FanNation: The Geekstravaganza

Saturday, October 5, 2024 | 10:00am - 4:00pm

Toms River Branch

 

 

Panels, Workshops, & Presentations

Featuring

Anime, Gaming, Comics, Cosplay, & More

Meet up with other people who love to love stuff.

 

 

Special guests will include:

  • Saber Guild Corellia → Costuming and Lightsaber Performance Organization
  • Royal Soiree: Fairytale Princess Parties
  • USS Challenger → The USS Challenger is the Jersey Shore chapter of STARFLEET: The International STAR TREK Fan Association. STARFLEET was founded in 1974. The USS Challenger formed in 1988 and meets the first Sunday of every month at the Seaside Heights Community Center.

 

Events

 

Lobby Information Table

Hatched: A FanNation Scavenger Hunt

→ A dragon laid multiple eggs around the library, but 6 have hatched. Find the 6 baby dragons roaming the library before they get any bigger. Keep an unhatched egg if you find one along the way.

Where’s the Dragon Egg?

→ Find a 3D printed dragon egg hidden between the stacks of the library. Find a figurine and take it home with you as a souvenir! One per person. While supplies last. All ages. 

Art Contest

→ View the winning entries of the 2024 FanNation Art Contest. Winning entries will be hung in the Toms River Branch – McConnell Gallery. Applications and Artwork will only be accepted August 1st through September 5th.  For more details on how to apply and submit, click here.

Escape Room: Trapped in Time

→ The time traveler has lost the key to the time machine. Help them find the key before it leaves without you.

Cosplay Contest Registration

→ Represent your fandom and participate in this contest where prizes will be awarded to the top 3 cosplayers. Register between 10am – 2:30pm in the library Lobby to participate. The contest beings at 3 pm.

 

Sparks's Lab Maker Space (2nd Floor) – 10am - 3pm

*All Day While Supplies Last*

Reusable Bag Creation

→ Decorate a reusable bag with a variety of different paint pens and fabric markers.

Button Making

→ Share them, trade them, wear them! Create your own buttons using our button maker.

Green Screen Photos

→ Visit the second floor for a photo op from a selection of FanNation backgrounds. Images will be emailed.

3D Doodler Pens

→ Make your own FanNation memorabilia using our 3D pens.

 

Teen Zone (2nd Floor) – 10am - 3pm

All Day Video Games Free Play

→ Enjoy gaming on a retro system and Nintendo Switch in a fun and friendly environment.

Open Table Top Games

→ Sit down and learn to play these popular table-top games. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to assist in learning to play. Board games supplied by Ocean County Library.

  • Azul - Complete a display board by placing tiles and creating patterns. 
  • Coup - Manipulate, bluff and bribe your way to power as head of a family in a city run by a weak and corrupt court.
  • Exploding Kittens - Draw cards until someone draws an exploding kitten, at which point they are out of the game.
  • King of Tokyo - Play as giant monsters, robots, and more competing to become the one and only King of Tokyo.  
  • Machi Koro - Develop a city, complete with impressive landmarks, as the Mayor of Machi Koro.
  • Ticket to Ride - Take a train ride cross-country while collecting and matching train cards to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America.

 

Discovery Room

 

11:00am | Neverland Pirate Eye Spy Bottle

→ Make a nautical themed eye spy bottle.

 

Children's Area Storytimes

 

10:30am | Tinker Fairy Storytime

→ Enjoy a fairy themed storytime including stories, games, and a meet & greet with a Tinker Fairy.

1:30pm | Mermaid Storytime

→ Enjoy a mermaid themed storytime including stories, games, and a meet & greet with a Mermaid.

 

Atrium Crafts

While Supplies Last

10:00am | Kokeshi Doll Decorating

→ Kokeshi dolls are a traditional Japanese craft made from wood and painted bright colors. Join us and put your unique spin on decorating one of these dolls.

11:00am | Fandom Coasters

→ Design a coaster with something from your favorite fandom - will it be a hobbit door, a pokeball, Kakashi's Sharingan eye?

12:00pm | 3D Printed Nerdy Objects

→ Color and decorate a nerdy 3D printed item.

1:00pm | Pokémon Ornament

→ Create an ornament inspired by your favorite Pokémon.

2:00pm | Make Your Own Poké Ball

→ Attendees will have the opportunity to create their very own Poké Ball out of arts & craft materials. They can either mirror the designs of preexisting Poké Balls from the Pokemon franchise or they can create their very own unique Poké Ball. Attend this event while supplies last!

 

Escape Room

10:30am - 3:30pm

 

Trapped in Time

Bishop Building

→ The time traveler has lost the key to the time machine. Help them find the key before it leaves without you.

*Please register for a time slot at the Information table located in the main lobby.

 

Presentations

11:00am

 

Saber Guild Corellia Presents Children's Padawan Training Class

Mancini Hall

→ Costumed Jedi instructors guide a group of children to "Use the Force," practice lightsaber attack and self-defense routines, and offer them a safe chance to "test" their skills using the defense routine with instructor guidance. This non-contact experience uses safe "practice sabers" lent to students for the event. Please see the SaberGuild Table to sign up a child for the training session. Space is limited.

 

Sci-Fi Roundup: The Best and Worst of 2024

Hometown Dairy

→ From Dune to Dr. Who, we’ll look at the hits and misses this year; including STAR TREK Discovery’s Finale, STAR WARS Acolyte’s beginning, the furor of Furioso and another chapter for The Planet of the Apes.

