FanNation: The Geekstravaganza

Saturday, October 4, 2025 | 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:

 

Events

 

Lobby Information Table

Jurassic Hunt: A FanNation Scavenger Hunt

→ The dinos have escaped into the library! Hunt for the 6 dinosaurs roaming around before they cause chaos. Be on the lookout for a mutated dinosaur. If you use your dino detective skills to identify which friend is unique circle, the dino for an extra prize!

Hidden Figure

→ Find 3D printed Minecraft Creepers 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 2025 FanNation Art Contest. Winning entries will be hung in the Toms River Branch – 2nd Floor Gallery. Applications and Artwork will only be accepted July 1st through September 1st. For more details on how to apply and submit, click here.

Escape Room: A Chance to Fly

→ Help the witch find the spell to make her broom fly.

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.

Cupcake Decorating

→ Did you know it’s FanNation’s 10th birthday? Celebrate our birthday by decorating 2 fandom-themed cupcakes! We will follow instructions to decorate Soot Sprite and Storm Trooper Galaxy cupcakes. Register between 10:00am – 11:00am. Space is limited to 10 people per session.

 

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*

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.

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 retro system and Nintendo Switch in a fun and friendly environment.

10:00am - 3:00pm | 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 Exploding Kittens will be supplied by Ocean County Library.

 

Discovery Room (1st Floor)

11:00am | Slime Time

→ Make some slime!

1:30pm - 3:00pm | 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)

 

10:30am | Snow White Storytime

→ Enjoy a Princess themed storytime including stories, games, and a meet & greet with Snow White.

1:30pm | Maleficent's Daughter Storytime

→ Enjoy a villain themed storytime including stories, games, and a meet & greet with Maleficent's Daughter.

 

2nd Floor Crafts

While Supplies Last

11:00am | Perler Beads

→ Make a geeky Perler Bead craft.

12:00pm | Mini Figures

→ Color and decorate a nerdy 3D printed item.

2:00pm | Embroidery Hoops

→ Make a unique piece of art to hang in a space of your choosing featuring a fandom character. Attendees will use an embroidery hoop. fabric, felt, and glue to create something they'll love!

 

Escape Room

 

A Chance to Fly

Bishop Building | 10:30am - 3:30pm

→ Help the witch find the spell to make her broom fly.

 

Presentations

Fandom Cupcake Decorating

Green Room | 2 Sessions @ 10:30am & 11:00am

→ Did you know it’s FanNation’s 10th birthday? Celebrate our birthday by decorating 2 fandom-themed cupcakes! We will follow instructions to decorate Soot Sprite and Storm Trooper Galaxy cupcakes. Ages 12 and up. Space is limited to 10 people per session. (Sign-up sheet in will be in the lobby)

 

Saber Guild Corellia Presents Children's Padawan Training Class

Mancini Hall | 2 Sessions @ 11:00am & 12:00pm

→ 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.

 

Cosplay 101

Hometown Dairy | 11:00am

→ Join industry professionals with over 15 years of experience for an in-depth exploration of the world of cosplay! This engaging presentation will cover the art of costume design, prop-making, and character transformation, offering valuable insights for both beginners and seasoned cosplayers. Learn about fabric selection, armor crafting, wig styling, and the latest trends in cosplay technology. Our experts will also discuss performance techniques, competition tips, and the cultural impact of cosplay in conventions and media. Whether you're looking to refine your skills or dive into cosplay for the first time, this session provides expert guidance and inspiration.

 

Create Your Own Wizarding Staff

Hometown Dairy | 12:30pm

→ Craft your own magical staff using eco-friendly bamboo shoots and an assortment of enchanting materials! In this hands-on workshop, attendees will design and decorate their own unique staff with, string, gemstones, feathers, and more. We'll explore wand lore, spark creativity, and let imaginations run wild. Fun for ages 5 – adult.

 

Dungeons & Dragons Live

Green Room | 12:30pm

→ 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.

 

Fencing Through the Ages: Sword Demo

Mancini Hall | 12:30pm

→ Join historical weapons demonstrators as they explain different types of Middle Ages and Renaissance weapons, such as Arming Sword & Buckler, Messer, and Longsword. Presenters will explain how these weapons were employed historically and then do some sparring, so people can see how these techniques operate.

 

Nerdy Trivia

Mancini Hall | 2:00pm

→ 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.

 

Self-Publishing Workshop

Green Room | 2:00pm

→ Want to indie publish your work? Discover the various ways you can use the Internet to publish your work and how to prepare for the successful launch of your work. Presented by New York Times Bestselling Author, Caridad Pineiro.

 

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 2025 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: Vampires

→ Join our fang-tastic librarians as they discuss everything from Dracula and the lore of the vampire to media that makes us love these alluring blood suckers even more.

Fandom Friday: Nostalgia

→ Welcome to Fan Nation's Nostalgia Podcast where we discuss old shows and games vs today's.

Fandom Friday: Kpop

→ Do you like K-Pop? Join OCL librarians as they discuss their entry into the genre, their favorite groups, idols, songs, and K-Pop culture.

Fandom Friday: Fairytales

→ Join OCL staffers Hope, Casey, and Julie as they discuss the origins of Fairy Tales. Where did they come from? How has our definition of what makes a fairy tale change over time? Join them for the group geek-out and get some fairy tale media recommendations along the way.

Fandom Friday: Dungeons Reference

→ Join our adventurers as they work together to cure a corrupt wizard and encounter the dangers of a demiplane.

 

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, 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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