Branching Out! :: Other Cons & Where to Find Them!

[Gryffinclaw Princess]

Some people want to expand their horizons and learn about other conventions but we don't all know where to look.
Come here to discuss other cons and where you would like to branch out next! Maybe we can help you find your next Con Fix! ^^
(All cons listed here are West Coast cons in WA, OR, CA, ID, & NV)
Attention Posters - Thank you for posting cons but please keep your suggestions to states bordering Oregon. There are a lot of cons in America and listing them all would be too much so I would like to keep the area small and reasonable. While you may be willing to pay to go to a con in Hawaii, Alaska, or New York not many people have that kind of money for airfare or the willingness to drive more than one state away.

Trying to get con information set up so please comment with some cons you know about and their pros and cons! Let's get this list going!
All cons are be listed in order of when they come in a year (January, February, March, etc).


Anime Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) :: January 6-8, 2012
Pros -
Cons -

RustyCon (SeaTac, WA) :: January 20-22, 2012
Pros -
Cons -

Rad Con (Pasco, WA) :: February 17-19, 2012
Pros -
Cons -

AOD (San Francisco, CA) :: February 18-19, 2012
Pros -
Cons -

Anime Conji (San Diego, CA) :: March 16-18, 2012
Pros -
Cons -

Sakura Con (Seattle, WA) :: April 6-8, 2012
Pros -
Cons -

Wonder Northwest (Portland, OR) :: May 14-15, 2012
Pros - New Con, Inexpensive, On MAX line, More than Japanese Culture
Cons - New Con Kinks/Bugs

Fanime Con (San Jose, CA) :: May 27-30, 2011
Pros -
Cons -

AX (Los Angeles, CA) :: June 29-July 2, 2012
Pros -
Cons -

Gear Con (Portland, OR) :: July 22-24, 2011
Pros -
Cons -

Renovation (Reno, NV) :: August 17-21, 2011
Pros -
Cons -

PAX (Seattle, WA) :: August 26-28, 2011
Pros -
Cons -

SacAnime (Sacramento, CA) :: September 2-4, 2011
Pros -
Cons - Conflicts with KCon

Animeland Makiba (Las Vegas, NV) :: September 2-4, 2011
Pros -
Cons - Conflicts with KCon

SNAFU Con (Reno, NV) :: September 9-11, 2011
Pros -
Cons -

MIFFF (Seattle, WA) :: September 16-18, 2011
Pros -
Cons -

RainFurrest (SeaTac, WA) :: September 22-25, 2011
Pros - Furry Friendly
Cons -

Aki Con (Bellevue, WA) :: October 7-9, 2011
Pros - New Con!, Great Dealer's Hall, Arcade in Hotel
Cons - New Con Kinks/Bugs, Crowded in DH and Photo areas

GeekGirlCon (Seattle, WA) :: October 8-9, 2011
Pros -
Cons -

SeamCon (Seattle, WA) :: October 14-16, 2011
Pros -
Cons -

Yaoi Con (Burlingame, CA) :: October 21-23, 2011
Pros -
Cons - 18+ Only

Las Vegas Super Con (Henderson, NV) :: October 22-23, 2011
Pros -
Cons -

PMX (Los Angeles, CA) :: November 11-13, 2011
Pros -
Cons -

Anime Vegas (Las Vegas, NV) :: November 11-13, 2011
Pros -
Cons -

Ory Con (Portland, OR) :: November 11-13, 2011
Pros - Few children
Cons - Stuffy

Tomodachi Fest (Boise, ID) :: November 25-27, 2011
Pros -
Cons -

[fleur_fraise]

I'm pretty sure that there isn't going to be a MEW next year.

[Gryffinclaw Princess]

Really? That's sad. I've never been. :/

[EveofAbyss]

Having gone to MEW in the past...I'm not in the least bit surprised about that, lol.

But yay, this thread! This is exactly what I have been needing someone to do. A perfect resource guide!

[Gryffinclaw Princess]

That bad, huh? Oh well. I'll probably be DD again anyways lol.

I'm hoping to get a good list together since I'm also looking for some cons to branch out to.

[Washougal_Otaku]

It has to do with money issues, from what I understand.

Anime Expo - Los Angeles

Sac-Anime - Sacramento

Nan Desu Kan - Denver

Project A-kon - Dallas

[Gryffinclaw Princess]

I found a site with a list of anime conventions and updated the list from there! ^^
Cali actually has a lot of cons which is kinda cool.
I put up all cons I could find in OR (Which is none...), WA, and CA!

