KamCon levels up for ninth year with games, vendors and live music

KamCon levels up for ninth year with games, vendors and live music – Castanet.net
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KamCon levels up for ninth year with games, vendors and live music

Gamers gather for KamCon

Kamloops’ annual tabletop gaming convention returns next weekend, levelling up for its ninth instalment.

KamCon will take place from Friday, Sept. 25, to Sunday, Sept. 27, at Thompson Rivers University’s Campus Activity Centre, featuring board games, role-playing games, trading card games, wargaming, special guests, panels, workshops, cosplay, contests and more.

Co-founder Tyler Carpentier told Castanet Kamloops this year’s event will feature pinball machines and live music from The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets, who will perform Friday.

“They’ve got a bit of a cult following, and they’ve been to a lot of the really big game conventions. … For us to land an act like them is pretty wild,” Carpentier said.

KamCon started in 2018, initially taking up only the Grand Hall at TRU.

“The event has grown a lot over the last few years. We had 800 people out last year,” Carpentier said.

Programming has since expanded to include a wide variety of role-playing games, with more than 80 individual RPG sessions planned this year.

Carpentier said more than 70 vendors and artists will sell their work at the event, which will also feature special guests including RPG writers, game designers and professional artists.

He said the event is also beginner-friendly for those trying the games for the first time.

While KamCon features a few competitive tournaments, most games require no experience, with game masters and dungeon masters available to help teach newcomers.

Carpentier said it is “surreal” that the event has lasted almost 10 years. He started KamCon with a friend because there were no gaming conventions in the city.

He said the convention’s longevity is a testament to Kamloops’ gaming community and its embrace of the event.

Carpentier said there appears to be an uptick in out-of-town attendance this year, with tickets purchased by people from as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Visitors are also expected from California, New York, Arizona, Colorado and New Brunswick.

“All over the place people are coming out for KamCon now, which is also really humbling and pretty incredible,” Carpentier said.

Children 12 and younger are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets are available online.