By Marcus Moss
If anyone thought convention season was over in Green Bay, they should think again. On Saturday, Oct.5, Brown County Library hosted Pop Con, a convention that invites people of all ages to participate in various events. Convention attendees dress up in costumes for fun or enter a costume contest and win prizes, play board games provided by Gnome Games for free, visit Artist Alley, where vendors sell all kinds of items like art pieces and figurines, and attend seminars ranging from cosplay 101 to Dungeon and Dragons for beginners.
Pop Con began in 2016 and was initially called Brown County Comic Con before changing the name to Brown County Pop Con due to strict trademark restrictions implemented during the COVID-19. Brown County hosts Pop Con annually to create an environment in which people can experience a convention for free without having to face that barrier of entry that more traditional conventions tend to have such as ticket costs. “We wanted to bring some of the joy and camaraderie that comes with large comic and pop culture to library patrons. They can be expensive, hard to get to, and intimidating. Even the conventions that are in or close to Green Bay can have barriers for some folks. So we wanted to make a family-friendly space where people could meet like-minded fans and just share the joy that comes with celebrating pop culture,” said Andrea West, Brown County Library Librarian.
Various organizations set up booths in Artist Alley, including Radio GBX, The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s student-run radio station. Members of Radio Gbx’s E-Board set up shop and handed out fliers, merchandise, and candy while playing Radio Gbx to give people a taste of what the stations like. “It’s really important that student organizations (and the university more generally) make ourselves known and present in the community so we can show off all the cool things we’re doing. Events like Pop Con allow us to demonstrate the value of the university and the education we provide, and for student organizations, it’s also a vital professional experience to learn how to explain and market your organization and what it does to people who might be interested but are unfamiliar with you,” said Bryan J. Carr, Professor of Communication, Information Science, and Women’s & Gender Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Planning for next year has already begun, so even if you missed it this year you can be sure to catch it next year come fall.