 

Presentations

12:00pm

 

Saber Guild Corellia Presents Children's Padawan Training Class

Mancini Hall

→ Costumed Jedi instructors guide a group of children to "Use the Force," practice lightsaber attack and self-defense routines, and offer them a safe chance to "test" their skills using the defense routine with instructor guidance. This non-contact experience uses safe "practice sabers" lent to students for the event. Please see the SaberGuild Table to sign up a child for the training session. Space is limited.

 

Presentations

12:45pm

Ani-GAY-tion: The Queer History of Animation 

Mancini Hall

→ Did you know that Disney’s first gay characters appeared as early as the 1930s? Or that anime from the 60s starred a genderfluid hero? Join OCL’s Pride committee on an exciting journey through time to learn about the LGBTQ+ history of animated movies and TV.

 

Presentations

2:00pm

Anime Trivia

Mancini Hall

→ Compete in Who Wants to be a Millionaire?-style anime trivia for the chance to win small prizes.

 

DnD Crash Course

Green Room

→ Learn how to play and run a Dungeons and Dragons ® Campaign.

 

Cosplay Contest

 

Registration | 10:00am - 2:30pm

Main Lobby

→ Please see all guidelines upon registering.

Cosplay Contest | 3:00pm

Mancini Hall

→ Represent your fandom and participate in this contest where prizes will be awarded to the top 3 cosplayers. Be sure to register before 2:30 pm at the FanNation Information Table in the Lobby.

 

Virtual Programs

 

 

FanNation 2024 Freegal Playlist

→ Get pumped for this year’s FanNation event as you listen to our specially curated geeky playlist.

FanNation YouTube Videos

→ Check out our FanNation playlist from past years.

 

Podcasts

*A new podcast will be uploaded every Friday during the month of September.*

Fandom Friday: Superheroes

→ Our librarians might not have superpowers, but it doesn't stop their imaginations from running wild. Who is their favorite superhero? Do they prefer superhero movies or comics? What would be their superhero name? Join our librarians as they geek out about all things superheroes and get some superhero media recommendations along the way.

Fandom Friday: Percy Jackson featuring Mike Schubert

→ Join library staff and special guest, Mike Schubert, as they explore the book and tv series Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.

Fandom Friday: One Piece

→ Join Straw Hat librarians on the high seas as they discuss what drew them to One Piece, which Devil Fruit they would want to eat and much more in this rollicking adventure episode!

Fandom Friday: Dungeons Reference

→ Join us on an adventure! Library staff will be playing a Dungeons and Dragons one-shot adventure.

 

Toms River Information

FanNation will be held at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library

 

Directions & Parking in Downtown Toms River

Click here for directions to and parking information for the library.

Click here for additional information on parking options.

**Note that on Saturday, the upper level of the municipal garage behind the library is FREE, not metered, courtesy of the Ocean County Library. But space in the garage is limited, so please have alternate parking plans.

Food Options in Downtown Toms River

→ There are several restaurants within walking distance of the library for your food needs.

More Information About Downtown Toms River

→ Click here to see the Downtown Toms River website.

What is FanNation?

→ FanNation: the Geekstravaganza will be a multi-genre convention where fans can get together and wave their geek banners high. This is expected to be the largest library event of the fall with the Toms River Branch hosting.

Who can attend FanNation?

→ Everyone is welcome! FanNation is FREE and open to the public, although we request that you register to attend. You do not have to be a resident of Ocean County. Programming will be geared towards adults and teens 12+, with added fun for little ones this year! You can register here.

What can I do at FanNation?

→ FanNation begins Saturday at 10:00am with programming throughout the building. Saturday’s panels, workshops, and presentations will culminate in a Cosplay Contest beginning at 3 pm.

Panels include topics on anime, game design, D&D and more. There will also be an escape room, scavenger hunts and crafts.

For our younger fans there will be storytime in the morning.

Who can I expect to see at FanNation?

→ Special guests include:

Will my fandom be represented?

→ A sampling of what will be represented: Anime, Comics, Cosplay, Fantasy, Gaming, Sci-Fi, Star Trek, Star Wars, and General Geekery.

Don’t see your fandom listed? You should come and represent!

What is a fandom anyway?

→ Fan.dom, noun: The fans of a particular person, team, fictional series, etc., regarded collectively as a community or subculture. (www.oxforddictionaries.com)

A fandom is a group of people who like the same thing. People who like Doctor Who are a part of the Doctor Who fandom. People who like anime are a part of the anime fandom. Etc.

I’m not a geek! Can I still attend?

→ Of course!

Do I have to register?

→ Registration for Saturday is recommended. Click here to register.

Do I have to stay the whole time?

→ No, but we hope you do! You are welcome to come for just one program or stay for the whole day. If you are thinking of coming early, note that the library doesn’t open until 9 am and programming won’t start until 10 am. The library closes at 5 pm. If you get hungry in the middle of the day, there are restaurants in the area.

Can I come in cosplay?

→ Yes!

When planning your cosplay, please be aware the library’s code of conduct will be enforced. Proper attire, including shoes and shirts, must be worn. Carrying weapons is not permitted. ANY prop weapon must be obviously fake, or it may be subject to confiscation for the length of the event.

How do I enter the cosplay contest?

→ Registration will occur on-site at the FanNation information table in the lobby.

What is the Code of Conduct?

→ The library’s code of conduct will be enforced throughout FanNation. Click here to read the Code of Conduct.

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