What started with 80 people in a Duluth front yard has grown into one of the Northland’s largest celebrations of gaming, anime, sci-fi and pop culture.
Excalibur Con returns to the DECC August 15 and 16, featuring celebrity guests, cosplay, tabletop gaming, artists, vendors and community groups. The event is organized by the Minnesota Society for the Well-Being of Children and Adults (MNSWCA), a local nonprofit that supports several charitable initiatives.
“We started from my front yard, actually,” said Stephen Kaarbo, president of MNSWCA. “From those 80 people in my front yard, this year we expect several thousand people under the roof of the DECC.”
Kaarbo says the convention is designed to bring fans together, whether they’re into anime, Pokémon, role-playing games, video games or science fiction.
“If you haven’t had an opportunity to come together and kind of find your community in the area, come on down to the DECC because you’re going to find somebody,” Kaarbo said.
Proceeds from the convention benefit causes including the Minnesota Masonic Children’s Clinic for Communication Disorders, MNSWCA’s Mental Wellness Scholarship and the Excalibur Youth Fund, which supports after-school clubs and activities.
Tickets are available online and will also be sold at the door. Organizers recommend purchasing tickets in advance as large crowds are expected.
