A-Kon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids A-Kon |
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Logo for the convention
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| Status | Active |
| Venue | Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center |
| Location(s) | Dallas, Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1990 |
| Attendance | 34,684 in 2018 |
A-Kon is a big, fun event that happens every year in Dallas, Texas. It's a four-day convention, usually in May or June, where fans of anime (Japanese animation) and Japanese pop culture gather. A-Kon started way back in 1990 with only 380 people. This makes it North America's longest-running convention mainly focused on anime!
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What Happens at A-Kon?
A-Kon is packed with exciting activities for everyone who loves anime and geek culture. It's not just about watching anime shows and movies anymore!
Fun Activities and Events
You can find many different things to do at A-Kon, including:
- Panels: Listen to American authors and artists share their ideas.
- Gaming: Play video games in the console gaming room or board games in the tabletop gaming room.
- Cosplay: See amazing costumes (called cosplay) and even dress up as your favorite characters.
- Scavenger Hunts: Go on exciting quests around the convention.
- Martial Arts: Watch cool demonstrations of martial arts.
- Art Show: Check out incredible artwork from talented artists.
- Concerts: Enjoy live music from Japanese bands and SteamPunk bands.
Connecting with A-Kon
A-Kon also stays connected with its fans online. They use social media like Facebook and Twitter to share updates and run contests all year long. They have thousands of followers who love to keep up with the latest news!
How A-Kon Works
A-Kon is a huge event, and it takes a lot of people to make it happen. Many teams of volunteers work together to run different parts of the convention.
Becoming a Volunteer
If you're interested in helping out, A-Kon usually posts a volunteer sign-up page online around February or March each year. Volunteers work at least 16 hours during the weekend. In return, they get a free pass to the convention! If you're over 18 and work 20 hours, you might even get a shared hotel room.
A-Kon's Journey Through Time
The name "A-Kon" might be a fun nod to an early anime series called Project A-ko. Like many events, A-Kon had to cancel its 2020 convention because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Moments in A-Kon's History
A-Kon has grown a lot since it first started. Here's a quick look at some of its past events:
- 1990: The very first A-Kon took place in Richardson, Texas, with 380 attendees.
- Early Growth: In the early 1990s, the convention moved to Dallas and started to grow steadily, welcoming more and more fans each year.
- Moving Venues: Over the years, A-Kon has been held at different hotels and convention centers in the Dallas area, including the Adam's Mark Hotel and the Fort Worth Convention Center.
- Growing Attendance: The number of attendees has increased dramatically. By 2005, over 10,000 people were attending. In 2018, A-Kon welcomed 34,684 attendees!
- Recent Years: A-Kon continues to be a popular event, bringing together anime and pop culture fans from all over.
Images for kids
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Logo for the convention
