Owensboro Comic & Toy Convention debuts this weekend

Oct. 6—The Owensboro Convention Center will be taken over by the inaugural Owensboro Comic & Toy Convention from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Coined as "Kentucky's newest pop culture destination event," the convention's debut year will consist of a number media guests and creators, ranging from Austin St. John of the "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers," pro-wrestling hall of famer "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, "Courage the Cowardly Dog" voice actor Marty Grabstein, "Jim Henson's Muppets" comic creator Guy Gilchrist, "Spider-Man" comic creator Bob Hall, "Return of the Jedi" actor Warwick Davis and "SpongeBob Squarepants" voice actor Tom Kenny, among others.

Kenny will also perform with his rock-n-roll party band — Tom Kenny & The Hi-Seas — starting at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Kentucky Legend Pier.

Jarrod Greer, event owner, organizer and promoter, is looking forward to launching the convention in the Daviess County scene.

"We're super stoked to be coming to Owensboro," Greer said Thursday. "... The hospitality there is great, the riverfront's beautiful, the convention center is beautiful, perfect for the town.

"Everything about downtown Owensboro kind of exudes what you want a medium-size town in America to be. ... It has all the things you need to build a very well-rounded, yet smaller-scale show in Owensboro that people from two or three hours around are happy and proud to come to," Greer said.

Greer is no stranger to the convention world.

Twelve years ago, he started the Lexington Comic & Toy Convention followed by and the Huntington Comic & Toy Convention in West Virginia, with the latter initially slated for a 2020 debut before kicking off the following year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Greer, who's "always sort of been into comics" through his life, said his fascination with conventions originated from experiences with his youngest son collecting toys when the latter was about 7 years old.

"(My son) got really into 'Power Rangers' and 'Transformers,' so we started buying yard sale and flea markets lots of (both)," Greer said, "and that kind of turned into going to events and looking at collectable toys and that kind of thing.

"It just kind of turned into a business from there," he said.

Dave Kirk, destination management director for the Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau, is excited about "bringing the big names in" for the event, while also tapping into the nostalgic culture.

"We're changing that with this," Kirk said of people having to travel to bigger cities for this type of event. "To be able to see these names in Owensboro, Kentucky, is huge," Kirk said. "I think it appeals to a large audience; it really has a wide range that offers a lot to a lot of people."

Greer hopes the event will draw folks from beyond county and state lines to enjoy the convention and take an opportunity to "see and meet the town." He feels this will help set the foundation for the event to be an annual offering for years to come.

"If we can get some vendors in the room to do well, and some buyers that are in the room that are tickled (about) things they find and we can get celebrities to come into town (with) people coming out to meet them ... everyone (will hopefully) walk away and say, 'I had a great time,' " Greer said.

Kirk anticipates "at least a couple thousand people" throughout the weekend, with ticket sales standing at about 2,500 tickets sold and "both downtown hotels ... are near sellout" as of Thursday morning.

"For a first year event of this style, that is absolutely massive," Kirk said. "I would just encourage people on Saturday and Sunday to get down there (and) enjoy it. (You're) bound to find something that you like with all the diverse offerings that will be there."

For tickets, schedule of events and additional information, visit owensborocomiccon.com.

Tickets will also be on sale at the door.