FanNation: The Geekstravaganza

Saturday, October 3, 2026 | 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:

 

Kick-Off Events

WREP: When Radio Entertained People Presents "The Day the Earth Stood Still"

Wednesday, September 30th | 6:30pm

→ We're kicking off FanNation with an evening "broadcast" of a play from the Golden Age of radio, performed live by WREP's veteran actors. This evening's performance will be "The Day the Earth Stood Still". The program will start with trivia, followed by the performance starting at 7:00 PM. For ages 10+. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ocean County Library – Toms River.

The Amazing Eskies

Thursday, October 1st | 6:30pm

→ Join us for a fun, interactive show of tricks by local celebrity American Eskimo Dog team, The Amazing Eskies! Meri and Buddy will perform a variety of stunts with help from the audience followed by a meet and greet. Please register. All ages. Sponsored by Friends of the Ocean County Library -- Toms River.

 

Events

 

Lobby Information Table

Legendary Beast Hunt: A FanNation Scavenger Hunt

→ Fantasy creatures have escaped into the library! Hunt for the beasts roaming around before they cause chaos. Bring back your completed scavenger hunt for a prize!

Hidden Figure

→ Find 3D printed Dittos 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.

Escape Room: The Trickster Trap

→ Scott Lang has gotten stuck in miniature form, and the team’s trickster has locked him in a box. Help him escape!

Cosplay Contest Registration

→ Represent your fandom and participate in this contest where prizes will be awarded to the top 3 cosplayers. Register between 10:00am – 2:30pm in the library Lobby to participate. The contest beings at 3:00pm.

Create a Sprayed Edges Book

→ Bring a bit of excitement to your books with sprayed edges. Join us as we learn the techniques to add sprayed edges to a book of your choice. Bring you own book or take one of ours for this fun and easy craft. Register between 10:00am - 12:00pm.

 

Atrium (1st Floor)

Green Screen Photos

→ Visit the Atrium on the 1st floor for a chance at a photo op from a selection of FanNation related backgrounds. Images will be emailed.

Cosplay Under the Stars

→ Visit the Atrium on the 1st floor of the library for a photo shoot. Snap a picture in or out of cosplay with our backdrop!

 

Sparks's Lab Maker Space (2nd Floor)

*All Day While Supplies Last*

Button Making

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

3D Doodler Pens

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

 

Teen Zone (2nd Floor)

All Day Video Games Free Play

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

11:00am - 1:00pm | Open Table Top Games

→ Sit down and play these popular table-top games. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to assist in learning to play. Board and card games, like Connect 4 and Cards Against Humanity: Family Edition will be supplied by Ocean County Library.

 

Discovery Room (1st Floor)

10:30am | FanNation-Inspired Mocktails & Sodas

→ Come taste some drinks inspired from your favorite movies and TV series.

12:00pm | Create a Sprayed Edges Book

→ Bring a bit of excitement to your books with sprayed edges. Join us as we learn the techniques to add sprayed edges to a book of your choice. Bring your own book or take one of ours for this fun and easy craft. Space is limited. Sign-up at the FanNation Lobby Table.

1:30pm | Kids Costume Giveaway

→ Do you need a costume for your child ages 0-11? Join us for the first ever Kids Costume Giveaway. Costumes will be given out for free on a first come first served basis during the event. Donated costumes will be collected from September 2nd to September 30th.

 

Children's Area Storytimes (1st Floor)

2:30pm | Pokémon Trainer Storytime

→ Kids are welcome to enjoy a Pokémon-themed storytime including stories and a craft hosted by a trainer from Galar.

 

2nd Floor Crafts

While Supplies Last

10:00am | Reusable Bag Creations

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

11:00am | Cosplay Rubber Duck

→ Decorate a rubber duck to look like your favorite anime, manga, film, TV show, or book character! Once you decorate your duck, it can walk across our Rubber Duck Cosplay stage for a mini photoshoot.

12:00pm | Pokémon Planters

→ Color and decorate a nerdy 3D printed item.

2:00pm | K-Pop/Character Decorated Toploader

→ Decorate a toploader card carrying case with stickers to show off your favorite K-Pop idol or express your favorite fandom.

 

Escape Room

 

The Trickster's Trap

Bishop Building | 10:30am - 3:30pm

→ Scott Lang has gotten stuck in a miniature form, and the team's trickster has locked him in a box. Help him escape!

 

Presentations

 

10:00am

K-Pop Dance Class

Mancini Hall | 2 Sessions @ 10:00am & 12:00pm

→ Do you like Korean pop music? BTS? BLACKPINK? Stray Kids? Paige Cassidy of Saucy Studios will teach a K-Pop dance routine to K-Pop fans and stans! (Participants must sign a waiver in the lobby)

Jersey Shore Gamery Presents Game Testing

Cookbook Session Tables | 2 Sessions @ 10:00am & 1:00pm

→ Help test a new game called WarBand - a modern tabletop strategy game with an old school fantasy heart. Easy to learn, rewarding to master.

