Attendees at the Classic Plastics Toy Expo enjoyed a variety of vintage and modern collectibles from various vendors during the convention, which was held Saturday and Sunday at the Parkersburg Art Center. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

PARKERSBURG — Toy collectors, comic fans and cosplayers gathered Saturday at the Parkersburg Art Center for the Classic Plastics Toy Expo, a two-day event celebrating pop culture, collectibles and fandom.

Held Saturday and Sunday, the expo featured vendors, themed drinks, face painting and a cosplay contest that drew participants from around the region.

Becky Ferrell, an employee at Classic Plastics Toy Store who has helped organize the event since 2018, said the expo continues to attract fans interested in toys, comics and pop culture memorabilia.

“It’s pretty much everything you can think of nerdy-wise — like Transformers, Star Wars, comics, Marvel, DC,” Ferrell said.

Classic Plastics owner Tony Workman has hosted the expo since 2014. Ferrell said the event paused briefly while the business adjusted to changes at the Grand Central Mall before relocating to the Rinky Dink Flea Market in Marietta.

Gordon Briggs presents his cosplay of the Marvel character Galactus during the Classic Plastics Toy Expo Saturday at the Parkersburg Art Center. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

“We were just kind of trying to get settled in and see where we were,” Ferrell said.

A highlight of the afternoon was the cosplay contest, judged by regional cosplayers Emily Carter, known online as Celestial Cosplay, and Katrina Sherwood, who goes by Katalyst Cosplay.

The contest included multiple experience levels, ranging from younger participants to experienced costume builders.

Sherwood said one of the most rewarding parts of cosplay is transforming everyday materials into elaborate costumes.

“There’s something very rewarding about taking something that does not exist yet and then creating it from scratch,” Sherwood said. “Finding a way to mold something that was just a regular hat into something costume-worthy.”

Glen Newman shows off his Usopp from “One Piece” costume during the Classic Plastics Toy Expo Cosplay Contest on Saturday at the Parkersburg Art Center. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Many of the costumes require significant time and craftsmanship, Carter said.

“It does feel really good when people are like, ‘Oh my God, I love your cosplay,'” she said. “And it’s like, ‘Thank you so much. It took 40 hours of my life, and I’ve bled on it.'”

Ferrell said the expo is also about sharing those interests with a new generation.

“My favorite part is just walking around seeing things that interest me from my childhood,” she said. “And seeing the kids walk around and get excited for the same things that we used to get excited for.”

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com.

A man who chose to remain anonymous cosplays as Jason Voorhees as he looks over a vendor’s wares during the Classic Plastics Toy Expo Saturday at the Parkersburg Art Center. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

From left, Audrey Cox and Gabby Schall, dressed as two Creepypasta characters, “Ben Drowned” and “Jeff the Killer,” won the Juniors division for the Classic Plastics Toy Expo Cosplay Contest Saturday and were presented their awards by Katrina Sherwood and Emily Carter. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Michael Wong dressed up as “The Fly” from the 1958 film of the same title. Wong won the Journeyman cosplay category during the Classic Plastics Toy Expo Cosplay Contest Saturday at the Parkersburg Art Center. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

A cosplayer known as Static Waters dressed as Strawberry Crepe Cookie from the game “Cookie Run.” Waters won an overall excellence award for construction. (Photo by Gwen Sour)