ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – This weekend, an annual pop culture celebration returns to Bay College.
BAY-CON started as a single-day event in 2022, drawing 600 to 700 people in its first year. It has grown so much since then that this year’s BAY-CON will take place across two days, May 1 and May 2.
“[In 2023], attendance doubled,” said David Laur, Executive Director of Student Life at Bay College. “We were expecting maybe a couple thousand the year after that, and then there were 4,000 people here. It has been so amazing.”
The event runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, which has been dubbed “Friday Knight Geek Fight.” Attendees can participate in video game tournaments, pinball tournaments, laser tag, and tabletop role-playing games. Saturday’s activities run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and include a cosplay contest, trivia, panels, and much more.
The entire weekend will feature dozens of vendors selling everything from records and artwork to retro video games and vintage toys. Guests can also meet celebrity guest voice actors Carla Perez, André Sogliuzzo, and Alejandra Reynoso, as well as comic book artist Jason Moore.
BAY-CON sponsors include Bay College student organizations, the Campus Activities Board, Gaming Galaxy, Radio Results Network, Mancave Dave, and the Terrace Bay Hotel. Proceeds from the event support the college’s student organizations and athletic teams.
“The community response has just been awesome, just to see people having fun, smiles, coming together over some shared interests,” Laur said. “From those who are two or three years old to those of us—like me—who are young at heart, it’s just really cool to see the community embrace this event. It’s just so much fun.”
Single-day admission costs $5, and two-day passes are available for $7. To purchase tickets in advance, click here. On Saturday, cosplay contest registration will be held at the Student Services desk inside the Besse Center.