 

10:30am

The Future of Star Trek

Green Room

→ Star Trek just turned 60 years old on September 6, 2026  and it has proven to be an incredible science fiction franchise with a dozen TV/streaming service series and 12 motion pictures, books, digital games, comic books and so much more but where does it go next? What do you as a fan of this multi-layered franchise want to see? What do you feel has worked and not worked for Star Trek over the years and why is its fandom so strong and enduring?

FanNation-Inspired Mocktails & Sodas

Discovery Room

→ Come taste some drinks inspired from your favorite movies and TV series.

 

11:00am

Saber Guild Corellia Presents Children's Padawan Training Class

Mancini Hall | 2 Sessions @ 11:00am & 1:00pm

→ 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.

Introduction to Magic the Gathering ™

Hometown Dairy

→ Learn how to play one of the most popular trading card games. Staff will provide a quick introduction and then guide patrons in beginner friendly games of spell slinging fun.

 

12:00pm

K-Pop Dance Class

Mancini Hall | 2 Sessions @ 10:00am & 12:00pm

→ Do you like Korean pop music? BTS? BLACKPINK? Stray Kids? Paige Cassidy of Saucy Studios will teach a K-Pop dance routine to K-Pop fans and stans! (Participants must sign a waiver in the lobby)

Create a Sprayed Edges Book

Discovery Room

→ Bring a bit of excitement to your books with sprayed edges. Join us as we learn the techniques to add sprayed edges to a book of your choice. Bring your own book or take one of ours for this fun and easy craft. Space is limited. Sign-up at the FanNation Lobby Table.

 

12:30pm

Dungeons & Dragons Live

Green Room

→ Join players on a short, but fun beginner friendly adventure in the world of Dungeons & Dragons! Open to and good for both new and experienced players! For teens and adults. Space is limited, so be sure to register. Can’t participate in the campaign? The space will be open to live viewing, so please stop by.

Puzzle Painting with Nonny Creates

Hometown Dairy

→ Step into the Upside Down! Paint solo or team up to bring a one-of-a-kind wooden puzzle to life. Piece together your own Hawkins-inspired masterpiece. Space is limited. Sign-up at the FanNation Lobby Table.

 

1:00pm

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.

Jersey Shore Gamery Presents Game Testing

Cookbook Session Tables

→ Help test a new game called WarBand - a modern tabletop strategy game with an old school fantasy heart. Easy to learn, rewarding to master.

 

2:00pm

Nerdy Trivia

Mancini Hall

→ Compete as a team in Jeopardy-style nerdy trivia for the chance to win small prizes. These games will include some of the following categories, anime, games, movies, and other interests and fandoms.

3D Wall Art with Nonny Creates

Hometown Dairy

→ Paint and assemble individual layers to build a multi-dimensional art piece that looks ready to call the Avengers. Space is limited. Sign-up at the FanNation Lobby Table.

Gender Identity Exploration Through Cosplay: Becoming Someone Else to Better Understand Yourself

Green Room

→ Ever wondered why so many adults love to cosplay? Learn about the transformative role of cosplay and other forms of creative expression for the queer and trans community!

 

2:30pm

Pokémon Trainer Storytime & Craft

Children's Area

→ Kids are welcome to enjoy a Pokémon-themed storytime including stories and a craft hosted by a trainer from Galar.

 

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 2:30pm at the FanNation Information Table in the Lobby.

 

Virtual Programs

 

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: Fandom Debates (09/11/2026)

→ Do you prefer Star Wars or Star Trek? (And if you're a Trekkie, who was the greatest Captain?) Are you Team Cap or Team Iron Man? Would you rather watch animation or live action movies? Join us as we ponder some of fandoms greatest debates!

Fandom Friday: Horror Movie Icons (09/18/2026)

→ Who scares you the most? Join OCL librarians as they discuss the most iconic horror movie characters.

Fandom Friday: Nostalgia (09/25/2026)

→ Get a blast from the past when OCL librarians discuss fandoms they love from the past and from their youth.

Fandom Friday: Dungeons & Dragons (10/02/2026)

→ In this podcast, adventurers listen to their host, Thomas, as he weaves a delightful Dungeons & Dragons story blending sorcery and the supernatural. However, be prepared, because this Dungeons & Dragons session won’t be like the others; it will be a custom-made world of his own named Salerra, filled with magic and wonder. If you like fandoms like Pokémon and Harry Potter, this might be the podcast for you, as it blends concepts of both worlds, including various magical familiars and magic hidden in the real world. This story will take place on one of the wondrous floating islands that harbor libraries with secret knowledge held within, hidden from prying eyes. Join us as the players try to unravel the secrets of the unassuming library.

 

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 3:00pm.

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 storytimes 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, K-Pop, 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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