comicon runs March 30-April 1 at the Washington State Convention Center.
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Emerald City Comicon announced this morning that Eddie McLintock, the star of SyFy Channel’s “Warehouse 13,” and actress Tia Carrere will both be guests at the 10th annual event in March.

McLintock plays Secret Service agent Peter Lattimer on the show and has had roles in “Bones” and “Desperate Housewives.” Carrere has played Mike Myers’ girlfriend in “Wayne’s World” and a villain opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in “True Lies.”

Emerald City Comicon runs March 30-April 1 at the Washington State Convention Center.
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He’s best known for playing “Sulu” on the original “Star Trek” and now George Takei is coming to Emerald City Comicon.

Like his other surviving “Trek” co-stars Takei has stayed busy. He had a recurring role on “Heroes” and is a frequent guest on “The Howard Stern Show.” He seems to pop up everywhere from commercials to a recent episode of “Psych.” Takei has also been a mover on the social front. He publicly announced being gay in 2005.

Emerald City Comicon runs March 30-April 1 at the Washington State Convention Center. Disney comic artist/writer Don Rosa was also announced as a guest last week.

Though Takei’s role in moving society forward has recently been centered around his sexual orientation it was his race where he first began to break long held stereotypes. Whether you’re a “Trek” fan or not it can’t be denied that the series presented ethnic actors in roles that American society had rarely seen before: equals among their white actors.
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FAIRS/FESTIVALS

Celtic Faire Celtic music and dancing, crafts and gifts, High Tea, Bake Shoppe, Lunch items, children’s activities, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 29, Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 7410 S. 12th St., Tacoma.

COMMUNITY

A Sporting Chance an interactive murder mystery dinner theater, 6 p.m. Oct. 29, The Summit Club at Cheney Stadium, 2502 S. Tyler St., Tacoma. $50. 253-752-7707, www.bit.ly/summitclubmystery.

44th Annual Seattle Ski Fever & Snowboard Show Oct. 28-30, Washington State Convention Center, 800 Convention Place, Seattle. Adults $12; Juniors 6-12 $3. Under 6 free with paid adult; 503-249-7733, www.SeattleSkiFever.com.

FREE

Truck and Tractor Day Climb through …

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For many people, this weekend is really Halloween (even though the holiday falls on Monday). They’ll be out visiting pumpkin patches, wandering through mazes, checking out haunted houses, and getting their costumes on. If you’re still looking for a plan, here are local options for fun:

PUMPKIN PATCHES, CORN MAZES

(See our interactive pumpkin patch map for directions.)

Double R Farms’ Pumpkin patch, corn maze, tractor-pulled hay ride, restrooms, school tours, 3-6 tonight and Monday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 5820 44th St. E., Puyallup. 253-227-5385.

Loves Farm’s Pumpkins, corn maze, 2010 Meridian E., Edgewood. $4.50. 253-942-3667.

Jim’s U-Fish at Old McDebbie’s Farm’s Pumpkin patch, fresh eggs, snacks and refreshment stand, picnic area, pony rides petting zoo and farm animals, 10 a.m.-6 tonight-Sunday, 4924 268th St. E., Spanaway. 253-875-0356.
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Wrap up your weekend with some fun in the South Sound. Here’s a selection of events going on today:

FESTIVALS

Tacoma Holiday Food & Gift Festival Oct. 23, Tacoma Dome, 2727 East D St., Tacoma.

CroatiaFest Oct. 23, Exhibition Hall, 305 Harrison St., Seattle. Free. 206-937-8960, croatiafest.org.

FAMILY

Hobey Ford Puppetry presents “Animalia” 4-5:30 p.m. Oct. 23, Chapel on Echo Bay, 400 6th Ave., Fox Island. 253-549-7039. Free.

LITERARY

Poetry reading with Linda Back McKay 4 p.m. Oct. 23, King’s Books, 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma. 253-272-8801, kingsbookstore.com.

MUSIC

University …

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Today–Sunday
The big and highly popular Tacoma Holiday Food & Gift Festival is up and running through Sunday. With more than 600 exhibits, the show is one of the largest holiday events on the West Coast. Hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. today and Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at the Tacoma Dome, 2727 E. D St., Tacoma. Tickets are $13.50 for adults; $12.50 for seniors/military/juniors; kids 10 and younger get in free. Tickets cover the entire run of the festival. Call 800-521-7469 or go to holidaygiftshows.com for details.

Today
Known for her racy and raunchy style of insult comedy, Lisa Lampanelli has made her name participating in the roasts of Denis Leary, Pamela Anderson, Jeff Foxworthy, Flavor Flav, William Shatner, and Donald Trump and to serve as Roastmaster for Larry the Cable Guy. She’s bringing that saucy stand-up routine to the Temple Theater, 47 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, at 7 p.m. tonight. Tickets are $39.50 at the door.

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A couple good reasons to head to the Puyallup today: It’s Monday Madness, with 50 percent off rides, games and select food. And it’s Military Appreciation Day, with free admission for active, retired and reserve military and National Guard and their dependents, plus disabled veterans with a valid military ID.

MONDAY EVENTS

Dennis Lee & Band, 12:30, 2:45, 5 p.m., Fountain Plaza Stage

Floral Demonstrations, 1 p.m., Floral Building

Big Aerial Show, 2, 4, 6 p.m., Blue Gate Plaza

Draft Horse Driving Demonstrations, 2, 3:30 p.m., W.H. Paulhamus Arena

Police K-9 Demonstrations, 6:30 p.m. Loading Area

Ghirardelli Chocolate Championship, …

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