Parkersburg Pop Con to be held at West Virginia University at Parkersburg
File Photo Local comic book writer James Patrick will be participating in a panel discussion Saturday at the first Parkersburg Pop Con at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
File Photo Jason Lewis, who works as a comic book colorist, will be participating in a panel discussion at the first Parkersburg Pop Con at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
File Photo Local comic book writer James Patrick will be participating in a panel discussion Saturday at the first Parkersburg Pop Con at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
File Photo Jason Lewis, who works as a comic book colorist, will be participating in a panel discussion at the first Parkersburg Pop Con at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
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PARKERSBURG -- The first Parkersburg Pop Con will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
The event is open to all ages and admission is $5. Advance registration is available at Classic Plastics.
A gaming competition begins at 2 p.m. Closing ceremonies will be 7:30 p.m.
Pop Con will focus on popular culture, including sports, music, film, television, candle scents, stickers, comics, toys, video games, food, drinks, horror, comics, art, dance.
There will be exhibits, panel discussions, vendors, guest speakers, a cosplay contest, a Pokemon Go hike through the WVU-P hiking trail and other activities. Over 40 vendors will be selling comics, toys, food, video games. There will be a kid-friendly room with coloring activities, computer coding game, face painting and others.
Peshka Callaway, alumni specialist at WVU-P, and Justin Williamson, with the college's Office of Institutional Advancement, have been working on organizing the convention since the spring.
"We wanted to do something that was all encompassing of popular culture, which includes an array or variety of topics," Callaway said.
"We are wanting to attract attendees so they can experience our campus," she added.
WVU-P will be holding an open house in conjunction with the convention, with staff present to talk about classes at the college and how people can sign up. There will be a drawing for free movie tickets for anyone who visits the open house.
"They will learn about how to get started and the programs that we offer. We're also wanting it to be educational in the sense that a lot of the programs that we offer do align with popular culture," Callaway said, including subjects like criminal justice and STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).
"We're wanting to show people the correlation of popular culture and the programs that we offer on campus, how they align and just have a fun time and a great event," she said.
The event is being sponsored by Classic Plastic Toys, Jan Dils Attorney At Law, the U.S. Marine Corps, Wal-Mart and Results Radio.
The schedule of activities includes:
* 11 a.m.: Doors open
* 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Pokemon Go hike at the top of every hour
* 11:30 a.m.: Tabletop gaming presented by The Lost Legion: The Vault and Four Horseman Comics
* Noon to 1 p.m.: Video Game Panel to learn about video games and consoles and then participate in a Q&A session.
* 1-2 p.m.: Cosplay panel. Find out why so many people enjoy the pastime of cosplaying. It will feature WV Wonder Woman, Mid-Ohio Valley Superman and Wilson's House of Cosplay.
* 1 p.m.: Video Game Competition registration begins. Competitors should be ready to play by 1:30 p.m. The registration cost is $20.
* 2 p.m.: Cosplay Competition with categories including adult and children under 12; Video Game Competition presented by Gamestop with cash prizes available. Games will include Super Smash Bros, Wii U, Pokken Tournament, Street Fighter and Mario Kart 8.
* 2-3 p.m.: Women of Horror: Brooklyn Ewing -- Indie horror director Brooklyn Ewing will be hosting the panel with special guests, a sneak peak at upcoming film "Vampocalypse" and a Q&A session.
* 3-4 p.m.: Women in Horror: Stacia Gorsuch -- Owner of The Painted Magpie and special effects makeup artist and designer Stacia Gorsuch will have a live makeup tutorial for anyone interested in horror movie makeup and effects.
* 4-5 p.m.: Women in Horror: Missy Dawn -- Hear what it's like to create a horror franchise and iconic character from indie horror actress and director Missy Dawn.
* 5-6 p.m.: How To Get Your Start in Comics -- James Patrick (writer for Batman, Harley Quinn, Green Arrow, Star Trek, Angel and more) and Jason Lewis (colorist for Marvel Comics) will discuss what it takes to get a foot in the door in the world of comic book creation.
* 6-7 p.m.: Dueling Ogres Panel -- Learn about the podcast process from the Dueling Ogres.
* 7:30 p.m.: Closing ceremony with James Patrick and Jason Lewis with a celebration of the winners of the gaming and cosplay competitions.