Celebrate comics, anime, television, movies, videogames, cosplay and more at Burlington County Library’s Second Annual Fandom Fest set for Saturday, Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Building on last year’s success, this free mini-comic con for teens and adults features something for everyone, including a fun Fandom Fest Cosplay Parade at 12:30 p.m. (Sign up to show off your costume in advance, and then line up near the library auditorium at noon).
This year’s special guest speakers will be Yumy Odom, founder of The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention, and podcaster and comics writer Amber Love, author of “Cardiac Arrest.” Throughout the day, visitors will also enjoy a special Friends of the Library book sale that will kick off two hours before the event, and a wide variety of fandom fun, including:
- A demonstration by the South Jersey Hellhounds Quidditch team and a question-and-answer session about this fun Harry Potter-inspired sport.
- An appearance by members of the 501st Legion, a worldwide Star Wars-inspired costuming group that participates in charity walks, hospital visits, and fundraisers.
- An appearance by representatives of the Heroes Alliance, a DC Comics-inspired costuming group that also participates in charity events and hospital visits.
- A demonstration and panel discussion about 3D printing and how it can help take your costuming and prop making to another level.
- A challenge to “young wizards and witches” to escape the Room of Requirement by analyzing clues to find the way out.
- A Cosplay Dating Game featuring some of your favorite characters looking for love.
- A Pokémon GO Station for Pokémon trainers across the lands. Stop by and make a badge for team Valor, Mystic, or Instinct. Check in and see what team controls our gym and what Pokémon trainers are catching at the library.
- Fun Retro Gaming and Tabletop Gaming Areas for those ready to show off their skills.
- Panel discussions about writing fan fiction and how to attend a big comics convention with tips from veteran conventioneers.
- A Name-That-Theme-Song Trivia Contest featuring tributes to David Bowie, Alan Rickman and Prince.
During the event, visitors will also have an opportunity to check out the library’s impressive collection of graphic novels, manga, DVDs and videogames. In addition, the Friends of the Library will host a special books and media sale from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. featuring more than a thousand science fiction/fantasy books, hundreds of DVDs, and a wide selection of oversized books. Most books will cost just $1, DVDs just $2 each and the oversized books will be specialty-priced starting at $2.50 each.
The Burlington County Library is located on Pioneer Boulevard off Woodlane Road in Westampton. For more information about Fandom Fest, call (609) 267–9660, or go to www.bcls.lib.nj.us.
