Saturday, October 7, 2023
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Central Library
Brown County Library Pop Con™ is back! This family-friendly event is for all ages.
- Dress as your favorite superhero or pop-culture character or just hang out with fellow fans!
- Listen to interviews and meet local artists
- Enter the Cosplay Contest (read the guidelines)
- Try out new and favorite board games in our gameplay area, made possible by Gnome Games
- Shop and meet creators in the Artist Alley
- Grab a snack! Grounded on the Go and Top Dogz will be outside the Pine Street entrance of the Library from 11:00am to 2:00pm
- Download our full schedule of activities here!
- Click here to download our parking guide for the Central Library
Featuring R.L. Stine!
R.L. Stine has been scaring people all around the world for decades. He is a popular American novelist best known for his horror books for children, including the Goosebumps and Fear Street series. So far, he has sold over 400-million books and his books have been translated into 35 languages, making him on of the best-selling authors in history. Website | Facebook
Schedule:
12:00 pm – Horror for Youth: R.L. Stine interviewed by Dr. Bryan Carr
Central Library Auditorium *Limited seating available, first-come,-first serve.
1:00 – 3:00 pm – Book Signing
Central Library Meeting Rooms (limited 2 items per attendee; unable to personalize signatures)
Special Off-Site Second Interview!
4:30 pm – R.L. Stine, Interviewed by BCL Director Sarah Sugden
Washington Middle School Auditorium, 314 S Baird St, Green Bay
Doors will open at 4:00pm – you may line up early!
Please use the Performance Entrance – see our parking guide for further instructions.
The interview will be followed by a book signing (limited 2 items per attendee; unable to personalize signatures).
Books will be available for sale at both the Central Library and Washington Middle School, in partnership with Lion’s Mouth Bookstore.
Also Featured in 2023:
The Shake Ups are an award-winning, Midwestern-based power-pop music collective that blends co-ed vocals, bouncy melodies and infectious energy into a refreshingly charming sound. The Shake Ups are comprised of Patrick O’Connor (vocals, guitars), Savannah O’Connor (keyboards, vocals), Lee Cherolis (bass),Luisanna Rodriguez (vocals, percussion), Ed Cho (guitars) and Steve Hinckley (drums). Originally formed in 2005, The Shake Ups have independently released several full-length albums inspired by their favorite cartoons, including Steven Universe, Voltron, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Scooby-Doo and more! The band continues to build on its reputation as a primary force in the independent music community, bringing joy to children of all ages, as well as pop culture enthusiasts and the indie music echelon. Website
Schedule:
10:30 am – Interview with Dr. Bryan Carr (see below for more details)
3:00 pm – Performance in the Lower Level Auditorium
The Art of Cutting Corners: Making the Most of Your Cosplay Budget, Time and Skill Level
11:00 am – Lower Level Meeting Rooms
Between the Halloween store and the ultra-detailed screen-accurate showstopper lies… the vast majority of cosplay! Let’s discuss how to plan your build to make the most of your budget, time, and skill level. Presented by Valerie Meachum, an actress, singer, and award-winning cosplayer based in the Chicago area.
Dr. Bryan Carr hosts the podcast Serious Fun, where pop culture and social culture collide! Dr. Carr hosts interviews and discussions with academics, professionals, and fans from across the industry – from video games and comics to sports and music and so much more – to take a critical and comprehensive look at popular culture and our relationship with it. Dr. Carr is an Associate Professor in the department of Communication, Information Science, Women’s & Gender Studies at UW-Green Bay. Website (check the Serious Fun archives for episodes recorded at previous BCL events!)
Serious Fun Interview & Podcast Recording Schedule:
10:30 am – Interview with The Shake Ups
12:00 pm – Horror for Youth: an Interview with R.L. Stine
1:30 pm – Gamechangers: The Video Games That Made Us
What’s your favorite video game? The one that made you laugh, or cry, or push yourself to be the best, or lose hours upon hours telling yourself “just one more try”? Which video games changed not just you as a player, but the entire industry as we know it? In this live episode of the Serious Fun podcast, host and producer Dr. Bryan Carr welcomes Dr. Chris Williams and Dr. Juli Case of UW – Green Bay’s Center for Games and Interactive Media for this fun and interactive discussion! We’ll talk about how some of our favorite games affected us and the medium as a whole, and what we can learn from them in terms of design, storytelling, and more. Plus, share your favorite games and video game memories as we build a communal list of the Gamechangers!
Roleplaying Games for Beginners
Have you heard about games like Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder but have never had the opportunity to give it a try? Now is your chance!
Dungeons & Dragons
11:00 am – 1:00 pm – 2nd Floor Study Room C
An experienced Dungeon Master will guide a small group of rag tag adventurers through a beginner one-shot game. Space is limited; you can register in advance! Call 920.448.5824 to reserve your spot!
Pathfinder
11:00 am – 2:00 pm – 2nd Floor Board Room
This Pathfinder adventure will be set up to run as long as you want to play. Drop in for 15 minutes or stay for 3 hours as we dive into the secret caves under the small seaside town of Otari!
New in 2023 - Pop Con starts early!
Pop Con™: School’s Out!
Friday October 6 – 1:00 – 3:00 pm
School’s out early and you can get ready for for Pop Con™ with activities, crafts, and more for youth! Show off your cosplay, play some games, and more.
Ages 5-17.
Pop Con™ Preview with Comedic Neutral!
Friday October 6 – 7:00 pm
Get ready for Brown County Library Pop Con™ with a hilarious improvised Dungeons & Dragons show from ComedyCity’s Comedic Neutral! Join their crew as they embody the characters they created and take you on an adventure like no other. Although they will make many decisions, their ultimate fate could depend on the roll of the dice….
Ages 13 and up.
This is a special after hours event at the Central Library; the Pine Street entrance doors will open at 6:30.
Pop Con™ and R.L. Stine’s appearance are generously funded by the Friends of the Brown County Library.
Local Partners:
Local artist Carolyn Paplham created the Pop Con™ logo and our 2023 promotional poster.
Pop Con™ is a trademark of Pop Con, LLC. Used with permission.
