Calling all super hero fans. The SouthShore Regional Library is once again hosting Tampa Bay LibCon this year celebrating comic books, anime, manga, sci-fi, fantasy and the world of fandom with a free, family-friendly super hero themed convention.
The event, taking place at both SouthShore and Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library in Carrollwood on Saturday, May 12 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., has a full line up of activities and speakers that should appeal to the family.
“We are so excited to host this event again,” said SouthShore Administrative Librarian, Cheryl Wolfe. “The first year, LibCon was only offered in Carrollwood. They had a very successful event with a fantastic amount of community enthusiasm so we expanded the event last year to two library locations in order to make it more convenient for interested attendees throughout Hillsborough County.”
According to Wolfe, last year more than 400 people attended the event at the SouthShore Library alone.
“We had several dedicated attendees who participated in LibCon events at both libraries last year,” said Wolfe. “Some spent the morning at SouthShore then headed to Jimmie B. Keel for the afternoon and the opposite was true as well.”
Events at this year’s convention will include a superhero story time with Wonder Woman and Super Girl, a video game tournament, an author panel featuring Kat Heckenbach, Stefani Seoul, Amy Christine Parker and Elise Kova, workshops, including a comic book workshop with Tim Gibbons, and child, teen and adult cosplay contests.
In addition, featured guests will include Logan Eickmeier with Special FX Make-Up and Wagner Events with airbrush face painting and balloon twisting. The Lennard High School Robotics group will perform a robotics demonstration and the Florida Chalk Association will host a chalk art mini workshop and contest. The full line up will be available closer to the date at www.hcplc.org/libcon.
Local artists of all ages are invited to submit fan art for competition related to the LibCon event. Art work accepted to the exhibition will be displayed at the library’s Crawford Exhibit Gallery from May 1 until June 23. The art show is funded by the Friends of the SouthShore Library.
SouthShore Regional Library is located at 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin and can be reached at 273-3652.
