Katsucon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Katsucon |
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The official Katsucon logo
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| Status | Active |
| Genre | Anime, Manga, Japanese pop culture |
| Venue | Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center |
| Location(s) | National Harbor, Maryland |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1995 |
| Attendance | 17,005 in 2016 |
| Organized by | Katsucon Entertainment, Inc. |
| Website | http://www.katsucon.org/ |
Katsucon is a super fun three-day event held every February in National Harbor, Maryland. It's a big party for fans of Anime, Manga, and all things Japanese pop culture! People come together to celebrate their favorite shows, comics, and characters. It usually happens around the Presidents Day weekend. Before finding its home in Maryland, Katsucon was held in different places around Virginia and Washington, D.C.. The name "Katsucon" is a bit of a mystery, as "katsu" has several meanings in Japanese, like "fried"!
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What Happens at Katsucon?
Katsucon is packed with exciting activities for everyone! You can find something to do almost any time of day or night.
Fun Activities and Shows
- Anime Music Videos: Watch cool videos made with clips from anime shows, set to music.
- Art Show: See amazing artwork created by talented artists.
- Artist Alley: Meet artists, buy their unique creations, and get custom drawings.
- Charity Auction: Bid on special items to help raise money for good causes.
- Costume Contests: Show off your amazing cosplay (costumes) and see others' incredible designs.
- Cosplay Chess: Watch people dressed as characters play a giant game of chess.
- Dealers Room: Shop for all sorts of anime, manga, and pop culture merchandise.
- Game Shows: Play fun, interactive games with other attendees.
- Formal Ball: Dress up in fancy clothes and dance the night away.
- Karaoke: Sing your favorite anime theme songs or pop hits.
- Maid Cafe: Enjoy snacks and drinks served by friendly staff dressed as maids or butlers.
- Masquerade: A big costume show where cosplayers perform skits.
- Musical Performances: Listen to bands and musicians play live music.
- Panels: Attend talks and discussions about different anime, manga, and Japanese culture topics.
- Rave: Dance to electronic music with flashing lights.
- Workshops: Learn new skills, like how to make costumes or draw manga.
- Video Gaming: Play video games with friends or compete in tournaments.
- Video Screenings: Watch episodes of anime or Japanese movies.
Japanese Culture Institute
Katsucon also has special events focused on Japanese culture. This is called the Japanese Cultural Institute. It helps people learn more about Japan's traditions and modern culture. The convention even runs activities 24 hours a day, so there's always something happening!
Helping Others
Katsucon also cares about giving back. In 2012, they held charity events that helped groups like the American Cancer Society.
Katsucon's Journey Through Time
Katsucon started small in 1995 in Virginia. It quickly grew very popular, so it had to move to bigger places over the years.
Early Years and Growth
After its third year, Katsucon started moving to different locations around the Washington D.C. area because more and more people wanted to attend. In 2002, the convention became so popular that they had to limit the number of people who could come. In 2003, a big snowstorm meant many attendees got stuck. Guests and staff worked together to keep everyone entertained by running extra panels and opening video rooms.
As Katsucon kept growing, it moved to even larger hotels. Sometimes, these hotels had challenges, like construction or long lines for popular areas like the dealers' room.
Moving to the Gaylord National Resort
For several years, Katsucon looked for a perfect, big home. In 2010, Katsucon finally moved to the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. This is where it is held today! That year, a big snowstorm hit, making travel tricky for many people. It even delayed getting the convention badges ready.
In 2013, Katsucon hosted a special competition for the World Cosplay Summit. This is a huge international cosplay event! The dealers' room was so popular that year that they sometimes had to limit how many people could enter at once.
Another winter storm caused travel problems before the 2014 convention. But Katsucon made the dealers' room even bigger that year. They also hosted more World Cosplay Summit events. In 2021, Katsucon had to be canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
