Lovers of science fiction, anime, video video games and actually all issues popular culture can rejoice. Vaca-Con will likely be returning to an in-person format for its fourth installment April 2.
Vacaville’s first foray into popular culture conventions — assume a smaller-scale Comedian-Con — debuted within the spring of 2019 and drew a crowd of 1000’s from throughout the metropolis in addition to surrounding areas for a day of cosplaying, video games, vendor cubicles and extra. When the second occasion was held a 12 months later, it was one of many fortunate few occasions to go on as scheduled in early 2020 earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic upended each day life. It additionally drew a crowd of individuals in costume, though hand sanitizer was made accessible and folks have been requested to maintain their contact to a minimal.
The next 12 months, with instances nonetheless rising, Vaca-Con was held in a digital format, however the livestream nonetheless featured a panel of artists and graphic designers in addition to a stay drawing by Vacaville native Melissa McCommon of the mascots she created for Vaca-Con the primary 12 months.
Now, Vaca-Con is returning to an in-person format on the venue the place it began — Ulatis Cultural Heart — and Recreation Coordinator Breah Haddon is thrilled.
“It feels very thrilling, particularly with this 12 months being again in particular person,” she mentioned. “Everybody is worked up to be out and about and have this occasion to come back to to socialize and meet all of our distributors and exhibitors. We’re actually trying ahead to it.
Vaca-Con 2022 will function quite a lot of distributors, some coming back from earlier years and a few new. Anchor Tattoo will do stay tattooing, the Artists Alley will showcase the work of artists from Vacaville and different cities, new meals vehicles can have lunches accessible to buy and a panel will likely be hosted by cosplayers Kyle Baxter and John Jarvis, respectively often known as “Santa Rosa Spidey” and “Cap” for his or her portrayals of Spider-Man and Captain America. Haddon mentioned they may discuss how they incorporate cosplaying into TikTok movies and the way they sustain with developments.
One other new function this 12 months is the Cosplay Parade, which is able to give all attendees a possibility to indicate off their costumes by means of a parade round Ulatis. It is a separate occasion from the Cosplay Contest, the place classes will likely be awarded to Finest Group or Couple, Finest Children’ Costume, Veteran Cosplayer, Newbies, Finest in Present and extra.
Different options will embody the Exhibitor Corridor, children zone, gaming station and extra.
Haddon hopes the occasion will deal with attendees to totally different demonstrations, alternatives for networking and total creativity on show.
“Folks work actually, actually exhausting on making these cosplay outfits,” she mentioned. “They’ll have the ability to stand up on stage and present that to everybody, and that feeling whenever you’re ons tase and introduced because the winner, you get a ton of credit score. It’s a very thrilling time. I hope everybody will get pleasure from it.”
Vaca-Con is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 2 at Ulatis Cultural Heart, 1000 Ulatis Drive. Superior tickets are $7, and VIP tickets are $17. For extra data, together with methods to turn out to be a volunteer or vendor, go to Cityofvacaville.com/vaca-con or name 469-6671.
