By: Amanda Mitrani
Southwest Florida has become a new home base for Comic Cons and conventions in general. With conventions like SW Florida Con, Space Con, and Caloosa Con breathing a new life into Fort Myers, communities of “nerdy fandoms” like sci-fi, anime, and superheroes have rejoiced in these new opportunities to connect with people with similar passions.
But there has been something missing, according to members of the Fort Myers Cosplay Club. Summarized from a collective interview with 20 members of the Fort Myers Cosplay Club:
“We love having the small cons right here, any excuse to dress up and geek out is awesome and we love those events. But something we miss about the huge conventions in Orlando and Tampa has been the programs and panels where we can get involved, ask questions, and learn new things.”
So the Fort Myers Cosplay Club decided to partner with Alliance for the Arts and invent Fort Myers Cosplay Con: a convention that focuses on the programming and panels local cosplayers and self-proclaimed nerds love.
The event will be held on Sunday, September 26, 2021, at Alliance for the Arts from 11 am to 5 pm. Tabletop games, helpful demos and workshops, LARP sessions, cosplay mini shoots, informative panels from local experts in the field, cosplay contests for craftsmanship AND showmanship, and so much more are planned.
Tickets are $20 for entry, with sign-ups available for specialty programming. Sales will benefit Alliance for the Arts. Get your tickets at www.artinlee.org/event/cosplaycon
For more information on volunteering or sponsorships, please email Amanda Mitrani at fmcosplayclub@gmail.com.
Please note: This event is hosted inside at the Alliance for the Arts. In compliance with CDC guidelines, face masks are required at all times while inside the building and you are advised to keep 6 feet between you and others. Space will be limited to maximize social distancing. You will be required to adhere to all posted signage and procedures while on the Alliance campus. This information is subject to change.