Should I include more than just the West coast? Maybe Idaho or Nevada since they also border OR?

[nekovamp13]

There is Wonder North West in Portland, OR
Not sure if they'll have another year, since this was their first, but it's something!

As well, there is Gearcon also in Portland, OR

Kinda funny b/c this year they were at the same hotel >>

Also, there is Orycon

They're not really anime cons, but they are cons in Oregon that people do do anime as well as other stuff~

[RemSaverem]

Thank you for listing these 3. I very much loved MEW and was really hoping it would continue.

For those into Steampunk, there is also the Rose City Steampunk Film Fest, Valentine's Day weekend in Portland.

There is Wonder North West in Portland, OR
Not sure if they'll have another year, since this was their first, but it's something!

As well, there is Gearcon also in Portland, OR

Kinda funny b/c this year they were at the same hotel >>

Also, there is Orycon

They're not really anime cons, but they are cons in Oregon that people do do anime as well as other stuff~

[Gryffinclaw Princess]

Thanks Kristi! XP Those weren't on the website I looked at so much thanks.


Don't forget to give me some pros and cons of all these cons so I can put them up. XP

[LigerZeroLindsey]

Sweet! Thanks for making this thread! I really hope to take Liger Zero Schneider to AX next year o-o

[flyinvee11]

I've been to Sac Anime, and the only problem is that the Winter version conflicts with Mewcon (not a problem anymore, apparently), and the Summer version conflicts with Kcon.

[Kimiski]

Only ever been to Kumoricon- 2004-2011

I HOPE to go to Sakuracon next year!!!

And eventually...

ANIME EXPO!!!
Otakon
Fanime
Anime Boston
Anime Central
Katsucon

These are all the major ones I always hear about and see videos all over youtube from~ The farther one's will be hard and I'll probably do those one day far far in the future xD But for now... at least Sakuracon- start going to that one and hopefully if I move to California in the next two years for Art School, Anime Expo and Fanime alllll the way.

[Washougal_Otaku]

I found a site with a list of anime conventions and updated the list from there! ^^
Cali actually has a lot of cons which is kinda cool.
I put up all cons I could find in OR (Which is none...), WA, and CA!

Should I include more than just the West coast? Maybe Idaho or Nevada since they also border OR?

I say "yes."  It also wouldn't hurt to include some of the largest cons around the country, including:

• Anime Boston in Boston
• New York Anime Festival in Manhattan
• Anime Central in Rosemont, Illinois
• Naka-Kon in Overland Park, Kansas
• Otakon in Baltimore
• PersaCon in Huntsville, Alabama
• MechaCon in New Orleans
• San Japan in San Antonio
• Oni-Con in Houston
• Anime Banzai in Layton, Utah
• Project A-Kon in Dallas

And even some in Canada, too, including:

• Otafest in Calgary
• Tsukino-Con in Victoria
• Anime North in Toronto
• Otakuthon in Montreal - (This year, their attendance was over 9,000).

[nekovamp13]

WonderNW
Pros: Small con, inexpensive, awesome staff and people, on MAX line, not just anime
Cons: inexperienced, not many panels
But this year was its first year, so they'll be improving a lot ^^

That's the only one I officially went to, so I can't speak for the others.

[IrukaSensei]

All I have to say is that MewCon was a very good convention, for it's run. I've heard it's happening again this year for only two days, but haven't heard terribly much on the matters. There was a staff meeting a few months back, I know cause I was called and asked about going to it, but couldn't make it.

I'm with Nekovamp on WonderNorthwest, pretty good first year Con.

[DancingTofu]

For Akicon, I'd definitely list the dealers hall and Arcade as major pros.  I actually wound up buying a weekend badge last year for the arcade alone.  It's a pretty significant thing for a con to have an arcade and own their own cabinets even.  The dealer's hall was also very high-quality for such a new con.

For cons I'd mention that it's very crowded, especially in areas like the dealers hall and photoshoot areas.

[Washougal_Otaku]

All I have to say is that MewCon was a very good convention, for it's run. I've heard it's happening again this year for only two days, but haven't heard terribly much on the matters. There was a staff meeting a few months back, I know cause I was called and asked about going to it, but couldn't make it.

I'm with Nekovamp on WonderNorthwest, pretty good first year Con.

So, it is taking place this year?  I hope they're advertising it well...

