Anime Conventions
Matsuricon is the family friendly anime, manga, and gaming convention held every year in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to the celebrity guests, cosplay, panels, and dances, the event features a number of collectible card game, tabletop game, and video game tournaments. All proceeds benefit The James, Ohio State University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. Matsuricon runs from Friday, August 24 through Sunday, August 26. Note that if you are planning to attend Friday evening that the convention center appears to have double-booked the space with the Ohio Republican Party State Dinner, which could make for an interesting Friday night in Columbus!
Other anime conventions this weekend include:
Friday, August 24 and Saturday, August 25
Derby, United Kingdom
Saturday, August 25
Clarksville, Tennessee
Saturday, August 25
Gainesville, Florida
Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, August 26
Mobile, Alabama
Toys and Gaming Conventions
Santa Clara, California is home this weekend to the Bay Area ToyXpo, running from Friday, August 24 through Sunday, August 26. The event’s cosplay contest is a World Series of Cosplay qualifying contest. Attendees will have the chance to meet Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp and come face-to-face with an over six feet tall demogorgon created by former Face/Off contestants Rick Prince and Rashaad Santiago. Additionally, the event features gaming, panels, celebrity guests, and more, including an emphasis on diecast and Hot Wheels vehicles and Garbage Pail Kids cards.
Other toys and gaming conventions this weekend include:
Friday, August 24 through Sunday, August 26
Richburg, South Carolina
Friday, August 24 through Sunday, August 26
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, August 26
Knoxville, Tennessee
Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, August 26
Torrance, California
Specific Interest Conventions
Creepycon takes over Knoxville, Tennessee this Friday, August 24 and Saturday, August 25. Horror fans can attend movie screenings, participate in a number of contests—including Halloween cake decorating, body art, fan art, and costumes—attend panels, shop the vendors, meet with celebrities, and more. Beyond the convention itself, a number of after-hours activities are planned, including a haunted tour of Knoxville on Friday, a downtown Knoxville pub crawl Saturday night, and Salome Burlesque Show Saturday evening, so you might want to leave the little ones at home for this convention.
Other specific interest conventions this weekend include:
Friday, August 24 through Sunday, August 26
Westlake, Ohio
Friday, August 24 through Sunday, August 26
Warwick, Rhode Island
Friday, August 24 through Monday, August 27
Lincoln, United Kingdom
Saturday, August 25
Medina, New York
General Geek Culture Conventions
Wizard World rolls into Chicago, Illinois this weekend, from Thursday, August 23 through Sunday, August 26. The event is chock full of celebrity guests, writers, artists, cosplayers, vendors, and more. Programming and panels run all four days and cover the gamut of topics in geek culture, ranging from how-to panels, debating Marvel versus DC comics, trivia, prop building, and a whole lot more.
Other geek culture conventions this weekend include:
Friday, August 24 through Sunday, August 26
Honolulu, Hawaii
Friday, August 24 through Sunday, August 26
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Friday, August 24 through Sunday, August 26
Lubbock, Texas
Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, August 26
Columbia, South Carolina
Heading out to a convention this weekend?
We’d love to see your photos (especially your cosplay photos). When you upload your convention photos to social media this weekend, tag @GeekDads on Twitter and GeekDad on Facebook and use #ConConnect. With your permission, we just might share your photos on our social media accounts.
Are you a convention organizer who would like your con featured in an upcoming Convention Connection?
E-mail joey@geekdad.com at least two weeks before the convention’s start date with details you would like shared with our readers. Submission of details does not guarantee that we’ll highlight your convention, but it certainly helps your chances.
Are you a convention organizer who would like your con attended and covered by GeekDad?
E-mail joey@geekdad.com at least two months before the convention’s start date with details. Submission of details does not guarantee that we’ll cover your convention, but it certainly helps your chances. Coverage depends on contributor availability for the convention. If you are willing to assist with travel and lodging for a GeekDad contributor covering your convention, please note that in the e-mail.
Are you a convention organizer who would like to give away entry to your convention (tickets, badges, etc.) on GeekDad?
Contact joey@geekdad.com at least one month before first date with ticket giveaway details. Submission of details does not guarantee that we’ll run a giveaway for entry to your convention, but it certainly helps your chances.
Click through to read all of “Convention Connection: Geek Culture Conventions for Week 34 2018” at GeekDad.If you value content from GeekDad, please support us via Patreon or use this link to shop at Amazon. Thanks!
