Bigger, better nerdy fun awaits at expanded KCC Comic-Con

IF YOU GO:
WHAT: KCC Comic-Con
WHERE: Klamath Community College, 7390 S. 6th St., Klamath Falls
WHEN: Saturday, July 15, from 12-9 p.m.
COST: Free admission with donation of non-perishable food/hygiene item

Southern Oregon’s premier current celebration of superheroes, comics, games, and pop culture returns to the Klamath Community College campus on Saturday, July 15 for the second annual rendition of KCC Comic-Con.

More than 2,000 visitors from all over the Pacific Northwest, topping last year’s crowd, are expected between 12-9 p.m. for a free day of games and activities at KCC – one of the few free Comic-Con events held around the country. Similar in structure to a community carnival matched with Halloween-like costume flair and a pop culture aesthetic, comic-cons have grown in popularity worldwide as large convention-style celebrations of film, gaming, anime, comic books, and other nerdy ventures.

This year’s KCC Comic-Con vastly expands on last year’s inaugural offerings, incorporating twice as many vendors and food trucks, more outdoor games, live music including live-band karaoke, and additional KCC program demonstrations. Admission is free with donation of a non-perishable food or hygiene item, to benefit the KCC Student Food Pantry for low-income and food-insecure KCC students.

Visitors are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superhero, movie character or other pop culture icon for a cosplay costume contest to be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m., featuring over $1,000 in prizes donated by The Retro Wormhole in Medford. This will be followed by live-band karaoke on the main stage with Klamath Falls-based rock band Owls & Aliens, and a special “Best Singer” award and prizes for those who sing-a-long with the band onstage to a collection of selected iconic classic rock songs. Costume categories are split into age groups of 6-and-under, 7-12, 13-17, 18+, and best group cosplay.

Other planned activities include a make-your-own superhero wooden jigsaw puzzle arts and crafts area, face-painting, an interactive videogame museum spanning from 1972 to present day, a history of comic books exhibit, virtual reality, laser tag, a Nerf gun battle, inflatable axe-throwing, 60 vendors, 10 food trucks, and a number of featured presenters. There will also be an all-day film festival courtesy of Klamath Film showcasing a “Best of Klamath Independent Film Festival” showcasing selections from past years of the annual fall film festival – held this year Sept. 22-24 at the Ross Ragland Theater.

KCC will also provide several demos and tours of its many programs. These include access to full-motion simulators for the aviation and commercial drivers license (trucking) programs, tours of the Nursing SIM lab, CNC machine demos for Manufacturing-Engineering-Technology, KCC Cosmetology services, and demonstrations by the KCC Fire Science and EMT programs.

Featured speakers include Josh Gross of the Ashland-based touring live puppetry troupe Puppeteers For Fears, which will be bringing its punk rock-meets-puppetry stage show “Cthulu: The Musical” to the Linkville Playhouse in Klamath Falls on Aug. 12. Other speakers include Justin Zimmerman – creative director for Battle Quest Comics, and stop-motion film animators Jason Thibodeaux and Sarah Frechette of Laika Film Studios and The Hand and the Shadow. The evening will end with a live performance by Owls and Aliens.

The event will feature a number of free giveaways, including a prize system for anyone who collects a stamp from each on-campus activity station. KCC Comic-Con will also feature nearly double the number of vendors as last year’s event selling various collectibles, handmade artwork and crafts.

Attendees to KCC Comic-Con may register in advance via Eventbrite at eventbrite.com/e/597894738257, or visit www.klamathcc.edu for more information.