Does anyone know what time does the event start on friday?

I'll be there after 6pm and will bring a copy of EH with all expansions.

I am also planning to be there late afternoon/early evening and will probably bring Elder Sign and Eldritch as well. I wasn't sure what time everything started on Friday so hopefully FFG will let us know.

last year FFG had game times from start to finish both days and provided the games. I am still waiting to see what the schedule is going to be and to let you know that you will not have to bring games

I just called the Fantasy Flight Games Event Center and the employee I got told me, after consulting with the store manager, that Arkham Nights is running officially from 6pm to Midnight on both Friday and Saturday .

The Saturday time seemed wrong to me, but they said that people will be there all day and there will be several copies of each game set out, they just won't have any special events planned. So it's unofficially, all day on Saturday .

The employee also said that you can pick up your swag any time on Friday or Saturday at the front desk.

They finally have a schedule posted! Looks like events take place 6-

11:30 on Friday and Noon-11:30 on Saturday, but it's open for gaming all day Saturday.

https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2015/10/7/the-weekends-dark-events/

For someone going for the first time, do you sign up for the special events when you check in, or is it more of a free-for-all?

That is a great question that I have wondered as well. I am so interested in the Cycle of Eternity big Eldritch game but no idea how people sign up to play that or the big Arkham Horror event.