An abundance of meet-and-greets will be among the highlights of the annual Fandom Fest this December, including a live performance youth will not want to miss.

“There are going to be so many characters,” Lee County Library System Programming & Community Outreach Manager Melissa Baker said. “It’s a grander scale celebration of pop culture for today.”

The library took over the first Fandom Fest in 2019. It was originally Comic Fest before they decided to expand it to as many fandom characters as they could.

“It wasn’t all about superheroes and comics. There are other literary fandoms that we like and wanted to support and promote — tap into what kids are into,” she said.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., Fort Myers.

The character meet-and-greets include:

• Santa Claus: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1:30-3 p.m.

• Elf: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2-3 p.m.

• Belle: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2-3 p.m.

• Bluey: 11 a.m. to noon, 12:30-1 p.m.; 2-3 p.m.

• Barbie: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 2-3 p.m.

• Ken: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Too Tall Princess Leia: 12:30-1:30 p.m.; 2-3 p.m.

30-minute meet and greet sessions:

• 510st Legion: 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

• Chewbacca: Noon and 2 p.m.

• Ahsoka: 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

• Batman: 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

• Spiderman: 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

• Captain America: Noon and 2:30 p.m.

• Moana: 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

• Elsa: 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

• Mirabel: Noon and 1 p.m.

• Tiana: 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

The costume contest, which requires contestants to register from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., is open to all ages. The judging will be followed by awards within each category. The pre-K contest will be held at 1 p.m.; kid contest at 1:30 p.m.; teen contest at 2 p.m. and adult contest at 2:30 p.m.

Baker encourages everyone to come in costume and participate in the contest.

“Everyone is walking around in a costume. It’s going to be a really good event,” she said.

In addition, Baker said there will be a Polynesian dance and fire show at noon, which will include hula and fire knife dancing. She said it’s perfect timing with the new Moana movie coming out in November.

“We are promoting literacy while doing it,” she said.

Other activities include fandom crafts, Cosplay DIY Makerspace, comic art workshop, mobile library giveaways, rock wall and bounce houses, rolling video games, STEM Tech Zone and face painting.

Every child will receive a free book during the festival.

Volunteers — adult and high school students — are also needed to make the event a success. There are four-hour, and six-hour shifts available. The deadline to apply is Friday, Nov. 22.

Visit leelibrary.net/fandomfest to sign up.

There also will be great merchandise available, as well as food for purchase with numerous food truck options.

There will be events at the branches leading up to the festival, which can be viewed at LeeGov.com/library/fandom-fest.

Baker said a side bonus of the festival is attracting people to the library, so they can learn about the numerous resources offered.

“Libraries are places of connection and community. It’s so much more than books — digital resources,” she said. “We are promoting all of that while having fun — all the things the library can be used for.”

The Fort Myers Regional Library is at 2450 First St., Fort Myers.