[EveofAbyss]

About MEW, I'd just put my two cents in for pros and cons, and say that, for a convention, it had nothing to offer, in my opinion. I went its first year and what I observed was the majority of people having paid registration to hang out in the hotel lobby with their friends. Now, I'm not dogging hanging out with friends, but that can be done for free. Again, maybe MEW stepped it up in the following year(s), but that first year at least was devoid of any real content (in my observation). So, if you're down for shelling out money to do what you could do for free anywhere else...I suppose it is an acceptable convention.

[Gryffinclaw Princess]

MewCon was removed from the list because the con was cancelled.
"It seems that we were not able to recoup the losses we suffered from M.E.W. 3 among other things. I deeply regret it but there will not be a M.E.W.con for 2011-2012. I'm sorry that this announcement has come so late in the year. I am also sorry for the overall lack of communication throughout this process. Thank all of you for your continued support. We can all hope for a M.E.W.con 2012-2013. I will continue to read and moderate this forum as my schedule allows. Any updates I receive will be passed on to you all A.S.A.P. "

If the con resumes for 12-13 I will re-add it to the list.

Thank you all for your posts and I will be adding the pros and cons you have suggested.
Also, I am going to keep these cons to the West Coast. There is no point in putting cons up for New York which is on the other side of the continent. This list will be compromised of cons in a reasonable distance from KumoriCon and I will be adding the cons from Idaho and Nevada which also border Oregon.



Tofu - I agree with the crowding but I think they weren't expecting so many people to come. XP It was very fun though!

[acton]

A good list for cons in the Noth West can be found here.
http://www.sfnorthwest.org/
look under conventions tab.

[acton]

Other conventions I attended

Orycon  11-13 November
Pro- Nice Science Fiction and fantasy Con, more older attendees.  
Con can be a bit stuffy.

Rainfurest, Furry, SeaTac Airport 22-25 September.

Pro- My favorite furry con
Con- may be too specific for some not into Furry Fandom, Still you all would be welcomed.

MewCon   No more
Pro- Had the potential to be a good multi-genre convetion. Better than staying around the apartment on New years day.
Con- Need more panels, ghosting at the con, 17+ rule; they lost membership and some good helpers.

Some  cons I would like to go to include
Radcon,
Rystycon, JAN 20-22 2012,  SeaTac airport  

Two I would not be able to attend,
Sukuracon 2012 and Norwestcon both happening on Easter; as an Anglican I am not available during holy week  (week up to Eater)

[TheDevilsNightmare]

Rad Con
Is small sci fi con, Nothing anime related besides the anime watching room. Its fun to hang out and and cosplay. It at the Red lion hotel in pasco so it not a big building you can walk around the area in a couple of minutes.

[Raven]

If anyone is interested in heading up to British Columbia for a Con, there are a few that are growing!

Tsukino Con in Victoria, BC (Anime Con on Vancouver Island, Feb 17th-19th, 2012: http://www.tsukinocon.com/ )
V Con in Vancouver, BC (Gaming, Sci-fi and Fantasy Con, Sept.30th - Oct.2nd, 2011: http://www.vcon.ca/)
Cos & Effect in Vancouver, BC (Costuming Convention ... all kinds of costumes welcome, Aug.24th - 26th, 2012: http://irlevents.com/forum/index.php?topic=751.0)
Yukai Con in Nanaimo, BC ( A brand New Anime Con on Vancouver Island, Oct.14-16th, 2011: http://yukai-con.webs.com/)

[oslapedo]

Last year's MEWcon was amazing but not because of the con itself. In any case, sad to see it go.

I really, really wanna go to Wondercon but it's the weekend before finals so I'm not sure if I should :I oh man, I just checked and they're sold out of 3day passes anyways, drat!

[Negima]

KawaiiKon (Honolulu, HI)
Pros: LOTS of room, several hotels nearby, has attracted Japanese voice actors.
Cons: They greatly underestimate their potential and turn down possible suggestions (like Cosplay Chess), it's in Hawaii so air travel might be a little expensive.

[Black~Rose]

I hope to branch out someday but I dont know when I'll be able to financially

[EveofAbyss]

I hope to branch out someday but I dont know when I'll be able to financially

That's my story too. I keep wanting to do SakuraCon, but money never seems to work for it. That, and as long as it is on Easter weekend, there's no way my wife can get time off work to make it up there.

[Black~Rose]

I hope to branch out someday but I dont know when I'll be able to financially

That's my story too. I keep wanting to do SakuraCon, but money never seems to work for it. That, and as long as it is on Easter weekend, there's no way my wife can get time off work to make it up there.

Yeah and I am usually spending time with my family then too.

[veraca]

Anime Banzai comes to mind. It's in Salt Lake City, UT. Or around there usually. It kind of hops around like Kumori.

