2nd Floor, Children’s Main Floor
LARP stands for Live Action Role Play. Similar to games like Dungeons and Dragons, LARPing requires players to act out the game in the physical world!
Learn the basics and rules of LARPing including what it is, how to do it, what the different roles are and what the terms are used. After learning the basics and most importantly the safety rules, we will break into two groups to put your skills to the test LARPing.
Hosted by Torch Tales LLC
Author & Artist Visit Snailords
3 – 4 pm
For adults and teens in grades 9+
*Please note, the manga, comics, & WEBTOONs created by Snailords are published for adults and may contain mature content*
You can attend virtual or in person at the library and use the magic of Zoom to meet with Snailords a manga, comic, and WEBTOON artist. We will have copies of Freaking Romance available for purchase!
To request a copy of Snailords’ work to read from the library: https://lci-mt.iii.com/iii/encore/search/C__SSnailords__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=cobalt
About Snailords
Aidyn Arroyal aka Snailords (he/they) is a manga, comic, and WEBTOON artist. He’s best known for his romance WEBTOON, Freaking Romance (completed), and thriller WEBTOON, Death: Rescheduled (ongoing). He is also the creator of Snailogy and Snailed It, two slice-of-life comic series.
When: Saturday, April 27th from 2 – 4 pm
Where: First Floor, Atrium
Meet with Team HUGE as seen on BattleBots! There will be robots on display, activities for the whole family, and you can ask Team HUGE all of your robotics questions. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to see STEM in action!
Check out their website: https://hugebattlebots.com/
Drop in. Register for a reminder email.
Pre-register for AvonCon’s first Cosplay Contest!
Teen Cosplay Contest is for grades 6 – 12
Adult Cosplay Contest is for ages 18+
Winners of each age catergory will get a $50 amazon gift card!
Props & Costumes Policy
Proper Attire
Proper attire must be worn at all times. Clothing and costumes must meet Avon Free Public Library standards for appropriateness. There will be absolutely no nudity or partial nudity. This includes the possibility of costume malfunctions. Basically, if you couldn’t wear it out in public without getting arrested for indecent exposure, then it can’t be worn at the convention. When in doubt, feel free to reach out and ask if it’s okay. AvonCon and the Avon Free Public Library is a family-friendly event and no public display of sexually explicit material will be tolerated.
Props Policy
Listed below are the following policies put in place in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. Listed below will be this year’s approved props and materials. We reserve the right to reverse any props decision if at any time a prop is deemed unsafe or dangerous to others.
General Guidelines
- No live metal. Any handheld and wieldable Props made of any sort of metal such as but not limited to Knives, Swords, Staffs, Nunchucks and Metal Airsoft or BB Guns(Even if they are disabled) will not be permitted.
- No Airsoft Guns, Paintball guns, squirt guns or nerf guns.
- Any prop gun must have a distinguishable orange tip at all times.
- Any sort of fireable ammunition is not permitted at all even if they are Nerf gun bullets.
- Bows and Arrows are permitted as long as the String is removed from the bow and the arrow head is removed, Even if it is a suction cup bow from a toy set it must not be fireable and the string must be detached. The arrow must not also have any knocks.
- Props that in no way can be dangerous to anyone are allowed, your prop should break before it hurts anyone.
Prohibited Props and materials
- Nunchakus or other regulation martial arts weaponry are not permitted
- Baseballs Bats are not permitted
- NO LIVE STEEL at all will be permitted. Live steel is defined as, but not limited to:
- Swords
- Axes
- Knives
- Bayonets
- Brass Knuckles
- Any other objects made of metal, which can take an edge regardless of whether the object is actually sharp..
- Sword Cane
- Lightsabers will be addressed on a case by case basis, so long as they do not have metal blades on the pommel capable of taking an edge.
- NO AMMUNITION of any kind is allowed. This includes but is not limited to:
- Nerf ammunition
- Real ammunition, live or inactive
- Spent ammunition and or casings
- Air gun/Cap/Pellet ammunition
- Arrows with nocks and/or hard tips
- NO FIREARMS AND/OR PROJECTILE WEAPONS of any type are permitted. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Pellet guns, Air Guns, or BB Guns
- Water guns
- Working replicas of actual firearms
- Real firearms
- Mini or pistol crossbows
- Dart guns or Blowguns
- Electronic Weapons (IE Tasers or Stun Guns)
- Batons/Nightsticks
- Bows (strung)
- NO EXPLOSIVES OR CHEMICALS are permitted. Fireworks, smoke powder and sparklers are included. These are not allowed whether it is on stage or anywhere else in the convention center.
