Pop-Con 2024: A Weekend of Fun, Creativity, and Community
By Amber McCain
Photo by Amber McCain
CONVENTION - Pop-Con in full swing.
Pop-Con 2024 was a hit! The annual event saw its 12th return to the UAF Wood Center from November 14 to 16, bringing together fans of all things pop culture from comics, TV, gaming, and more. This beloved annual event is a highlight for the UAF community, offering cosplay, workshops, gaming, and plenty of vendors and booths.
Thursday night kicked off with “Joe and Nick’s VCR Party,” a comedy show that had the crowd laughing from start to finish. The way Joe and Nick continued to incorporate their own skits and jokes into their ongoing comedy is truly impressive. The laughter was contagious!
Photo by Amber McCain
HEARTS - Members of the TTRPG club and live audience during Glitter Hearts.
Friday was packed with activities. There were LEGO builds, LARPing (Live Action Role Playing), a movie screening of Deadpool and Wolverine, a Minecraft takeover in the eSports Lounge, and a recycling carnival. A standout moment was the “Glitter Hearts” Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) Live Event, hosted by the UAF’s Table-Top Role Playing Games Club. The group’s interactive and humorous approach to D&D had the crowd laughing. The night included a debate about whether magic could kill ghosts (spoiler: no one knew), as well as a robot Chuck Norris getting punched to death. How else does one beat up a robot Chuck Norris?
Photo by Amber McCain
WORKSHOP - The “It Builds Character” workshop took place in Arctic Java on Saturday.
Saturday featured even more fun. The “It Builds Character” workshop stood out, where UAF police officer James Thomas taught us how to build our own characters. He’s been playing D&D since 1992! (That’s longer than many of us have been alive!) His deep knowledge of the game made the session a must-attend. He was right when saying, “We don’t talk about the 4th edition”- iykyk.
The highlight of the day, though, was the Cosplay Contest. The creativity was incredible, with contestants showing off costumes from Star Wars, Pokémon, Demon Slayer, Jurassic Park, and more. First place went to Isaac Firesmith, who earned top honors with his hand-crafted “Isaac Forester of Relic” costume. Isaac’s motto? Just make it.
MC Rhen Williams kept the energy high, inspiring the crowd with the message: “Let there be no limitations to creativity.” A “Puella Magi” from “Madoka Magica” cosplayer said, “Cosplay inspires confidence.” You could see that confidence radiating from every other cosplayer in the room. My two favorites were inspired by the Pokémon characters Gothita and MagneMite. Cosplay Gothita’s outfit was hand-selected piece by piece, keeping in mind “what would human Gothita look like?” And then Cosplayer MagneKNIGHT - I mean, come on! Who doesn’t love some good wordplay?!
Saturday also featured a “How to Make Onigiri” Workshop, and for those craving more adventure, a late-night D&D one-shot ran from 4:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The weekend wrapped up with the Pop-Con eSports Invitational, a Rocket League tournament between UAF and UAA.
Pop-Con 2024 was a fantastic celebration of all things pop culture. There was something for everyone, from impressive cosplay to hands-on workshops and exciting gaming events. If you missed it this year, don’t worry- there’s always next year to join the fun!
Photo by Amber McCain
CONTESTANTS - Cosplay contest group photo.