click to enlarge At this year’s Saboten Con, masks and face masks are compulsory. Benjamin Leatherman Greg Fennell sounds more than a little hectic and tired. It’s only natural when you consider that the co-founder of Saboten Con spent most of his waking hours preparing for this year’s event. When asked what it’s like to hold a geek convention at the end of a pandemic, Fennell gets a little direct. “I’ll tell you when it’s over,” he says with a laugh. “We have been running this event for about 13 years and this was the most difficult time to prepare for it this year.” This also includes planning around COVID-19. For this reason, masks will play a big role during this year’s Saboten Con – which takes place Friday, September 3 through Sunday, September 6, at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown, 340 North Third Street. According to Fennell, participants must wear masks at all times, except when eating and drinking. Social distancing is encouraged. Saboten Con – which focuses on anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture in general – will be the biggest geek event held in Arizona since the pandemic began. The event has been held annually at various locations in the Phoenix Metro since 2008 and has been attended by more than 10,000 people in recent years. I Support Local Community Journalism Support the independent voice of Phoenix and help keep the future of the New Times free. Fennell says he feels like a lot of people are watching their event go on. “It’s added to the stress we feel. We are the first really big ones [con] happened since the whole thing started. I’m not worried we won’t do well, but we’re giving an example of what can happen if you’re in the middle of a con. We are like the test model. I don’t want to say we carry the flag into battle, but it kind of feels like it. “Over 500 different events, activities and workshops throughout the weekend. And in case you need help making a decision (or new to the Saboten Con), we’ve put together a guide for this year’s event to help you plan. When and where will Saboten Con 2021 be held? The Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, 340 North Third Street, will host Saboten Con 2021 and its various Providers host events, programs, workshops and panels. The official opening times are from 12:00 pm to 2:00 am. Friday, September 3rd, 11:30 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 4th, and Sunday, September 5th, and 11.30am to 6pm on Monday September 6th How much is the admission? Daily admission is 30 USD for Friday, 35 USD for Saturday and Sunday or 20 USD for Sunday ing the total scam is $ 60 Are there any age limits? Generally no. The convention is open to all ages, but certain adult programs and panels are restricted to events aged 18 and over. What are the COVID-19 safety rules? When not eating or drinking, masks or face covering must be worn at all times. Participants must also maintain social distancing whenever possible. Event security will enforce both of these and those who fail to comply will be asked to leave the building. How do I get there? Since the event is in the heart of downtown Phoenix, you might want to take the train. A variety of park-and-ride locations are available along the light rail route – including those on 19th Avenue and Montebello, Seventh Avenue and Camelback Road, and Washington and 38th Streets – and several light rail stations are within walking distance of the hotel. Fares are $ 2 for a one-way trip and $ 4 for a full-day pass. click to enlarge characters from the Naruto series. Benjamin Leatherman Where can I park? Because some Saboten Con attendees, including those with more elaborate costumes and gear, may need to drive to the event, there are several locations to stow your vehicle downtown. On-site parking costs $ 29 per day, while nearby garages and parking spaces range from $ 10 (CityScape, Jefferson Street Garage) to $ 20 (Collier Center, Chase Tower) per day. Street parking is also available throughout downtown, but you have to pay up to $ 1.50 per hour from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. What will the weather be like? As hot as you’d expect since summer is over. Temperatures will be between 101-105 throughout the weekend and there is plenty of sun. You should stay hydrated, especially when you are in disguise. What will be in the exhibitor hall? Practically everything that has to do with anime, manga or J-culture in general is sold in the large exhibition hall of Saboten Con in the hotel. More than 70 participating vendors and booths will feature an abundance of cosplay items and costumes, as well as artwork, books, DVDs, games, music, books, collectibles, toys, and other toys at the event. What does the programming look like? Quite a few will happen on all four days of Saboten Con, to say the least. The program schedule includes more than 500 different events including anime viewing parties, gaming battles, lip sync battles, maid cafes, fan fiction readings, dance parties, quiz competitions, animated music video competitions, art workshops and karaoke sessions. Live entertainment is also planned such as traditional concerts, karaoke sessions and more. Who are the special guests this year? Special Guests: Special guests include the legends of the anime industry, Les and Mary Claypool, the J-rock band Kazha and voice actors such as Olivia Hack, Jackie Lastra and Faye Mata. Others will be famous cosplayers D. Piddy, Ashenqueen, Courtney Leigh and local group Superheroes Unlimited. A full guest list can be found here. click to enlarge This is a terrifying costume. Benjamin Leatherman Will there be costumes this year? Naturally. Cosplay is a cornerstone of the event and there will be more than 100 different panels and workshops on cosplay topics. Would you like to learn how to get into the chase and create your own costume? There are several units of instruction on how to do just that, as well as tutorials on how to make armor, learn to embroider, develop a character, build your cosplay self-esteem, stay on a budget, network with others, and accessorize in style. One of the weekend’s biggest cosplay events will be the annual Saboten Con masquerade on Sunday evening at 8 p.m. in the Valley of the Sun Ballroom, featuring skits, performances, and some of the event’s most impressive and elaborate costumes. However, as with any event that involves costumes, Saboten Con requires a certain level of respect for cosplayers. So be sure to ask permission before taking photos of anyone. What should I bring? In addition to a face covering or mask, comfortable footwear is also an excellent idea, as is an ID card if you want to get into the adult programs and a camera to snap pictures of all the memorable costumes and experiences. And if you plan to pick up a few items at the sales floor or buy some water from a vendor, cash is always good and a suitably sized bag to carry your loot is better. What should I not bring with me? Since respect is a big deal at any event like Saboten Con, leave any kind of disrespectful, intolerant, impatient, combative, or crawling attitude at home. And while prop weapons are definitely recommended, don’t bring real weapons with you.
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