ESCANABA — Return of the Bay-Con is in its third year — and promoters say this year will be bigger and better than ever.

This year’s event is set for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, at the Escanaba Bay College Campus in Room 952 JHUC on the Bay College campus (900 building on the southern side of campus). Parking is free in lot A. The event is free, although a $5 donation at the door for those 10 years and older is recommended.

Bay-Con began as an idea in 2019. When the world shut down due to COVID-19, Bay-Con hibernated but broke free from its slumber in spring 2021, seeing over 600 people attend. Bay-Con struck back in 2023 with more than 1,400 participants.

Bay-Con is a fundraiser for Bay College student clubs and Norse athletic teams, with student volunteers raising money for the club or athletic team of their choice.

Return of Bay-Con will again feature a large vendor space with more than 130 vendors, a taco truck, vintage video gaming, cosplay contest, Zombie Lab, trivia and more.

Sponsored by Bay College student organizations, Bay-Con is a fundraiser for the college’s student organizations and athletic teams who staff the event. It is sponsored in part by Radio Results Network.

A vintage video game room will be back. Celebrity voice actors will sell autographs and photos.

Times and events include vendors 952 and beyond from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; silent auction (900 building lobby) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Camp Half-Blood, Bay College Library from from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Make ‘N Take Crafts, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Math/Science Building Hallway; Zombie Lab, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 952; vintage game room from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Room 525; Why We Study Pop Culture: An Academic Perspective from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. in Besse Theater; Nerdology Trivia from noon to 11:15 p.m. in Cafe Bay; speaker panel, Vanessa Marshal, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Besse Theater; speaker panel II, Anna Graves and Rachael MacFarlane, from 2:15 to 2:45 p.m. in Besse Theater; cosplay contest, from 4 to 6 p.m. (cosplay contestants need to sign up by 2:30 p.m. for competition); band: Milliennial’s Falcon, 6 to 6:45 p.m. in Besse Theater; movie off campus at Willow Creek Cinema at 7:30 p.m.

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