Arkansas Anime Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arkansas Anime Festival |
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|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Anime |
| Venue | Four Points by Sheraton Bentonville |
| Location(s) | Bentonville, Arkansas |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 2007 |
| Attendance | 1,208 in March 2012 |
| Website | http://arkansasanimefestival.com/ |
The Arkansas Anime Festival (also known as AF2) is a super fun, three-day event that happens every year. It's a big gathering for fans of anime (Japanese animation) and manga (Japanese comics). This festival takes place in Bentonville, Arkansas, and it's the largest anime convention in the whole state! It's also a great place for families to visit and enjoy together.
What Happens at the Festival?
The Arkansas Anime Festival is packed with exciting activities! Here are some things you can usually find there:
- Artists Alley: A special area where talented artists sell their amazing anime-inspired artwork, prints, and crafts.
- Dance: A chance to show off your moves and have fun with other fans at a lively dance party.
- Live Action Role-Playing (LARP): You can become your favorite character and act out stories in real life, like being in a video game!
- Masquerade: A costume contest where people dress up as anime or video game characters. It's also called cosplay!
- Panels: These are talks or discussions led by special guests or experts. You can learn cool facts or ask questions about anime and manga.
- Tabletop Gaming: Play board games, card games, and other fun games with friends.
- Vendor Room: A big shop where you can buy all sorts of cool anime merchandise, like figures, posters, and clothes.
- Video Games: Challenge your friends or other attendees in various video game tournaments.
A Look Back at the Festival's History
The Arkansas Anime Festival started way back in 2007. For several years, this exciting event actually happened two times a year, giving fans double the fun!
For example, before the March 2010 festival, there was a free party to get everyone excited. The festival has moved to different locations over the years, but it always brings together anime fans from all over.
Like many events around the world, the Arkansas Anime Festival in 2020 had to be postponed. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused many gatherings to be put on hold for safety. But the festival has continued to be a popular event for anime lovers in Arkansas!
