Warriors from the Barony of Blackstone Mountain spar with each other while wearing Viking era armor.
Fans of science fiction and fantasy congregated at Valley Park this past weekend for the inaugural HurriCon pop culture convention. The event, held on September 6 and 7, featured five different celebrities, costume contests, gaming tournaments, lightsaber duels, discussion panels, and specialty vendors.
Celebrity guests were Jennifer Nash, who played Meribor in “The Inner Light,” a beloved episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation; Marcus Nash, who played young Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Tapestry”; Robert Ray Shafer, West Virginia native known for playing Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration, on “The Office”; Meredith Garretson, who plays Kate Hawthorne in the Syfy series “Resident Alien”; and Daniel Boyd, West Virginia filmmaker, author, and professor.
Gamers could compete against each other in esports tournaments hosted by Game Grove of Teays Valley. Some of the featured games included Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Melee, Mario Kart World, Street Fighter7, Guilty Gear Strive, Kirby Fighters 2 and Kirby Airriders, and Granblue Fantasy Versus.
In addition to video games, conventiongoers could explore the extensive game library of Blue Falcon Board Gaming, an organization started by a Marine Corps veteran who wanted to promote positive mental health through gaming. Blue Falcon Board Gaming hosted open gaming tables, as well as learn-to-play sessions organized by volunteer instructors.
Putnam Area Robotics Team, an organization for high school students, demonstrated the competition robot that they created for the 2025 Greater Pittsburgh Regional. The students had to incorporate an aquatic theme to their creations, and the P.A.R.T.s team built a robot that could pick up “coral” (really a stack of PVC pipes taped together) and launch it into the air from various heights. The P.A.R.T.s robot won the competition, as well as the First Impact Award at the Smoky Mountain Regional.
Outside on the green, lightsaber performance groups Imperial Legion of Ashland and Morehead, Kentucky, and Outer Rim Praxeum from Fairmont engaged in lightsaber battles which depicted the epic struggle between light and dark. In addition to witnessing these dramatic duels, visitors could try their hand at fighting with special lightsaber training classes.
While the Imperial Legion and Outer Rim Praxeum depicted the fighting arts of galaxies far, far away, the Society for Creative Anachronism represented warriors of Earth’s past with sword fighting and fencing demonstrations. Members of the Barony of Blackstone Mountain, based out of Kanawha and Jackson Counties, and the Shire of Port Oasis, based in Cabell County, educated the public about medieval weaponry, clothing, and crafts.
Besides providing a way for geeks and nerds to socialize with like-minded individuals, the convention served as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, with 100% of ticket sales going directly to the organization. Chris Francis, HurriCon organizer and owner of Element 304 Printing and Miniatures, is a survivor of cancer, so supporting research and services for cancer patients is a cause close to his heart.
“As HurriCon WV 2025 comes to a close, our entire team wants to extend our deepest thanks to everyone who helped make this weekend such a success,” says Francis. “From our amazing guests and hardworking vendors to the exhibitors who filled Valley Park with creativity and energy, this event would not have been possible without you. Most of all, we want to thank our community. Your support, your enthusiasm, and your presence are what brought HurriCon to life. The real success of HurriCon is measured not just in numbers, but in the friendships, memories, and sense of togetherness that were built here. We sincerely hope that everyone left with experiences they will carry with them until our next gathering.”
While the 2025 HurriCon might be over, Francis and the other organizers are making plans for the future. “HurriCon WV will return in 2026, and we already have something special on the horizon,” says Francis. “On May 23, 2026, we will be partnering with Valley Park once again to host a Renaissance Festival, bringing a new celebration of history, fantasy, and community to our region. We can’t wait to see you all at the Renaissance Festival next May and, of course, at HurriCon in 2026. Thank you for being part of this incredible journey with us.”
