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Upstate Comic Con returns to Massena Sept. 22

Posted 5/26/18

MASSENA -- Upstate Comic Con will return September 22 and 23 to the St. Lawrence Centre Mall in Massena. Organizers Elijah Winfrey and Casondra Arquitte recently announced the dates for the event, …

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Upstate Comic Con returns to Massena Sept. 22

Posted

MASSENA -- Upstate Comic Con will return September 22 and 23 to the St. Lawrence Centre Mall in Massena.

Organizers Elijah Winfrey and Casondra Arquitte recently announced the dates for the event, the sixth convention to take place since 2014.

When Upstate Comic Con first started in August 2014 organizers were “blown away” by the support from the North Country and surrounding areas, said a recent press release.

“More than 150 people attended our first event and since then we have been getting on average between 200-250 at each event since. When we first started there were some doubters, but now people are more supportive of the idea. We have also seen other conventions start up in the area and it is exciting to see that we were a part of starting that trend. We are excited to bring this convention back to Massena where it all began,” said Winfrey.

This year proceeds from the Upstate Comic Con will support the Massena Memorial Hospital Foundation.

More details about the event will be released as the date of the event draws closer, but organizers did highlight one big change to this year’s comic con, however.

“So every year we have a cosplay contest where folks dress as their favorite comic book characters. The work the contestants put in is honestly breathtaking. This year we have partnered with Elite Events By Lenny in the mall to make this contest as professional as it can be. We are also giving away a $250 Cash Prize to the winner in the adult division (ages 16 and older) which is a big deal because it puts Upstate Comic Con on par with the prize money given out at the major conventions. The runner-up of the adult division will get a $100 cash prize,” Winfrey said.

The cosplay contest will require an entry fee which will help raise more for the charity. The contest will take part on day one (Saturday, Sept. 22) of the two-day event.

“There will be more announcements coming soon. We wanted to get the word out now because we know it takes time for cosplayers to develop their creations. We want to see some really cool cosplay from here in New York and neighboring Canada,” the event organizer said.

Attempting to defend her title will be local cosplayer Felicity Sarsfield who goes by the tagline Tomoya’s Art and Cosplay on Facebook. Sarsfield has won the cosplay competition the last three years and has already begun work on her cosplay for the 2018 event, organizers said.

Event information can be found at www.Facebook.com/UpstateComicCon.

Ticket Information can be found at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/upstate-comic-con-2018-tickets-44725621538.

Vendor spaces and sponsorship opportunities are available for the event. Contact Casondra Arquitte at Ceconventions@Gmail.com for more information.