Play On Con
Play On Con is an annual gaming and science fiction fan convention held in the Birmingham Metropolitan Area at the 4H Center in Columbiana, typically in the first part of July. It is presented by a convention company known as the League of Fandom and Gaming and appears to be the only convention they currently hold.
The organizers of Play On Con focus on being a family friendly event with a 24 hour gaming hall (board, RPG, cards, video), competitions (Iron Bartender), outdoor activities, parties, and musical shows. Celebrity guests are kept to a minimum with guests being more along the line of NASA scientists than movie stars. The convention also features gaming tournaments, a dealers' room, and parties. Since moving to the 4H Center location, the con has taken on more outdoor activities and is sometimes called a "summer camp for geeks".
Play On Con is now held at the 4H Center in Columbiana each year with the con taking up the entire convention center and grounds.
Each year a "president" is elected from the attendees and that person helps select the con theme for the next year as well as winning free tickets and a free hotel room for the next con. Attendees vote with con cash called POC Marks (obtained through contests and participation in con events) and can also spend the POC Marks on select merchandise at the con.
The first Play On Con was held July 3-6, 2008 at the Best Western Birmingham Airport Hotel. Play On Con 2 was held May 22-25, 2009 at the Alta Vista Hotel & Conference Center in Birmingham.
Play On Con 3 was held July 8-11, 2010 at Rime Garden Inn & Suites in Irondale. Guests included Andrew Greenberg, initial developer of Vampire: The Masquerade, and Sean Patrick Fannon, creator of high fantasy role-playing game setting Shaintar. Entertainment was provided by hypnotist David Fonteneau and musician Sean Hagler.
- Play On Con 1 - July 3-6, 2008
- Play On Con 2 - May 22-25, 2009
- Play On Con 3 - July 8-11, 2010
- Play On Con 4 - 2011
- Play On Con 5 - 2012
- Play On Con 6 - 2013
- Play On Con 7 - 2014
- Play On Con 8 - 2015
- Play On Con 9 - July 7-10, 2016 - Apocalypse Theme
- Play On Con 10 - July 6-9, 2017 - Love Theme
External links
- Play On Con website