Kamloops’ own Dungeons and Dragons-themed convention is rolling around again. KamCon 2023 will be happening at TRU’s Campus Activity Centre on Oct. 13, 14, and 15. KamCon’s organizer, Tyler Carpentier, has given some previews about all that KamCon has to offer this year.
In a recent interview with The Omega, Carpentier said that this KamCon will be even bigger than it was last year, featuring new events with vendors both new and returning.
“The variety [of vendors] is way bigger than we’ve had in the past,” Carpentier said. “We’ve added more artists and more retail stores have signed up to come out.”
Carpentier said that there will be vendors from Kamloops as well as others coming from out of town. Tumbleweed Toys and Mystic Moon Tattoo from Kamloops will have booths set up, as well as Chibi’s Anime Goods and Collectibles from Kelowna, and members from the online gaming store, Adventure Dice. Carpentier estimates that there will be a total of 40 vendors with booths set up. He encourages everyone to check out all the new and returning stuff that will be at KamCon this weekend.
There will also be a number of events being held, including the return of the KamCon Super Smash Bros tournament. Among those confirmed to be in attendance, Carpentier revealed that the number one player on the West Coast is committed to being there as well as the number three player in all of British Columbia.
“Our Super Smash Bros tournament is a huge hit for us right now,” Carpentier said. “This year it will be even bigger.”
Last year was KamCon’s first year back since the pandemic started. Carpentier said that he didn’t have a lot of time to plan last year’s event so he is glad to have had a full year to prepare for this upcoming KamCon. He’s had more time to build the event bigger than it has been in the past.
“It was all so surreal… this year it was really nice having the year to plan, to build and to add a couple new things. Last year we kind of scrambled it together almost at the last second,” Carpentier said. “To be able to have a full year of organizing and planning to be able to add some of the things that we’ve added has been a game changer for us.”
Carpentier said that he is most excited to see the community come together again as they try new things and meet new people.
Event tickets are available for pre-order now, or attendees may purchase them in person upon entry. Come and check out all that KamCon 2023 has to offer this weekend.