Sean Winningham
PopCon will be celebrating its 10th year as a convention this weekend, August 25th – 27th. The convention is unique in that it celebrates all fandoms, from anime to comics, music to gaming. If there’s a fandom for it, you can find it and celebrate it here.
PopCon has seen huge growth and success since its inception. This year, they added another location to their schedule, hosting PopCon in Louisville earlier this summer.
To help everyone prepare for the convention, here are five events at PopCon that you should check out and add to your schedule. (You can also see the full schedule here)
Cabin Of The Cackling Man Escape Room
Escape Rooms are a fun experience for groups, and PopCon has been known to host Escape Rooms. This year, Cabin Of The Cackling Man is one you should check out, and they will host them multiple times over the weekend. This does require an additional ticket purchase, however. Here’s the official description of the event:
For Ages 12+ “Legend of Ultira” was supposed to be released in 1989 for the NES, but the game mysteriously disappeared from production along with the company that developed it. Decades later a copy of the game finally turns up in a long-abandoned cabin, along with a dead body and references to an urban legend known as “The Cackling Man.” Whatever happened here is about to happen again. Something has awakened in the woods, and it’s coming for you. You can already hear the cackling. Can you solve the mystery behind a cursed video game and a strange occult ritual before midnight? Or will you be the next victim of the Cackling Man? An escape room inspired by creepypastas, the 80s, retro video games and urban legends. Integrating physical puzzles with a playable video game, you must interact with both in order to unravel the mystery behind a strange cult and escape the Cackling Man.
Issues Of Race And Colonialism In Games
Games are a lot of fun and there’s a wide range of the type of games that are out there. This panel specifically focuses on how race and colonialism show up in many of these kinds of games and how they are handled, which will take place on Saturday, August 26th, 2023 1:00 pm to 1:50 pm in Room 106. Here is the official description for the panel:
A discussion of the ways in which games, both video and tabletop, interact with and portray race and colonialism. A handful of linked examples are drawn from The Elder Scrolls series, the Fallout series, Dungeons & Dragons, the Pathfinder campaign setting, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Catan, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Why interpretations may vary between individuals is also highlighted in brief.
Massive Gaming Hall
For the first time this year, PopCon will be hosting a massive gaming hall in Hall A on all three days of the convention. It is hosted by Who’s Yer Gamers, and it is absolutely free, meaning you don’t even need a PopCon badge to attend! If you want to check out and play a wide variety of games, this is the event for you!
Here is the official description of the event:
We’re going to have our gaming library, Organized Play groups, and tons of tables to play games! We’ll also bring our member swag and will be selling memberships on-site, so if you missed getting your swag at WYC, you can get your membership and pick your swag up here.
Come out and play some games!
Cosplay Contest
What’s a convention without cosplay? One of the biggest events at the convention is the Cosplay Contest, which takes place Saturday, August 26th, from 6:30 – 7:50 PM at Main Stage – 500 Ballroom. The contest showcases so many creative and talented people, and they have categories from beginners to advanced for the contest. This is truly an amazing event, and it is popular so if you plan to attend, you will need to get there early to get a good seat. (By the way, there’s also a kid’s cosplay contest on Sunday, August 27th, at 2 PM at the Mini Main Stage Rm 102)
The Never Not Amazing Family Magic Show
PopCon is always adding new fandoms and genres to their lineup, and this year they’ve added magic! One of the acts, The Never Not Amazing Family Magic Show, will be performing there on Sunday August 27, 2023, from 1:00 pm to 1:50 pm at the Mini Main Stage -102.
Here is the official description of the event:
The Never Not Amazing Show is jam-packed with fun illusions, hilarious comedy, and AMAZING magic for the whole family. This is a fully immersive experience, and we NEED EVERYONE’S HELP to make the magic happen. ASTONISHMENT IS GUARANTEED!!!