Atlantic Canada's largest sci-fi, comic, fantasy and gaming convention kicked off Friday with hundreds of cosplayers flocking to the World Trade and Convention Centre for three days of fun.

In less than a decade, Hal-Con has grown from a small hotel event to a sellout convention that attracts thousands.​

Here's a sample of this year's costumes.

In seven years, Hal-Con has grown from a small hotel event to a conference that attracts thousands. (Robert Short/CBC)

Ray Desjardins makes a pretty convincing Ray Stantz — complete with realistic proton pack and Ghostbuster's uniform. (Robert Short/CBC)

Queen Amidala (Shauna Krasuski) was accompanied by random lobster, Cody Harris. (Robert Short/CBC)

What would Hal-Con be without a little Star Wars? From left to right: Alex Brown as Cloud Strife, Lori Corkum as a Mirialan Jedi, Emma MacAuley as Rey and Danielle Goodreau as Darth Talon. Corkum and Goodreau say they will wear their body paint for the full three days of Hal-Con. (Robert Short/CBC)

Ashley Perry, AKA X-Men's Storm says she can see through her white contacts, but everything is a bit fuzzy. (Robert Short/CBC)

Who knew Captain Kirk had kids? Blair Smith brought his two sons to Hal-Con, who dressed as Scout and Soldier from Team Fortress 2. (Robert Short/CBC)

Riley Chestnut and his sister Charlotte worked on their super sugar highs as Superman and a blue Power Ranger. (Robert Short/CBC)

Knights from the Society for Creative Anachronism recreates history at Hal-Con, put on their best battle faces before giving a demonstration at Hal-Con. (Robert Short/CBC)

Kill la Kill's Mako takes human form in Melanie Martin's Hal-Con getup. (Robert Short/CBC)

More characters from Kill la Kill — Lexie Worthen as Super Sonico and Rebecca Macleann as Ryūko Matoi. (Robert Short)

Kelsey Lane came all the way from St. John's Newfoundland to show off her Date a Live Yoshino costume. (Robert Short/CBC)

Monica Sampson spent months making her League of Legends Lin Dance Kog'Maw suit. (Robert Short/CBC)

Caitlin Armitage came as a Nightelf Druid from World of Warcraft, while Spence Denis was Uhtred of Bebbanburg from The Last Kingdom. (Robert Short/CBC)

Ian Castle's hat says Jane from Firefly but the makeup says Harley Quinn. (Robert Short/CBC)

Nigel Gauthier may look like a friendly teddy bear, but this bear — a combination of Freddie Fazbear and Freddy Krueger, is the stuff of your worst nightmares. (Robert Short/CBC)