If your weekend plans could use a little more adventure, the Laman Library is ready to help you “unlock new worlds” with Laman Con 2026, a free, all-ages event bringing together readers, watchers, gamers and fans of just about every genre. (PHOTO: North Little Rock Public Library System)
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) —If your weekend plans could use a little more adventure, the Laman Library is ready to help you “unlock new worlds” with Laman Con 2026, a free, all-ages event bringing together readers, watchers, gamers and fans of just about every genre.
Special Projects Coordinator Lauren Schmidt said the event is expanding beyond its traditional sci-fi and fantasy focus this year. Along with those staples, Laman Con will also include historical romance, mysteries, comic books and more.
Laman Con is set for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Laman Library in North Little Rock, and Schmidt emphasized it’s open to everyone, not just North Little Rock residents.
The first 50 guests through the door will receive a bandana featuring the Laman Con logo, and the day’s activities are designed to keep people exploring. One of the all-day options is an interactive murder mystery that sends participants through the library stacks to find evidence tied to suspects and a victim identified as Albert Normlman.
Another all-day activity is a library-wide “quest,” with different areas of the building themed to different genres. Visitors can collect keychains at each section and earn an entry into a raffle. Raffle prizes include a gift card provided by Caverns and Forest, a screen-printed tote bag, and additional items donated by vendors.
There’s also a large community mural painting planned, using a paint-by-number format. The mural image features the event’s logo, created by local artist Jenna Jones, and Schmidt said no artistic skills are needed.
Several scheduled events and partnerships are also on tap. An archery basics class is planned for noon with Rick Fields from Arkansas Game and Fish. At 1 p.m., the Society for Creative Anachronism is set to stage a historical fight, and Pocket Dimension will host a tripants
To wrap up the day, attendees who want to take home a piece of the event can bring their own item, such as a T-shirt, bandana or tote bag that’s at least 60% cotton, to be screen printed with the Laman Con design.
Schmidt said the event will also feature local vendors selling items like “nerdy jewelry” and bookmarks, along with appearances by several hobby groups, including the Central Arkansas Ghostbusters, a Star Trek group called the USS Blackstone, and the 501st Garrison, a Star Wars villain cosplay group described as “bad guys doing good.”
Schmidt said the goal is to make sure every kind of fan feels included, and maybe even discovers a new favorite genre along the way. She also encouraged people to dress for the weather, noting it’s expected to be “a bit of a cold day,” and to share the library’s social media promotions for the event.
Whether visitors stop by for an hour or stay for all four, Schmidt said the library is eager to welcome them in and show off the building as more than just a place for books, but as a community space built for fun, creative events.
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