Yama-Con facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yama-Con |
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|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Anime, Japanese culture |
| Venue | LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge |
| Location(s) | Pigeon Forge, Tennessee |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 2012 |
| Attendance | 2,600 in 2014 |
| Website | http://www.yamacon.org/ |
Yama-Con is a super fun, three-day event held every year in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It's mostly about anime (Japanese animation) and Japanese culture. But it also includes other cool things like video games and comics! The name "Yama-Con" comes from the Japanese word "Yama," which means "mountain." This makes sense because it's held in the Smoky Mountains!
Contents
What Can You Do at Yama-Con?
Yama-Con is packed with exciting activities for everyone. You can explore the Artists' Alley, where talented artists sell their unique creations. There are also concerts and dances where you can enjoy music and show off your moves.
Fun Activities and Games
If you love dressing up, you can join the costume contests and show off your amazing cosplay! There are also huge game rooms with lots of video games and tournaments. You can sing your heart out at karaoke or visit the Maid/Butler Cafe for a unique experience. You can also find cool replicas of props and characters. Plus, there are many vendors selling awesome merchandise and workshops where you can learn new skills.
Helping Others
Yama-Con also helps a good cause! In 2015 and 2016, they held a charity auction. All the money raised went to "Pets Without Parents," an animal rescue group. In 2015, they raised an amazing $2,800 to help animals in need.
Yama-Con's Journey: How It Grew
Yama-Con started in 2012. The very first event happened in December at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center. They chose December because not many other conventions were happening then.
Moving to a Bigger Place
In 2013, Yama-Con used hotel rooms for gaming. They even had tents for some events. But people complained because it was cold and wet outside! So, in 2014, Yama-Con moved to a much bigger and better place: the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge. They had simply grown too big for their old space!
Recent Years
Yama-Con kept growing and bringing more fun to its fans. Unfortunately, Yama-Con 2020 had to be cancelled. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused many events around the world to be put on hold for safety.
