USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C om mu n i t y N ewsp a p er is a pu bl ica t ion of E sca m bia / S a n ta Rosa B a r Assoc ia t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icial Ci rcu it
Section A, Page 1
Vol. 18, No. 06
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
February 7, 2018
1 Section, 8 Pages
Pensacon
Invantdowesn dow
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very year, Pensacon invades the city, turning our normally quiet town into a Mecca for video games, television, comics, movies and more. Now in its fifth year, this Pensacon is set to be the biggest by far. - by Tanner Yea
Kat Bishop, Director of Marketing and Communications for Pensacon, said that this year is going to be one where there is something for everyone. “One of our biggest changes this year is that the entire second floor of the venue is going to be open to celebrities,” she said. “They won’t be pushed off to a far corner and they will be much easier to find.” Like previous years, Pensacon will have guests from all realms of pop culture. For films, Amanda Bearse, Chris Sarandon, Jonathan Stark, Stephen Geoffreys, Tom Holland and William Ragsdale will be coming together for a reunion of the cult 1985 horror film, Fright Night. This will coincide with a special screening of the movie. Also featured will be Golden Globe nominee Jason Isaacs, perhaps most famously known for portraying Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series. In addition to other countless film and TV roles, he currently portrays Captain Gabriel Lorca on Star Trek: Discovery. Television will also have a prominent place at Pensacon. Alex Kingston, Arthur Darvill and Camille Coduri are just a few of the guests who have appeared on Doctor Who, and even actors from the original era will be present. Fan favorites from shows like Game of Thrones, Star Trek, Power Rangers, The Walking Dead, The Mighty Boosh and many others will also be there to meet-andgreet with fans. As part of the increase in the number of celebrities, and also due to current events, Bishop said that security will be increasing throughout the event. “The Pensacola Bay Center has installed metal detectors, so that is a consideration for cosplayers,” said Bishop. There will also be
stricter guidelines for model firearms involved with a costume – they must be incapable of firing projectiles of any kind, and they must have an orange cap on the barrel. Security will also be further enforcing their “peacebonding” policy. The policy involves all prop weaponry being inspected before entrance to the venue, after which safe weapons are labeled with a tag that should not be removed. This indicates to security that the weapons are harmless and only part of the costume. The convention is also issuing a bag-size restriction, meaning you cannot carry
Cosplayers dressed as Master Chief from the Halo franchise. Photo courtesy of Pensacon.
ing a return. Artist Alley will be full of artists such as Colin Cantwell, the concept designer for many Star Wars spaceships; Larry Elmore of Snarfquest and Dungeons & Dragons fame; and comic legend Paris Cullins. Writers Row will also feature top notch authors and writers, including Jim Butch-
ing to group them by genre,” said Bishop. “They’ll be in 45-minute blocks, so you can go and enjoy them without worrying about timing.” Improvable Cause, Pensacola’s local improv group, will be returning to Pensacola Little Theatre to perform their pop-culture infused act. Pensacola Little Theatre, as well
Local restaurants such as Oyster House decorate for the weekend with different fandoms, like Harry Potter. Photo courtesy of Great Southern Restuarants.
a bag that is larger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches. Backpacks are also prohibited This is all in an effort to make the convention a safe place anyone can attend without worry. “We want people to have fun and do cosplay, but we also want them to be safe,” said Bishop. Aside from the cosplayers and celebrity guests, all the events that Pensacon fans know and love will be mak-
er, author of The Dresden Files novels; Dacre Stoker, author and great grand-nephew of Bram Stoker; and Tracy Hickman, the mastermind behind the Dragonlance franchise. The Pensacon Film Festival will also be returning for its third year, but this time in a much more organized way. “We’re going to have a dedicated location for the short films, and we’re go-
as the Rex Theatre, Saenger Theatre, and Pensacola Grand Hotel will continue to host panels, workshops, gaming rooms and everything else you’ve come to expect from Pensacon. Local bars and restaurants will also continue to participate in Pensacon, taking the fandom out into the streets of the city. Pensacola International Airport is once again branding itself as the Pensac-
ola Intergalactic Airport, and Bishop said that long-time partners like Atlas Oyster House, The Fish House and The Deck Bar will be hosting parties with all new themes. Other local bars are set to host their own specials and events as well. With all the excitement and events coming up, sometimes it is easy to forget the necessities that come hand-in-hand with Pensacon. “Make sure to wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, and expect to stand in line – especially on Friday and Saturday,” said Bishop. These are not the only events at Pensacon, however. Every day, more guests, panels and events will be announced. Bishop said, “Since it is the fifth year, we are really going all out to make this one of the best Pensacons.” Currently, presale tickets for the whole weekend only cost $75. These passes give you access to all events and the vendor floor, and also allows entrance to the 24hour gaming rooms in the Pensacola Grand Hotel. The price of these tickets is set to rise closer to opening day, so make sure to get them while you can. Pensacon will be held on February 23-25 with venues at Pensacola Bay Center, The Pensacola Grand Hotel, Pensacola Saenger Theatre, Rex Theatre, and Pensacola Little Theatre. To see events, guests, venue times, and to purchase tickets, visit pensacon.com.