Fans of comic books, superheroes, video games and role-playing games will unite Saturday for Jackson County Public Library’s first-ever MINICON.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Seymour Library will transform into a comic book and gamer convention for kids, teens and adults.
Highlights of the event include Minecraft and Yu-Gi-Oh!, a scavenger hunt and Dance Dance Revolution tournament, story time with Batman, Pathfinder and Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game sessions, a Harry Potter wizards potions class, superhero trivia and a costume/cosplay contest and parade.
“This isn’t just for kids,” said Lola Snyder, youth services director at the Seymour library. “It is for all ages who geek out over popular culture.”
Snyder said her favorite superhero is Spider-Man.
“I had a crush on Peter Parker as a 5-year-old and never missed a show when it was on TV,” she said.
Professional Star Wars cosplayers from Indiana’s 501st Legion Bloodfin Garrison group will be attending Saturday’s event from noon to 3 p.m. in full costume. They will mingle and interact with the crowd, allowing people to get their picture taken with them.
“Conventions of this sort have become huge all over the country,” Snyder said. “They also are really expensive. We wanted to offer something that was accessible to everyone in our community where they could come and celebrate whatever fandom they love.”
Events like MINICON are fun because they give people permission to play, Snyder added.
“Nerd culture used to be those kids playing in their mom’s basement because the cool kids didn’t want to hang with them,” she said. “Now, they are the cool kids and adults.”
Guest speakers throughout the day include Natalie Bray, who will discuss how to cosplay in three easy steps; Amy Merideth, who will be talking about resources for costuming; and local artist Emma Stone, who will lead a manga/anime art class.
Also, the cast from Seymour’s Fear Fair haunted attraction will be at the library doing monster makeup demonstrations.
A Superhero Academy will be available for kids ages 2 to 12 where they can create a costume, hone their superhero skills and receive a graduation certificate and photo keepsake. Those 17 and older can participate in “Murder at the Superhero Peace Convention,” an interactive role-playing whodunit murder mystery game.
Snyder said she is most excited about the cosplay/costume contest at the end of the day.
“I can’t wait to see what creative things people come up with,” she said.
Several library staff members and volunteers also are planning on dressing up, Snyder added.
“We gave staff the option of dressing up, so I know some will,” she said. “In fact, I already know of a few creative characters who will be there.”
There will be food and drinks available to purchase from the Pizza Bread Guys and Tropical Sno throughout the day.
Although this year’s summer reading program theme revolves around superheroes, Snyder said MINICON is a standalone event.
If all goes well, she hopes to be able to do it again next summer, she said.
The Every Hero Has a Story summer reading program ends July 27. Currently, the library has registered 2,017 people for the program.
“There is still time to register and get some good reading in before the deadline,” Snyder said.
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What: Jackson County Public Library MINICON
Where: Seymour Library, 303 W. Second St.
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Cost: Admission is free to all ages; food from the Pizza Bread Guys and Tropical Sno will be available for purchase
Information: Call 812-522-3412, look up the library on Facebook or visit myjclibrary.org/events
List of activities:
Minecraft, all day
Scavenger hunt, when you register
Superhero Cuffs, 9 to 10 a.m.
Dance Dance Revolution tournament, 9 a.m. to noon
Story time with Batman, 9 to 9:45 a.m.
Pathfinder, 10 a.m. to noon and 12:15 to 2:15 p.m.
Dungeons and Dragons, 10 a.m. to noon and 12:15 to 2:15 p.m.
Superhero Academy (ages 2 to 12), 10:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Potions class, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Fear Fair makeup demonstration, noon to 1 p.m.
Superhero trivia, noon to 1 p.m.
Murder at the Superhero Peace Convention (age 17 and up), noon to 3 p.m.
Yu-Gi-Oh!, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
Costume/cosplay contest, 3 to 4 p.m.
Costume parade, 3 to 4 p.m.
Indiana Star Wars Bloodfin Garrison cosplayers, noon to 3 p.m.
Cosplay in Three Steps with Natalie Bray, 1 to 1:45 p.m.
Resources for Costuming with Amy Merideth, 1:45 to 2:30 p.m.
Drawing demonstration by local artist Emma Stone, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
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