The best conventions are the ones that don’t feel like traditional conventions at all. They’re the ones that feel like going home and being with close family and friends. Indy PopCon 2016 was one of these conventions.

It’s the combination of Indy PopCon’s (relatively) small size, local connections, dedicated volunteers, and loyal fan base that make it such a special event every year. These are the things that make the convention feel as intimate and familiar, not to mention as special, as it does. While other conventions have only one or two of these aspects, Indy PopCon boasts and succeeds in balancing all four.

A few of us Hypable staff members have been going to Indy PopCon ever since it first started up three years ago. I can honestly say that each year is better and more fun than the last. I know I’ve written previously about how it’s a great first convention to attend, it’s female-friendly, and just how all of the guests and programming are great, but it’s the atmosphere and feeling of the convention that I love above all else.

A lot of conventions nowadays are put on by greedy companies who are just trying to cash in on the convention trend (and they certainly feel like it). They’re more concerned over profits rather than attendees’ experiences. Indy PopCon is just the opposite. That has a lot to do with the fact that Indy PopCon isn’t put on by a company or corporation. Instead, it’s organized and put on by a group of wonderful, fun-loving people who love popular culture and all things geeky. In other words, it’s put on by one of “us.”

The Indy PopCon staff puts so much thought and care into every aspect of the convention. From witty signage around the convention hall to fun events (like a special screening of Kevin Smith’s Yoga Hosers), free autograph lines to something as simple as monitoring the event’s Facebook group for questions throughout the weekend, the PopCon staff and volunteers put so much of themselves into everything that they do which is what makes the whole weekend a can’t-miss for more and more of us every year.

In fact, multiple times throughout this year’s event, I heard staff members and volunteers alike mentioning things like “If I can make even one person’s day, all of the work and stress is worth it.” Staff and volunteers. To have one of those groups saying these sorts of things is out of the ordinary, but both? Insane!

One of the things I love best about Indy PopCon (and experienced more this year than the past two years combined) is the fact that the convention’s atmosphere really fosters a sense of community and belonging. Going back to Indy PopCon year after year feels like returning home to family. We’ve watched certain young PopCon attendees that we met our first year there grow up before our eyes. We’ve made some really great connections with fellow exhibitors and artists. We’ve even gotten to know Indianapolis so well as to think of it as our city whenever we visit. There’s nothing like the atmosphere that PopCon has created. Nothing.

I think the sense of community and friendliness is best exemplified by the way in which everyone (attendees, staff, volunteers, exhibitors, etc.) interacts with each other. It’s sort of like going to summer camp and making fast friends with everyone around you. It’s easy to strike up random conversations with strangers because everyone feels like kindred spirits.

For instance, this year, I attended a screening of Kevin Smith’s Yoga Hosers with two of my fellow staff members. After the movie and the long Q&A session finished, my friends stuck around for a live recording of Smith’s Fatman on Batman podcast. Because I didn’t have tickets and I didn’t want to walk back to our hotel alone at 11:30 p.m., I decided to stick around the convention center and wait for them while napping in a comfy chair.

About five minutes into my nap, a large group of PopCon goers took over the rest of the couches and chairs and started setting up to play Werewolf (a super fun strategic role-playing game, similar to “Mafia”). Instead of ignoring me, they invite me (a complete stranger) to play with them. Playing Werewolf with that group of strangers ended up being one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had. Because of PopCon’s friendly and inclusive atmosphere, I was able to meet a slew of new friends (who I then kept running into and chatting with on the show floor the next day) and make some great memories.

One of the best indications of the amazing atmosphere that Indy PopCon has cultivated, however, is the enthusiasm and kindness of the cosplay community. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a grumpy or rude cosplayer on the Indy PopCon floor. They just don’t fit into the atmosphere that the convention has created, so they don’t really exist. Every single cosplay that steps foot into the event is enthusiastic, upbeat (even if they have to hide it to stay in character), and patient (which is helpful if you have people constantly wanting to take photos with you).

I can honestly say that it’s Indy PopCon that made me first interested in cosplaying just because everyone around me was always so welcoming and fun. That’s not always the case, especially at some local Chicago conventions that I attend. But every year that I return to Indianapolis, I get a huge reminder of why cosplaying (even in a low-key way) is fun and why I love doing it.

Plus, it always puts a huge smile on my face to see families cosplaying together (as Jurassic World‘s Claire, Owen, and a baby Blue, for instance) and to just revel in how creative people can be. Some of the costumes that Indy PopCon attendees have put together over the years have been some of my favorites that I’ve ever seen. When it comes to a fun and inclusive cosplay community, Indy PopCon really has something special going on.

When conventions are run by people who care, it’s almost impossible not to care about the convention itself. Indy PopCon and the fans it has attracted in its three years of existence are living proof. The creators’ and staff’s passion really shines through, making Indy PopCon one of the best conventions to attend each and every year. Thank you, Indy PopCon, for welcoming all of us (Hypable staff included) with open arms and open hearts. You’ve truly created something special and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for you.

If you’ve never heard of Indy PopCon or haven’t attended it yet, I highly suggest you check it out. You won’t know what you’re missing out on until you do.

 
If you’d like to check out all of the cool buttons and prints that we sold at this year’s event, check out our eBay storefront! We’ll be listing all of our new stuff soon!