OMGcon (sometimes stylized as OMG!con) is a three-day anime convention held during June at the Owensboro Convention Center in Owensboro, Kentucky. The convention was previously held in Paducah, Kentucky. The name of the convention comes from the common abbreviation of Oh My God.[4] OMGcon is run by volunteers.[6]
Programming
The convention typically offers an artist alley, card tournaments, cosplay events, dance/rave, dealers, formal dance, LARPing, special guests, tabletop gaming, video game tournaments, and workshops.[7][8][9][10][11][12]
OMGcon's 2016 raffle benefited the charity Cliff Hagan Boys and Girls Club, and raised around $4,000.[13][14]
History
OMGcon was started because of the long travel time needed to attend other conventions.[15] The convention moved to the Owensboro Convention Center in Owensboro, Kentucky for 2014 onwards. The decision was made to allow for the convention's growth.[16] The Owenboro Convention Center had to be evacuated during the 2015 convention due to a bomb threat.[17] In 2016, the convention began using space in the Holiday Inn for workshops.[13] OMGcon also used all available space in the convention center, with its attendees and other events occupying every hotel room in Owensboro, Kentucky.[18] In 2017, OMGcon again used the entire convention center, and all of Owensboro 1,369 hotel rooms were occupied.[14][19]
OMGcon 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[20][21] OMGcon 2021 was also cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[22][23] Online conventions were held in 2020 and 2021.[24] OMGcon held HallOMGween over Halloween weekend 2021 at the Owensboro Convention Center and Towneplace Suites.[25][26] The convention in 2022 had a mask policy.[5]
Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Steve Johnson, Rikki Simons, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[34]
Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Jessie James Grelle, Darrel Guilbeau, Steve Johnson, Rikki Simons, St. Louis Osuwa Taiko, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[35]
Greg Ayres, Andrea Caprotti, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Rachelle Heger, Caleb Hyles, Comfort Love, Marin M. Miller, Carli Mosier, Bill Rogers, and Adam Withers.[39]
Greg Ayres, Dawn M. Bennett, Fighting Dreamers Productions, Xander Mobus, Michael Sinterniklaas,[40] Callon B, Robert DeJesus, Emily DeJesus, and Nintendrew.[5]
June 9-11, 2023
Owensboro Convention Center Owensboro, Kentucky
Greg Ayres, Jennifer Cihi, Colossal Senpai, Caleb Hyles, Rikki Simons, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[41]
June 14-16, 2024
Owensboro Convention Center Owensboro, Kentucky
Greg Ayres, Martin Billany, Caleb Hyles, Marin M. Miller, and Michael Sinterniklaas.[42]
^Ramsey, Austin (June 11, 2016). "OMG!con starts downtown". Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 13, 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
