This weekend sees the first ever Small Press Day, a celebration of the world of indie and small press comics, take over the UK’s comic book stores with signings and events galore . We hope it is set to be a new annual event day for comic fans in the same vein as Free Comic Book Day has become and so take a look at some of the events going on around the country.

If you’re in London then Forbidden Planet London Megastore will have signings and giveaways from Avery Hill’s Edie OP (Reads, Maleficium) and Owen D Pomery, (Reads, Between the Billboards) from 4pm – 5pm. More info here

Gosh! Comics have signings with Save Our Souls from 1pm and Dirty Rotten Comics from 2pm; Fancy Butcher Press from 3pm; One Beat Zines from 4pm; and the brilliant Avery Hill Publishing from 6pm.

Gosh! will also be producing their own comic in collaboration with their neighbours over at Orbital Comics during the day with pages going between the shops so that by the end of the day they will have a entire comic ready to be printed up and handed out for free in both shops. More info here.

Orbital Comics have a ‘make your own comic’ workshop with Matt Boyce from 1.30pm, and then signing sessions will start at midday with creators like Alessandra Criseo, Cristian Ortiz, John Riordan & Dan Cox from 12pm; Sean Azzopardi, Cliodhna Ztoical, Jenika Ioffreda, Sammy Borras, Sina Sparrow from 1pm; Hamish Steele, Paul Shinn, Claude TC, Craig Conlan, Adam-James Foulkes & Lynne Triplett from 2pm; Andy Poyadgi, Matt Boyce, Robin Barnard, Verity Glass, Dan White from 3pm; Matt Gibbs & Chris Wildgoose from Improper Books/Porcelain, Matt Fitch & Chris Baker from Dead Canary Comics at 4pm; and Andy Oliver along with Broken Frontier’s Six Creators to Watch from 5pm including Rozi Hathaway, Emma Raby, Kim Clements, and Jey Levang .

Down in the south west, Frog Bros Comics And Books in Boscombe Bournemouth have a host of local signings, including The Kill Screen’s Mike Garely, and Descending Outlands Shaun Dobie, plus Andrew Pawley, Michael Melim, Liam Frettingham, Jay Frettingham, Dave Jones. There’s also a coffee roundtable with the creators to discuss their work afterwards. More info here

While in Dorchester, Dorset there is a DIY Zine Making Workshop from 2pm – 4pm in Lubbecke Way, celebrating Small Press Day by finding out what zines (zeens) are and how to make them. Bring your ideas and any old magazines, newspapers or artwork you wish to use and go home with your very own zine by the end of the day. More info here

In Aylesbury Dead Universe Comics will have a slew of talented UK small press creators including Phil Buckenham, Jon Scrivens, Brett Uren, Lee Killeen, and David Leach. More info here

Dave’s Comics in Brighton will have sketching and signings from 10am with amazing small press artists including Jenny Clements, and Anaseed Man – and  David Gedge, Terry De Castro and Lee Thacker (Tales from the Wedding Present)

In the Midlands: The Astral Gypsy have an in store event with special guests Angus Medford, Russell Hillman, and Jonny Pearson! More info here

Nostalgia & Comics in Birmingham have signings with Cory Brathwaite, Steven D Quirke, Joe Krawec from 11am; Steve Tanner from 12pm; Charlotte B, Lucy E, Tony Cooper from 1pm; and Dave Evans, Fayita Bennett, Joe Krawec from 2pm. More info here

Forbidden Planet Leicester have guests that include Anna Claydon, Drew Sumner, Patrick Scattergood, Verity Hall, Sally Jane Thompson, Jade Sarson, Paul Kemble, Laura Watton- Davis, Ryuuza, Emily Brady, and Emmeline Dobson.Plus comics workshops at Cocoa Amore run by Jay Eales and Seline Lock and a Drink and Draw at the Globe from 5.30pm! More info here

Retro Rebel in Stratford-upon-Avon have signings in store from 10am – 5pm with writer Nick Goode and illustrator Harry Hughes, the creators of Snow: The Dawn. More info here

Forbidden Planet Wolverhampton have aa mini small press convention with  local independent comic creators Laura Howell, Tony McGee, and Ryan Tailors well as hosting a ‘how to draw comics’ workshop through the day.  More info here

And online, Leamington Comic Con will be opening entries for their Small Press Factor Competition where creators can enter and win a table at next years Leamington Con, as well as promo support that includes an interview on this very site! (More info here)

Up north Destination Venus in Harrogate formally launch “Independent Territory” – a section dedicated to the creators who make their comics themselves. Also meet self-publishing legend Terry Willey, co-creator of the magnificent “Sleaze Castle” and the creator of “Surreal School Stories” and “Verity Fair”.  More info here

Travelling Man Leeds have Robert Luckett of Regular Show OGN will be instore to launch the second part of his small press series Bum Storm. Plus an amazing bunch of Leeds based creators.

While in the Manchester area, Travelling Man Manchester have a selection of the best small press talent from in and around Manchester in store (more info here) and The Comic Book Store in Macclesfield have signings in store with Futurequake Press from 11am – 3pm. (More info here)

In Newcastle, The Paper Jam Comics Collective in association with Travelling Man Newcastle and The Canny Comic Con are running The Paperjammening No 2: ‘The Grand Small Press Day Freakout Bonanza Boogaloo’. Meet small press comic creators and join in with daft drawing games! More info here

And finally in Scotland Forbidden Planet Glasgow have in store signings from 1pm to 5pm (More info here) And Waterstones Glasgow are having a Small Press Party from 2pm – 3pm. (More info here)

All information courtesy of www.smallpressday.co.uk where you can find more info on how to get involved! Plus follow them on twitter @smallpressday