The Marshall County Public Library is gearing up to host its first annual Mini-Con, an event that packs the punch of a big comic convention, but in a familiar, free, and family-friendly setting.
Mini-Con will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 13 at the library’s Benton branch and will include something for every aspiring young creative or pop-culture lover. There will be tabletop games, discussion panels, local artists and authors, vendors, a cosplay contest and more.
“When people think of cons, they usually think of traveling, big cities and the expense,” said Mini-Con Coordinator and Interlibrary Loan Librarian Charla Cope. “We wanted to bring a free con experience to the community in a smaller setting they know and love – the public library.”
Activities throughout the day will include a balloon arch photo-op, face painting, character photo-ops, games and crafts, and a scavenger hunt. Registration is required for the cosplay contest, but will be open until 12:45 p.m. in the main lobby on the day of the event.
Local artists and vendors attending will include Tommy Patterson, M.A. Carr, David Chandler, Erin R. Howard, Nathan Lawson, Basement Bar Collectibles, Nautical Fox Creations, Majestic Monkey, Fine-N-Dandy, Gnocchi Sempai, Hank Collective, and more.
“The staff have worked hard so that Marshall County families can experience the type of fandom convention most have only seen on television or social media,” said Library Director Tammy Blackwell. “We’re excited to give local fans a chance to engage with likeminded people in a safe and fun environment.”
For more information about the library’s Mini-Con, visit the library’s website or Facebook page.