This just in! Asheville, NC’s FANATICON Convention will be replaced this year by the decentralized GeekOut 2012. Look for all your favorite geeky events within walking distance of each other downtown.
And don’t worry. We’ve been hard at work in the SML Haunted Mansion and Blog Laboratory. There are several events for which we plan to be a part. We’re pairing up with Ashtoberfest, the brains behind the Asheville Zombiewalk, for something extra special to be announced soon. Check in on our Facebook page – as well as Multiverse Asheville and Ashtoberfest – for more information.
Here’s the full press release:
GeekOut 2012 to Preserve Spirit of FANATICON in Downtown Asheville
Asheville, NC – Local businesses are partnering with Multiverse Asheville to organize a celebration of comic books, gaming, and fan culture which will take place downtown May 11-12, 2012
Multiverse Asheville officially announced plans yesterday for GeekOut 2012, a celebration of comic books, gaming, costumes, art, and fan culture to take place from the evening of May 11 through May 12. The de-centralized convention will take place among a walking radius of downtown venues and businesses hosting dozens of themed events.
Programming will be free of charge for attendees; both evenings will feature all-ages activities as well as afterparties geared towards an 18+ audience. Saturday morning and afternoon will focus on programming appropriate for children and families. Participants are encouraged to attend in-costume.
The announcement comes in-response to FANATICON’s notice February 8 that the third installment of their popular superhero and science fiction convention (which was scheduled for the same weekend) would be canceled for logistical reasons and that there are no current plans for future years. The following day, the organizers of FANATICON updated their official website in support of Multiverse’s plans for the new event.
Organizers are attempting to keep as much FANATICON programming intact as possible, integrating previously-planned panels and events into the new format. Whether space will be allotted for outside vendors has yet to be decided.
With the exception of select events, Multiverse will operate in a promotional and organizational capacity, coordinating event schedules and providing information and maps to attendees and participating venues. Overall marketing for the event will be managed by 4th Wall Promotions.
Multiverse Asheville was founded in August 2011 as a way to coordinate and support socialization among local fans of comics, games, and costuming, as well as to promote locally-operated businesses that support the subculture. In six months, the group has grown to represent nearly 500 active fans and dozens of businesses.
