A new pop culture convention is coming to Putnam County next weekend: HurriCon. Set for Saturday, September 6, and Sunday, September 7, HurriCon will be held at Valley Park Conference Center in Hurricane. The convention will feature special guests from popular television shows, live entertainment, e-sports tournaments, board games, cosplay contests, vendors, and more.
HurriCon is more than just an event for fans of pop culture; it is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. “As a cancer survivor, supporting the American Cancer Society’s mission here in West Virginia is deeply personal to me,” explains HurriCon organizer Chris Francis. “HurriCon grew out of that passion — an event by geeks, for geeks, that also brings our community together to make a difference. We’ve designed it so the entire family can come and find something for everyone to enjoy.”
“This year, we’re filling every corner of Valley Park,” Francis continues. “Inside, the vendor hall will showcase unique collectibles, talented artists, and local authors, alongside celebrity guests from Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Office, and Resident Alien. Fans can enjoy esports tournaments, speedrun showcases, and a vibrant community of cosplayers bringing their A-game all weekend. Step outside, and the experience keeps going — a full lineup of food trucks, two stages of live entertainment, medieval combat and lightsaber performance groups, and multiple video gaming trailers will make the park buzz with activity from the parking lot to the indoor conference hall. Hurricon is our way of giving back — celebrating the things we love while raising funds for life-saving research and support programs.”
Special guests include Jennifer Nash and Marcus Nash from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Marcus is also premiering his newest film, Bigfoot Je T’aime, as part of the event. Robert Ray Shaffer, who played Bob Vance from Vance Refrigeration on The Office, and Meredith Garretson from Resident Alien will also be making appearances at the conference. Daniel Boyd, the West Virginia filmmaker known for classics like Chillers and Invasion of the Space Preachers, will be a special guest as well. Special guests will be available throughout the weekend for selfies, autographs, professional photo ops, and panel discussions, giving fans a chance to connect with them in multiple ways.
“We’ve got a packed schedule of events and activities both days, so there’s really something for everyone,” says Francis. “Outside, we’ll have two lightsaber performance groups — the Outer Rim Praxeum and the Imperial Legion — doing combat demonstrations, interactive training sessions, and even a tournament between their two groups. Fans of tabletop gaming will love what we’ve lined up: J.P. Gotrokkits is offering free miniature painting sessions, Three Rivers Gaming will be leading Dungeons & Dragons learn to play campaigns for all ages, and Blue Falcon Boardgaming is bringing a library of free-to-play board games for attendees to dive into.
“On the tech side, Optimum and the Army National Guard are rolling in video gaming trailers loaded with titles for everyone to enjoy. The Eastern Kentucky Ghostbusters will be suited up and ready for photo ops with their proton packs and gear, while the Barony of Blackstone Mountain, part of West Virginia’s SCA chapter, will showcase their medieval combat skills. We’ll also be hosting two full days of esports tournaments across a wide variety of games, plus a Sunday performance by magician Joey Stepp. And of course, you can meet exhibitors like the GeekZip Podcast, Temporal Orbit Films, the WV Browncoats, local authors, and many more.”
Ticket prices are $10 for a single adult day pass, and $15 for an adult weekend pass. VIP tickets are $60, and include an hour of early access on both days, premium seating for panels and events, a HurriCon 2025 t-shirt (sizes S-XL only), and other perks. Teen admission costs $7 for a single day, and $10 for weekend tickets. Children under 10 get in free. To purchase tickets and find out more information about convention events and special guests, go to http://hurriconwv.com
To keep up to date with the latest convention news, vendor spotlights, and more, go to the HurriCon Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hurriconwv
