Gloucester Public Library will hold its sixth annual Comix Con Saturday at the Main Street Center location from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. This event typically draws crowds of 2,000 or more.
“People come to see and be seen,” said event coordinator Nancy Halstead, library programming specialist for teen services.
All ages are welcome to dress up as a character of their choice, with past favorites including superheroes, villains and anime characters.
The library will hold a costume contest, judging for which will take place at 2 o’clock in the library’s community room. Prizes will be awarded in four age categories, including birth to age four years, ages five to 11, ages 12 to 17 and ages 18 and older. Photos for the contest will be taken by 12:30 p.m. All photos will be posted on the GCPL Facebook page.
There will also be several demonstrations Saturday. Tampa Taiko will perform traditional Japanese drumming, a magician from Just Magic will perform, Be Nerdy with Duct Tape will show how to make things out of duct tape, Orcs Wargaming Club will give a battle demonstration and Gloucester Village Blacksmith will also provide a demonstration.
Jersey’s Cards & Comics will also be in attendance, as well as Preston Quinn, also known as “The Pain Train,” a professional wrestler from Mid-Atlantic Territory. Dave Lee of HCS Publishing and Mike Parodi of Master Creations Enterprises will also be there. The Clan MacCool Band will be performing.
On the Flip Side, The Knights of Columbus and Papa Johns Pizza will have their food trucks on site. Retro Daddio, Village Blacksmith and Be Nerdy will have items for sale. Also at the event will be daleks from Doctor Who and a storm trooper from Star Wars roaming around. Face painting is also another activity available Saturday.
Beth Richardson of Gloucester will be providing a display of science fiction works written by her grandfather, Will F. Jenkins, who published under several pen names throughout his career.
The Gloucester Friends of the Library will be holding a silent auction. Some auction items have been donated by the Village Blacksmith and Jersey’s.
Gloucester Parks, Recreation and Tourism, Gloucester Community Engagement and representatives from the D.A.R.E. program will be present Saturday.
“We’re hoping for a big crowd,” said Halstead.
This event is sponsored by Friends of the Library.