ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – This weekend, pop culture fanatics have the chance to find some unique treasures at an inaugural event.
The “BAY-CON Presents: Pop-Culture Show” will take place at Bay College’s Joseph Heirman University Center on Saturday, November 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
“We had a lot of feedback from our previous BAY-CON events that people wanted something to tide them over, so we took basically the vendor area and opened it up on a chilly November morning,” said Dave Laur, Director of Student Life at Bay College.
A wide range of pop culture items—like vinyl records, video games, comics, new and vintage toys, and original artworks—will be on display. The show willl feature more than 80 vendor tables, including some local favorites.
“I’m here at my own booth—that’s kind of self-serving—but I’m Mancave Dave,” Laur said. “We also have Peasant Approved, a booth by Bob of Splat-U-Later Paintball. He’s one of our core planners as well. Those of you who might be familiar with the Ore Dock Brewing Company record shows, Jon Teichman and Geoff Walker are going to be there. They’ve been instrumental in helping getting this going. One of my personal favorites, Shawn Wolfman, is a tremendously talented artist. He creates these amazing stickers of 80s-themed monsters and all kinds of good stuff.”
The Pop-Culture Show is a fundraiser for “RETURN OF THE BAY-CON” on April 20, 2024. Bay-Con is a larger-scale event with even more to see and do.
“We’re going to have trivia, a band, cosplay contest again,” said student and Jedi Knight Committee member Laura Palmgren. “We are very excited to announce our celebrity guest. For those of you who are fans of the [Star Wars] Rebels series and watched the Ahsoka series—we have Vanessa Marshall coming, who is the voice of Hera Syndulla!”
Palmgren says events like BAY-CON and the Pop-Culture Show help to further the college’s mission of “Student Success, Community Success, Culture of Success.”
“Being a member of the Automotive Club, this is going to also help my club as well,” said Palmgren. “I think it’s important to support the student body clubs because they bring so much to the college community.”
Laur says no matter what you’re into, there is something for everyone at the Pop-Culture Show—and you may even find a forgotten gem from your days gone by.
“They see something that maybe they had when they were a kid that they completely forgot existed and—as cheesy as it sounds—it’s almost like a mini time machine where, just for a moment, you’re ten years old again,” said Laur. “Folks share that with a friend that they brought or maybe one of their own kids that they bring. It’s a pretty special thing to see.”
The “BAY-CON Presents: Pop-Culture Show” is free to attend. Wiles Food Services will have food available to purchase. For more information on the event, click here.
