Rocket City NerdCon 2016 Has Plenty for Kids
It’s October again, and with it comes the 3rd iteration of Rocket City Nerdcon! We spoke with Convention Co-Chair Julia Hendon to get the low-down on this year’s event, AND we’re giving away passes to this year’s con below!
When/Where is Rocket City Nerdcon this year? How much are tickets?
Rocket City NerdCon 2016 is October 22 and 23. Prices are a little better deal this year at $25 for a weekend pass and $15 for a day if you purchase before the convention starts. As always children 10 and under are free with a ticketed adult. Buy tickets online in advance HERE.
This is third installment of Nerdcon. What’s new this year?
The largest difference for us this year is changing from a three-day convention to two, but with extended hours. We will be open from Saturday 9am to 9pm and Sunday 9am to 5pm. So now NerdCon will have quite a few more hours with the library only open to attendees. Also new this year will be a closed off children’s activity area for attendees only.
Do you have an event schedule finalized?
Yes! We will be releasing it very soon on our website rocketcitynerdcon.org and on social media. I can tell you in normal NerdCon fashion there is a bit of everything. One thing we really strive for is a variety of programs that target many different fandoms.
I really enjoyed the board gaming area last year, and I hear this year there will be gaming tournament(s)? Which games will you be featuring?
Our game tournament this year will be held on Saturday, October 22nd, and will feature the locally produced “Fate of Akalon: Tribes“, an out-of-the-box card game created by Huntsville company Foursight Games. The game’s designers will be on hand to help teach the game and settle rule questions, and will be offering prizes to the top competitors on the day. As with last year’s convention, open board gaming will continue throughout the weekend, as will a number of scheduled sessions of tabletop RPGs like Pathfinder.
Another new addition I loved last year was bringing in authors and artists in. Who will be making an appearance this year?
There will be several returning authors and artists this year, so you will be sure to see some familiar faces! Some new guests that will be attending this year include Omi from tenninhouse.com and caricature artist Wayne Tillett that some con goers might recognize from Con Kasterboros. We will also have Red Crow Comics and Silver Empire Publishing on hand as well!
Of course, all these panels, guests, and gaming works up an appetite. Which food trucks will be available on-site? What other food options are available?
We have a great selection of food trucks and tents this year, including Grand Olde Bake Shoppe, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Highway Kabobery, Betty Jo’s Gourmet Food Truck, The Hot Box, and Honeypie Bakery. New this year is food from Old Black Bear Brewing Company, which will be available inside the con Saturday evening.
The vendor area is probably my favorite area; I love browsing around and seeing all the creative items. What vendors will be on hand this year?
We have a ton of local vendors returning this year such as Contented Comfort that sells fandom inspired bath and body products for sensitive skin. We will also have a number of new vendors such as Do Something Else that sells 3-D printed items as well as bartop arcade cabinets.
Will there be bands/musical acts this year?
We will have music again at our NerdCon Launch Party at Yellowhammer Brewery. We have invited Foot-Pound Force and Mad Gear back to rock out. This is a family-friendly show.
Another popular event (especially for kids) is the cosplay contest. When will this year’s event be? What are the age groups/divisions?
This year the contest is on Saturday at 2:30pm, registration closes at noon so get there early. We will have three age categories: kids, teens, and adults.
Do you have pre/post convention events/parties planned?
Yes! We have several pre-convention events planned.
In preparation for the Fate of Akalon tournament, Foursight Games will be holding a number of game demos at the following branches:
- Monday October 3, beginning at 4:00pm, at the Madison Branch
- Tuesday October 11, 5:30-8:00pm, at the Monrovia Branch
- Friday October 14, 6:00-7:30pm, at the Bailey Cove Branch
Come to learn the game, and have a chance at earning a free one-day pass to the convention! And don’t forget the Kick-off Party at Yellowhammer.
In your opinion, what are the best events/panels for each age group? Let’s say, kids 6-10, pre-teens, teens, etc.
For younger kids you can never go wrong with the Disney Sing-a-long on Saturday afternoon. It is so much fun to just walk into the room where everyone is singing their heart out to “Gaston”.
For pre-teens I would probably pick either the Essential Doctor Who or Harry Potter: Fantastic Beast Roundtable, both should be interesting.
Teens, I will always recommend Hetalia History. This panel has been at NerdCon every year and it is hysterical even if you are not familiar with the anime/manga. I might be bias, since I am on the panel, but for adults I would recommend Hamilton Roundtable (and sing-a-long). We make no promises for what will happen except we will sing “Guns and Ships” super loud.
NerdCon Details At-a-Glance
Date: October 22-23, 2016
Hours: Saturday from 9:00AM – 9:00PM | Sunday from 9AM – 5PM
Location: Huntsville Public Library in downtown Huntsville (map)
Cost: $25 for a weekend pass, $15 for a day pass purchased in advance | Kids 10 and under are free with a ticketed adult | Buy tickets online
View Website | NerdCon on Facebook | NerdCon on Twitter | Email NerdCon
The NerdCon Pass Giveaway!
Rocket City Mom is giving away a Family Pack of 4 day passes to Rocket City NerdCon! Enter to win in the Rafflecopter box below. One winner will be randomly selected – we will announce the winner on Tuesday, October 18th, so be sure to check the email address that you used to enter that day!
Advertisement
