PopCon 2023: Creativity in Community

By Nóra McIntyre

On November 16th-18th, UAF hosted their annual PopCon, a festival that celebrates all manner of pop culture, from TV and film, to gaming, comics, and more. Thursday evening featured pop culture trivia at the Pub, while Friday night included a showing of the Barbie movie. 

Events and activities really ramped up on Saturday, when the Wood Center was filled with various vendors and activities, including free bowling, a Smash Bros. tournament, and so much more. One lucky individual was even awarded a PlayStation 5, courtesy of the Grand Prize Giveaway. 

I got the chance to attend the Cosplay Contest, where numerous talented creatives gathered to share their cosplay costumes and compete for prizes! This event was certainly a PopCon highlight. I was personally astounded by the level of artistry, as well as the sense of support and community that was fostered. The creators/performers each got the chance to strut the stage and show off their creations for the judges and enthusiastic audience. 

After careful deliberation, the judges awarded first place prize to Skylar Evans, who captivated the crowd with their Captain America cosplay. Second place went to Mikayla Ostreim who dressed as Pomni from the Amazing Digital Circus (and who sewed their own costume! Wow!) Audience applause determined the 3rd place “People’s Choice Award” winner, a father-daughter duo dressed as characters from The Picture Book.

After the competition, cosplayers complimented each other on their outfits and took pictures together. I got to chat for a few moments with second place winner, Mikayla, as well as Andriana Duncanson, who was dressed in a fabulous Makima cosplay (which I was thrilled to see as a Chainsaw Man lover). Mikayla and Andriana expressed their appreciation for PopCon, telling me that they’d been to other larger ComiCons in the past, and that they were having tons of fun at their first UAF PopCon. 

I went on to check out the vendors, which included stands from Fantastic Realmz, Sipping Streams, and many more. I even had the opportunity to get a Pokémon balloon art creation from the artist known on TikTok as “Incredibiloons: Incredible Balloon Art.” They shared with me that they are able to create over two-hundred different Pokémon out of balloons. I got Pikachu– a basic choice, but a classic!

Photo by Nóra McIntyre

All in all, it was fantastic to see the UAF and the greater Fairbanks community come together to celebrate creativity and individuality.

PopCon is an annual event, so if you missed it, you can look forward to next year (and maybe even start planning your cosplay).