Local convention unites community with love of pop culture

For lovers of all things pop culture, the return of EtownCon on Saturday was like a dream come true.

Jill and Mick Haines, who attended the event Saturday at Pritchard Community Center, said it’s wonderful to have a local convention.

“It’s fun and there are a lot of cool cosplays here,” Jill Haines said. “Hopefully, they bring more because I’m super down.”

There were more than 80 vendors at the event selling art, jewelry, food, toys, statues, posters, and apparel.

According to Greg Granderson, a booth owner who creates independent, faith-based comic books, the convention has a wonderful atmosphere and always puts on a good show.

“This is, I think, the fifth one I’ve done, and it’s actually been my best one yet,” Granderson said. “We’re a culture of diversity and this is where folks come out to share their creativity, learn and just collaborate with other artists.”

The convention really the community together and allows everyone to just be themselves, according to Dodeo Harischand, a booth operator selling Dragon Ball Z figures and other anime items.

“When I was growing up, you’d get bullied for being involved in any of this stuff or wearing a “Dragon Ball Z” shirt,” Harischand said. “Now just seeing everybody cosplaying, being open, and the room being full of different generation and genres, it’s amazing.”

Featured guests at the event included voice actress Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld known for her characterizations in “Pokemon,” “Strawberry Shortcake” and “YuGiOh” as well as a “Power Rangers” reunion with yellow ranger actress Nakia Burrise and pink ranger actress Catherine Sutherland.

Rosenfeld, who was visiting Kentucky for the first time, said it was wonderful to meet people at the convention.

“You get to see families come together who enjoy lots of different shows, movies and cartoons,” Rosenfeld said. “It’s a really great way to bring friends and families together in a really fun and positive way.”

According to show manager Carmine De Santo, organizers have similar events in Frankfort, Bowling Green, Louisville and Lexington.

The best thing about the convention, according to De Santo, is seeing the families come out dressed up and having fun.

“It’s a smaller, one-day format show but people are treating it like a three-day or four-day format show,” De Santo said. “It’s a great cosplay community, a great vendor community and it’s nice to bring these shows to smaller communities.”

Connor Wilkerson can be reached at 270-505-1413 or [email protected].

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