Any Questions? please feel free to email Stephanie Smith, Teen Librarian, ssmith.afpl@libraryconnection.info
11 am – 4 pm
Shop our vendors including:
CeruleanSeaCreations
Creations by Turtle
Fabric Treasury
Horror Writers of CT
Kismet Co
Modern Artifice
SharkTeath
March Grabber
Two Guys Comics
*Bring cash for any irresistible vendor finds!*
1st Floor, Community Room
LARP stands for Live Action Role Play. Similar to games like Dungeons and Dragons, LARPing requires players to act out the game in the physical world!
Learn the basics and rules of LARPing including what it is, how to do it, what the different roles are and what the terms are used. After learning the basics and most importantly the safety rules, we will break into two groups to put your skills to the test LARPing.
Hosted by Torch Tales LLC
Are you obsessed with a fictional character? Has a book, movie, or TV show taken over your life? Are you the #1 fan of something? Do you want to tell the world about your problematic fave? Find your community at Fandom Showdown!
In this panel, audience participation is encouraged! We will engage in fun, debate-style games and discussion centered on popular media! No matter what you’re a fan of, you’ll have a chance to represent your fandom and speak up about what you’re into! Go head to head about topics like books, manga, pop culture, movies, TV, or other media you’re passionate about!
Due to the nature and content of this panel, the recommended age group for our audience is 14+.
Register for a reminder:
When: Saturday, April 27th from 1:00 – 1:45 pm
Where: 1st Floor, Community Room
Our teen panel will talk about anime + manga, give their hot takes and make recommendations for what to watch + read next.
Local author J. Spink Mills will be moderating a panel of four writers from the Horror Writers of Connecticut. Bios of all authors listed below.
Marc E. Fitch is the author of seven books and novels, including Boy in the Box and Dead Ends, named one of the top horror novels of 2023. Marc is a graduate of the Western Connecticut State University MFA program and lives in Connecticut with his four children. https://www.marcefitch.com/
John Opalenik is a horror writer and educator from Connecticut. He is the author of The Primeval series, The Blue Beneath the Mountain, and the short story collection Among The Willows & Other Strange Tales. He lives in central Connecticut with his wife, son, and dog. https://www.johnopalenik.com/
Kurt Newton is the author of two novels, four collections of short stories, and eleven collections of poetry. He is a member of New England Horror Writers and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association. He lives in the Quiet Corner of Connecticut. http://kurtnewton.weebly.com/
JP Behrens graduated from the Yale Writers Workshop. His work has appeared in anthologies and e-zines including Fairly Wicked Tales and Fear Forge, and his debut novel, Portrait of a Nuclear Family, was released in 2022. He lives in New England with his wife. https://jpbehrensauthor.com/
J. Spink Mills was born in England but grew up in São Paulo, Brazil, where they spent their childhood searching for a secret portal to a magic land. Now they live in the suburban wilds of Connecticut, USA, and build their own portals out of words. They like their stories dark adjacent and their tea hot and plentiful. https://jspinkmills.com/
Our AvonCon Swap Meet will be an hour-long opportunity to trade your collectibles and rare finds. Come into the Teen Library from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM to trade your variety of collectibles and rare finds.
Are you a collector? Do you have too many manga issues that you don’t read anymore? Do you hang onto every blind bag or figurine that you find? Are you hoping to upgrade your collection or get rid of duplicates? Do you have tons of craft or hobby supplies that you’d like to help find a new home? Hoping to trade cards and figures that are gathering dust? Drop into our Swap Meet and trade away! Feel free to barter and trade your DVDs for books, cards for figurines, costume props for model kits, or anything else you would like to trade with others! Everything must be traded or swapped, not sold! No cash exchanges in the Teen Room!
This is a DROP-IN program, no registration is required. All ages are welcome.
Tables in the Teen Room to hold your collection will be on a first-come, first-claimed basis. Be prepared to carry your collection (you may bring a container/bag) as tables may fill up quickly.
RULES FOR SWAP MEET
- Tables and floor spaces are first-come, first-served.
- Be respectful of your fellow traders, and their decisions about their items.
- There will be no exchanging of currency for items inside the Library – no exceptions. You will be asked to vacate if you are found to be selling or buying during Swap Meet.
- Please keep an eye on your own items – AvonCon staff is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or otherwise misplaced items. Be prepared to bring anything you bring in or acquire during the Swap Meet home with you.
- 18+ Materials should not be included in your tradable materials.
Register for a reminder: