A convention on all things geeky and niche recently saw its 15th event earlier this month, to great success.
Carlisle Megacon took place on Saturday, August 17, at Richard Rose Central Academy on Victoria Way, welcoming hundreds of guests, many of whom were cosplaying – a term used for people who dress as certain characters from media.
Ali Metcalfe, event organiser, said she was only last year handed the reins, but she’s been present since its inception as a much smaller convention at the city’s Waterstones shop.
Back then it was more about pushing the physical manga which wasn’t as popular as it is now, she said.
“It was just a load of people in costumes hanging out in Waterstones for a couple of hours making niche comments to each other, it was really cool.”
The idea for Carlisle Megacon was always to foster community among fandoms – a portmanteau of fan and kingdom.
“It can be a bit hard to meet people who have similar interests to you, and in Carlisle, we’re a bit out of the way.
“From having been the person into something a bit weird and not really well known, you get a bit side-eyed, and being able to go into a space where everyone else understands helps create bonds,” Ms Metcalfe explained, adding that the event will be back next year on August 16 at the same venue.
The convention was also lucrative for traders selling toys, trading cards, collectibles, media, and other various merchandise.
Lorraine Armstrong, of LA Toys, who was selling at the convention, said: “It's the first time we’ve traded here and it's been phenomenal, I sold a ton of stuff.”
Creatives were also on show, and able to sell their work, like mother and son author team Tracy and Luke Blake from Metal Bridge.
“It's been blooming brilliant, I have to say,” Mr Blake, who writes fantasy novels, some of which are inspired by Carlisle, two mentioning the Metal Bridge Inn.
Ms Blake said: “This is a place we love, we wanted to put that into our books.”
Mr Blake added that they go to a lot of similar conventions nationwide, and said it can be difficult given the niche market they’re in, but having one in Carlisle is helpful as it’s nearby.
Artist Shannon Kirkwood, originally from Los Angeles but who moved to be with her husband in Maryport, was enjoying her first time back to Megacon since 2018.
She said: “It's been fantastic.
“The con itself has grown so much since I was here last, and it's just a wonderful environment.
“It's always very inspiring to see everybody else's work, especially the people who are more local.
“It can feel quite isolating being an artist in northern England when everything is further south, but coming to these is like a breath of fresh air.”
Leon and Zay, partners, were watching the cosplay competition unfold, which saw numerous contestants in a variety of costumes present themselves in the centre area, explaining the inspiration for their character choice.
Zay, who travelled from Manchester, said such conventions aren’t really her thing, but added of Carlisle Megacon: “I like the sheer variety of stuff here - the Star Trek fans, the Star Wars fans, there's Genshin Impact and Hasbin Hotel, and some older stuff, like Toy Story - it's cool.”
Leon, a Carlisle artist and con regular, said for them the main appeal is the artists: “There's a lot of people who make their own clothes and bags and stuff and it's really cool to see.”
Cosplay competitor Blake, from Distington, chose Brandon Lee’s iteration of The Crow as his costume.
He said: “I like being surrounded by people that are a lot like me - nerdy.”
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