OMGCON returns to convention center
Jun. 24—Sunday afternoon, the Owensboro Convention Center was full of colorful costumes.
Many were dressed as their favorite anime characters, and the costumes ranged from the elegant to the elaborate. Some donned animal ears or horns, while a few sported large sets of angel wings. As least one or two furry friends posed for pictures in full animal suits.
Dice were rolled for board games, and cards were slapped down in Magic The Gathering and Pokemon matches. One exhibit hall was turned into a giant video game center, with dozens of computers and even several arcade-style games. A second hall had everyone on sale from anime art to apparel, video games and custom dice towers. Out on the convention center lawn, young people using foam swords and shields fought mock battles.
Sunday was the last day of OMG!Con, a three-day festival dedicated to anime and gamer fans. The event was a opportunity for the largely teenage and young adult participants to pick up some items for their collections or costumes, attend a rave, meet a few celebrities in the anime industry and just connect with other fans.
For Kayla Jones, Kota Jones and Aireus Elliott, who came from Paducah, the event was chance to hang out with fellow members of the tribe.
"It's a safe space," Kayla Jones said. The shared interests help people make fast friends, she said.
"It's the experience where you see someone (in costume) and say, 'oh, I like that, let's talk about it for 45 minutes,' " Kayla Jones said.
OMG!Con has been held annually in Owensboro since 2014, minus 2020, when the pandemic closed things down. Gage Porter and Nova Porter, of Owensboro, have been to most of the cons, and are already making plans to attend again next year.
"We don't have a lot of stuff here locally, or even in Owensboro," Nova Porter said.
Jana Bean, one of the co-owners on the Nick Nackery in Evansville, was displaying Halloween masks, costumes and board games in the exhibit area.
"This is my first con every," Bean said. While much of Bean's displays were horror-related, there's a lot of crossover between the horror and cosplay crowds, she said.
"We've done pretty well," Bean said. Sunday's crowd was lighter than Bean hoped, but sale had still be strong for the weekend, she said.
"We've sold hats, and a lot of horns," she said.
Scott Frega, of Archania's Workshop, had traveled from Tennessee to see custom made wood dice towers, MTG and Pokemon card boxes, dice trays and laser printed Dungeons and Dragons figures.
"There have been several different cons I've been to," Frega said. "So far, this one has been very good, so I'll be back next year if I can get a (vendor) spot again."
In front of the convention center Rae Carpenter and Dakota Kirchner were taking a breather with Carpenter's mother, Bun Carpenter. The group had come from Bardstown.
"It has been really fun," Kirchner said, who was attending her first con. Meeting celebrities such as voice actor Greg Ayers was worth the trip, Kirchner said.
Rae Carpenter cosplay was a chance to step into someone else's shoes for a while.
"I can take a break from being myself," Carpenter said. Kirchner agreed, and when in cosplay, "it's a different personality."
Rae has been to cons in Louisville, and Bun Carpenter said she enjoys watching Rae interact with fellow con fans.
"I like how when she walks in, she's almost like a celebrity," Bun Carpenter said. "It makes it worthwhile, since I'm paying so much for these outfits."
The people at cons are friendly, Rae Carpenter said.
"That one thing about cons, people are super-sweet and respectful," Rae said.
James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse
