Once again, it’s time to rank the conventions that I went to. However, this year we’re going to see some major changes. First, we have a large reduction in the number of events I attended. I think last year I went to 15 conventions and only about seven this time around. Everything is fine, I’m just not attending as many events as I used to by choice. Conventions are getting more expensive for the same experience, and after so many of them, it becomes harder to justify the expense.
Another shock is that Lexington Toy and Comic Con, as well as Smoky Mountain Fan Fest, are not going to show up. I’ve attended these events yearly for so long, and I just wasn’t motivated to do so again this year.
To explain how this list works, it’s entirely a ranking of how much I enjoyed the convention itself. How it’s organized has no bearing on the list unless it affects how much I enjoyed the convention as a whole. So with that out of the way, let’s start with the list.
Fanboy once again takes a low spot. It’s gotten a lot better over the years, but the core issue always remains the same. It’s always just a convention I go to, get my autographs, and then leave. I enjoy going to it, but mostly because it’s close enough to home that the expense is rather low.
Another convention that I enjoy going to; however, it’s almost entirely due to the ability to see my friends and enjoy local attractions. If it were Yama-Con alone, I simply wouldn’t go to it nearly as often as I do. I had an amazing time over the weekend, but only a fraction of that time was spent doing something specific to Yama-Con.
Huntsville Comic and Pop Culture Expo:
Huntsville falls under a similar problem to both Yama and Fanboy. It’s an event that I mostly go to for autographs and hanging out with friends. However, I often find a handful of panels I really enjoy doing, and it has a selection of guests and vendors I consistently enjoy a great deal.
My first 18+ convention was a whole lot of fun. I had an amazing time talking with the guests, and I absolutely loved the VIP meet and greet mixer. It was also nice, really seeing how the vibe of such an event compared to conventions I normally go to. I also got to chat with Vtuber guests for the first time, and so the series of new experiences made this an unforgettable weekend.
One of the things I really enjoy about Farleycon is how it’s really easy to get time to chat with everyone here. It often has an incredible lineup of guests, and because of the crowds, I often get plenty of time to talk without worrying about holding up lines. The vendors often feature new items to me, and I enjoy hanging out with my friends here. I know I’ve mentioned this more as a negative in other events, but the difference here is that there is more to do than just hang out with my friends.
Anime Impulse appears once again, but it doesn’t take the top spot. Unlike last time, it’s not because it took first and second place. I only went to one Anime Impulse event, and I absolutely loved it. I saw my first Vtuber concert, some of my favorite voice actors, like Alice Himora, and had an unforgettable time. Even after all that, one event did just slightly better.
Chattanooga Comic Con has steadily been climbing the ranks as I’ve been growing more and more attached to this event. It consistently offers something that leads to a story unlike anything I’ve ever done before. I mean, this year I literally got to ride a mechanical bull, and I have a photo of me doing that taken by one of the guests themselves. Combine that with seeing live wrestling, lots of shopping, and lots of time to talk with friends and guests, and it ends with the best weekend I’ve had all year.
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