New to the “con” scene this year, Indy PopCon is an exciting con that has a little something for everyone to enjoy.
While other cons have one or two main focuses that really dictate the guest list and goings-on, Indy PopCon embraces all areas of nerddom and geekdom. From comics to internet sensations, TV shows to video games, and everything in between, Indy PopCon has a broad enough scope to attract all different types of people and interests.
A few of us Hypable staff members were lucky enough to attend Indy PopCon’s inaugural run, May 30 through June 1. Not only that, but we even had our own table for the first time in Hypable history. But that wasn’t even close to being the best part of the weekend for us.
As soon as all of us stepped foot in the Indianapolis Convention Center, we noticed that the con had a really comforting and intimate atmosphere to it. Yes, it had booths and events to appeal to everyone, but, a lot of times, it really felt like it was catering itself to each individual attendee. This is coming from someone who knows absolutely nothing about Game of Thrones but was still exited about all of the show-related events happening. It felt like Indy PopCon introduced all of us to things that we would like even before we knew we would enjoy them.
Nothing really beat the small-con feel of Indy PopCon. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful, the signs were easy to read (not to mention humorous!), and all of the vendors and artists they selected to attend were genuinely happy to be there. Plus, we loved how the con showcased podcast and video game creators and gave them stage time to do what they do best. While the highlights of other conventions are usually the stars they get to attend, the atmosphere and the passionate convention-goers and exhibitors around us were the best parts of our experience.
That being said, the notable names at Indy Popcon 2014 are definitely worth discussion. Though we didn’t know where or how to find them at first, we loved walking past Indy PopCon’s special guests when they were interacting with passionate fans. Our Hypable editors were fortunate enough to be able to chat with Teen Wolf star Keahu Kahuanui and Rupert Boneham from Survivor, as well as two Game of Thrones actors, Kristian Nairn and Esme Bianco.
In fact, one of the main highlights of Indy PopCon was definitely Kristian Nairn. He was so nice and personable that we gave him a custom-made Hypable Hodor pin (which you can see in the photo) and he wore it for the rest of Indy PopCon! How cool is that?! But one of the best moments of all of PopCon was attending their official after party and seeing Hodor DJing! Trust us when we say that was a very surreal moment.
Because there are not nearly enough words to describe all of the fantastic things we did and experienced at Indy PopCon this year, here’s a list of some of the con’s highlights (and reasons why you should go next year)!
- All of the food trucks lined up outside the Indianapolis Convention Center every day around lunchtime. (Thanks, Indy PopCon, for some of our writers’ first food truck experiences!)
- Fan-moderated panels with guests.
- Panels, live podcasts, and sessions that had easy access and no waiting involved.
- The impressive Bumblebee cosplayer who walked the floor for hours, taking pictures with everyone.
- Free head sketches from well-known comic artists.
- The amazing after-party on Saturday night with multiple music acts (including HODOR).
- All of the amazing cosplayers that showed up day after day with incredible costumes.
- The beautiful downtown location that was in close proximity to delicious restaurants and impressive sights.
- The giant movie replica Captain America shield that we couldn’t afford to buy but made a point of walking by repeatedly.
- Being able to spend time with friends in a welcoming and stress-free environment.
For a first-year con, Indy PopCon truly hit it out of the park. Actually, its organization and atmosphere really put it in the leagues of more well-established conventions that have been around a lot longer. The amount of time, effort, and passion the creators put into the whole weekend was apparent and didn’t go unappreciated.
Indy PopCon 2014 was one of the best weekends of our lives and we can’t wait to return next year!
Be sure to follow our live coverage of conventions, including Indy PopCon and SDCC, by following us on Twitter and Instagram! We always try our best to post as many awesome photos as we can!
Win an Indy PopCon prize pack!
Didn’t get a chance to go to Indy PopCon? Don’t worry! We’ve got a prize pack for one lucky winner. This is open to United States residents only and includes everything listed below:
-1 Indy PopCon poster
-1 Indy PopCon program guide
-1 My Little Pony card
-10 Indy PopCon rubber bracelets (each for a different aspect of the con)
-2 Indy PopCon temporary tattoos
-8 superhero temporary tattoos
This ends Sunday, June 15 at midnight ET. We’ll contact the winner via email, and you’ll have 24 hours to reply in order to claim your prize. Good luck!
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