Even after our watch has ended, Westerosi fanfare continues to live on, especially for three big days at the third annual Con of Thrones July 12-14 at Music City Center. Hosted by Watchers on the Wall and Mischief Management, patrons from all parts of the country and many foreign lands had many choices of activities, including LARPing (Live action role playing), custom art vendors, panels, and some of the show’s cast members and creative personnel.
Special guests included Game of Thrones stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (‘Jamie Lannister’), Jerome Flynn (‘Bronn’), Hannah Murray (‘Gilly’), Miltos Yerolemou (‘Syrio Forel’). Meet and greets or photos or autographs with these stars were available for purchase. These and other guests discussed the show in multiple panels held during the event.
Cosplay was in full effect, as multiple Jon Snows, Cerseis, and Daenarys’ could be found throughout the venue. Vendors offered a wide variety of wares, e.g. jewelry, homemade dragon egg bath bombs, and Westeros weapons, etc.
Panels included debates on topics such as ‘Lord of the Rings vs Game of Thrones’ and ‘Expanding views of Race on Planetos’. There were also ‘At Journey’s End’ character-based panels focusing on the journeys of specific characters such as Arya Stark, Sansa Stark, Bran Stark, and Jon Snow. Patrons also enjoyed a cosplay meet up, a fans of color meet up, a quiz of thrones, a Westerosi spelling bee, and karaoke.
Nashville area geek fandom is in for a few more conventions in the coming weeks and months, including Akai Con, Walker Stalker Con and Heroes & Villains Fan Fest (HVFF), and the Imperial Commissary Collectors Convention (ICCC).
Akai Con is next on the horizon, happening July 26th-28th at the Wilson County Expo Center. Akai Con – Senshi 7 will offer an anime-based fandom experience for all ages and family members at the Wilson County Expo Center. Visit http://akaicon.com/ for details.
HVFF will feature stars from the CW TV’s ‘Arrowverse’ and other shows and films, and comes with the Walker Stalker Con featuring stars from the AMC TV’s The Walking Dead franchise, as well as other notable actors, August 24-25 at Gaylord Opryland. Visit their website at: www.fanfestevents.com/nashville
Labor Day weekend, much of the Nashville fandom community will take their annual pilgrimage to Atlanta for DragonCon, Thursday, August 29 through Monday, September 2. The new Diversity Track will again focus on folks of color and our fandoms, with special guests like Freema Agyeman and David Ramsey. visit: http://www.dragoncon.org/
Finally, the Imperial Commisary Collectors Convention returns September 13-15 and features Ernie Hudson, among others, this year at Williamson County Expo Park, 4215 Long Ln, Franklin, TN 37064. Learn more about it at: http://iccollectorsconvention.com