As for cons for AX : Heat, lines that can take up to 6 hours. You pay to wait in lines.

Also, AkiCon 2010 was soooo crowded because JYB and his band showed up. It was awsome, though I wish he had gotten his own room to perform in and better speakers and sound controls. Still, it wasn't terrible. The Final Fantasy Fight tournament was funny.

[Gryffinclaw Princess]

There are three cons in these next few weeks for those who want to expand!
And two are on the same weekend in similar areas. If you're heading to Aki Con in Bellevue maybe stop be Seattle and check out GeekGirlCon!


RainFurrest (SeaTac, WA) :: September 22-25, 2011
Pros - Furry Friendly
Cons -

Aki Con (Bellevue, WA) :: October 7-9, 2011
Pros - New Con!, Great Dealer's Hall, Arcade in Hotel
Cons - New Con Kinks/Bugs, Crowded in DH and Photo areas

GeekGirlCon (Seattle, WA) :: October 8-9, 2011
Pros -
Cons -

[Washougal_Otaku]

KawaiiKon (Honolulu, HI)
it's in Hawaii so air travel might be a little expensive.

That's the main reason for me as to why I haven't considered it.  However, I have a sister who's living there, so the idea of her & I going together (and possibly with her husband, too) has been an intriguing idea.

[RemSaverem]

OryCon is actually very much fun. If anyone is considering going for their first time, but isn't sure they can afford it, PM me. I recommend getting a Friday day pass, which I think are $20 or $25. Creation Station runs a room there, with neat crafts we've never run at Kumoricon, including Blinky Bots (make teensy mini critters with elementary electricity), and how to make your own custom corsets, and how to make your own blacksmithing forge or engage your own iron working. We also are running another Doctor Who Fandom Celebration -- accompanied by a workshop to Make Your Own Sonic Screwdriver! As for anime content, we have AMV Clinic [plus, elsewhere, Guy runs AMVs overnight], Making Manga, and Drawing Yaoi and Drawing Yuri, and cosplay panels: Bodypainting, Cosplay Lighting (brand new!) and Faux Gems and Jewels for Cosplay and Crafting (also brand new!). We also run fanfic bedtime stories, but with a focus on adult content. We also have a Copic Fantasy Art Contest and a beginner's workshop on drawing and coloring with copic. New this Creation Station are our gaming panels: Gaming Glory Stories and Gamers' Lovers United. In Gaming Glory Stories, folks will tell their epic wins and epic fails -- and win prizes for them, especially if they tell them in cosplay and/or in persona *as* their characters or avatars! Gamers' Lovers United is a chance to bond over what it's like, whether as a gamer or a non-gamer, to date a gamer.

Definitely not "stuffy"! Definitely teen-to-young-adult oriented. Hope to see y'all there!
At my personal favorite con hotel, the Doubletree Lloyd Center (where we had Kumoricon 2005 and 2008). Friday-Sunday, 11/11/11. Gaming room open til midnight or so, btw. Right on the Max line, and also with free parking right next door at the mall (which also means cheap food) and park across the street (for cosplay photos). OryCon also has a Hospitality Suite, which means once you're in, every attendee can eat for free all weekend!

[hikaru_maxwell]

I'd like to suggest Izumicon, November 11-13 in Midwest City, OK. Its a small con, held the same time as OryCon, but I've heard it's really friendly. (Kind of the way Kumoricon was super friendly when it was first starting and just got better as it grew).

[RemSaverem]

I just started today to get the mail for the staff and the programming dept of Chicon7, the Worldcon in Chicago, so, I guess the Vice Chair wasn't kidding when she said she was impressed by my comments and ideas at the If I Were Queen of the Worldcon panel at Renovation, the Worldcon in Reno, which I attended having been awarded a scholarship.

Problem: Chicon7 overlaps Kumoricon's decade anniversary.

Ordinarily I'd ignore it. But it's my hometown! An international con in my hometown that wants me as Prog staff. HRM.

Well, it starts Wednesday, and we don't start (for attendees) until (Friday night or) Saturday, so......I'll try........Anyone else?

[IrukaSensei]

MewCon   No more
Pro- Had the potential to be a good multi-genre convetion. Better than staying around the apartment on New years day.
Con- Need more panels, ghosting at the con, 17+ rule; they lost membership and some good helpers.

Just a note dude, Mewcon did the 17+ rule because it's a New Years convention. We were tired of hearing complaints about minors in situations where there was booze. Removing the ability for them to attend - was meant as a way to protect them. They couldn't respect that, and thus we lost a wonderful thing.