This weekend, a portal (of sorts) will open to an alternate universe. Cyphacon – the event that has it all, especially “all ‘’ that the sci-fi, fantasy, anime and gaming crowd is into – is back.  Last year’s lineup passed the vibe check. This year’s lineup is even better with its 120 hours of programming that includes celebrity guests, cosplay guests and contest, musical and performing acts, charity auction, Scion eSports Arena, tabletop board gaming, fan groups, local groups, CyPhaKids, and a new vendor, artists and makers arena with 80-plus vendors!

“I think Mary McDonnell will be a big draw,” said Garrett Manuel, one of the event planners.

McDonnell was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe for her role of “Stands with Fist” in the Academy Award-winning Dances with Wolves and as a paraplegic soap opera star in John Sayles’ Passion Fish. She starred as Commander Sharon Raydor on TNT’s hit series Major Crimes and was in Syfy’s AFI and Peabody award-winning Battlestar Galactica. Broadway credits include Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke, The Heidi Chronicles and Emily Mann’s Execution of Justice.

Other Cyphacon television, video and anime talent will be President Laura Roslin in the SyFy Series Battlestar Galactica; Terry Farrell, Lt. Cmdr. Jadzia Dax of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; Briana Venskus, Agent Piper in “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; prolific Anime voice-actors Cherami Leigh, Lucy Heartfilia in Fairy Tail; Derrick Snow, Bryn Apprill, Blake Shepard and Dameon Clarke.

Special guests are Cory J. Phillips, David K. Fielding, Suzanne Decarma and Lisette Monique Diaz. Also appearing will be authors Mike Moreau and Larry Nemecek.

“Cyphacon is one of the best events all year in Southwest Louisiana,” said Kat Godsey. “It brings thousands of visitors from out of state to the convention, encourages youth to get involved in the community and gives them a safe place to express themselves and make new friends.” Godsey is into cosplay, the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book or video game. Seeing costumed characters  is one of the many highlights of the event. Look for her. This year you’ll either see her dressed like Vault Dweller from the video game series Fallout or as  Jupe from the movie, “Nope!” in her bedazzled cowboy suit.

Endure the Affliction, Bear and Forest Friends, PuriKura Panic and more are on the list to entertain. Two of the artists to be featured are Danny and Morgan Allain.

Events kick off Friday at the Lake Charles Civic Center at 5 p.m. Starting time for Saturday and Sunday  is 10 a.m. For more detail, check out cyphacon.org and the CyPhaCon Official Facebook Group page.