Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.wpsdlocal6.com
PADUCAH — McCrack-Con is back for its third year at the McCracken County Public Library, bringing together the community for what Library Director Justin Brasher says is a cheap and close-by alternative to travelling hours and spending hundreds to share in their geeky interests and have some fun.
One attendee dressed in a full-blown Iron Man cosplay.
Tyler Schmidt
McCrack-Con is quickly becoming the community’s solution to lacking large-scale conventions celebrating everything anime, science fiction, comics, TV or movies, and it’s only growing according to Brasher. The event ran from 10 a.m., to 2 p.m., Saturday at the McCracken County Public Library.
“We’ve seen — over the last two years — we’ve seen probably an increase of about 200 people per year. So last year we had about 700 people. I would love to hit 900 this year,” he said.
He said that the event is getting bigger and bigger each year, and this year’s event includes new vendors, volunteers, crafts, opportunities, and programs.
As for why, Brasher said that staff at the library recognized a growing trend for conventions like Comic-Con, and want to provide a cheaper and closer alternative.
“For a lot of people, going to a larger convention in say, Nashville or Louisville, is too far, and they’re also expensive,” he said. “No one wants to drive two hours and pay $75 for a ticket, $100 for a hotel room, when they could get that opportunity here. We want to make this a free opportunity for people to really get exposed to that kind of Comic-Con and dip their toes in it.”
While the event only runs for one day, he said the event’s timeline has been slightly adjusted after community feedback.
Library Director Justin Brasher dressed as Newt Scamander from “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.” Tyler Schmidt
“It runs from 10 a.m., to 2 p.m. Last year we started at 9 a.m., and with some feedback, we decided to start at 10 a.m., instead and go a little further in the afternoon. We’re hoping that will bring even more people this time.”
But, while McCrack-Con may only last the day, the activities going on at the library don’t, and Brasher wants to encourage those who may not think its for them to visit the library anyways.
“I would encourage them to come out here, even if they are into comic books, if they’re into Minecraft or movies, video games. We offer all of that 24 hours a day here anyway,” he said. “So if they want to come seven days a week, we always have video games and Minecraft and books, movies, all of that is here all the time… So they don’t have to wait for McCrack-Con to come down and have fun.”
Attendees stroll through various craft stations. Tyler Schmidt
He said bringing this sort of thing to the community means the world to him.
“The McCracken County Public Library is dedicated to removing barriers in our community, and sometimes those barriers may look like notary services or getting books that they… would have to pay for otherwise,” he said. “Our goal is to expose them to something new and creative and adventurous. And if they want to go to a real Comic-Con in a larger city someday, this is kind of their test run to see what it’s all about.”
Brasher said activities offered at the event included crafting stations where attendees could make their own magic wands, create capes, and craft custom Captain America shields. He said that they’d had a partnership with OMGCon the past two years to provide a free video gaming area, The Dice Alliance for a tabletop gaming room, and an artist alley where people can buy wares from a variety of vendors, and of course food trucks.
Artists alley brought a variety of vendors to share their wares. Tyler Schmidt
And for community engagement Brasher said it’s a great opportunity for people to share their costumes and cosplays.
“If they’ve been working on a really cool special costume, this is a great place for other people to really appreciate it and respect it,” he said. “When someone comes in a full-on Iron Man suit… here people might approach them and ask, ‘How did you build it? What went into it?’ And they really get to talk a little bit more about what they did.”
