USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
SUMMATIONWeeklyy
This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T Vol. 23, No. 8
February 22, 2023
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 8 Pages
Section A, Page 1
A DECADE OF PENSACON
CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF FANDOM ALONG THE GULF COAST
By Nicole Willis
W
than we have ever had before. So in that
film franchises such as E.T. the Extra-
regard, we are bringing a lot more to the
Terrestrial, Clerks, Scream and more.
anything that they may have for sale. As always, though, the Pensacon
hen you’re driving down
community than we ever have before,”
Apart from the Doctor Who celebrity
festivities won’t be limited to just the Bay
Pa l a f o x
Pensacon Director of Marketing and
guests, some of the other highly antici-
Center. A variety of venues throughout
Street
and
suddenly see a Star Wars
Guest Services, Julio Diaz explained.
or someone who stops by for a day to see what the event is all about, everyone is welcomed to the fun that is Pensacon. “The biggest thing is really the commu-
pated actors and actresses include Grace
downtown and the Pensacola Historic
nity more than anything else in a number
stormtrooper walking alongside Mario’s
One of the biggest announcements
Van Dien who is known for her role as
District will host events in conjunction
of ways. Everybody gets together and is
Princess Peach, you know what time it is:
made for this year’s anniversary event is
Chrissy Cunningham in the most recent
with Pensacon. Some venues will be
in a community that’s accepting and
it’s Pensacon time. Each year, this beloved
the reunion of Doctor Who actors and
season of the popular Netflix series
the same as in previous years, for exam-
relates to each other…everybody is there
pop culture event takes over downtown
actresses in celebration of the show’s 60th
Stranger Things, Rose McGowan known
ple, the Pensacola Cultural Center and
because they’re a fan of something; they
Pensacola decorating the streets with
anniversary. Fans of this science fiction
for playing Tatum in the 1996 Scream
the Rex Theatre will once again host
get to be among their people for the week-
creative costumes, cosplaying pets, pop
television series can look forward to a
movie and Henry Thomas who was most
Pensacon events. In addition to these
end and see people that they don’t see
culture-inspired art, themed celebrations,
large presence of cast members includ-
known for his role as Elliott in E.T. the
venues and other venues throughout the
every day. It is a great place to meet new
fun competitions and more. This year
ing five doctors–Christopher Eccleston,
Extra-Terrestrial. Most known for his role
Pensacola Historic District, Pensacon will
people, make friends and renew friend-
marks the 10th anniversary of Pensacon,
Colin Baker, Paul McGann, Peter Davison
host panels and different types of gaming
ships every year if you don’t get to spend
and to celebrate this momentous mile-
and Sylvester McCoy–several compan-
Casper Van Dien, who is a native of Milton,
events at The Wright Place, an event space
time with those folks throughout the year
stone, the 2023 convention is set to be
“
in Starship Troopers, Van Dien’s father,
ions and other characters.
will also be in attendance.
located inside the First United Method-
in other places,” Diaz said.
bigger than ever before. Pensacon’s roots trace back to 2013 when founder and CEO Mike Ensley began conceptualizing the event. The first annual Pensacon convention made its debut the following year at the Pensacola Bay Center. With nearly 11,000 fans in attendance, the first con proved to be a tremendous success, prompting its return year after year. Throughout the
It is going to be our biggest year yet, with it being our 10th anniversary event and celebration.”
“We’ve got some very big individual
Anticipated anime voice actors
ist Church. “There are several big rooms at this
Pensacon has grown beyond just being a simple three-day convention. The
facility that are going to enable us to
event has created ripples throughout the
expand the audience over what we have
Pensacola community. It has become
had the past couple of years in terms
something that unites old and young
of some of our largest panels,” Diaz
generations of Pensacolians through
explained. “Having this facility is going
their favorite pop culture franchises. It is
to allow us to turn the Pensacola Museum
days of high-traffic and new customers
of Commerce over to gaming. So we will
for local shops, venues and restaurants. It
be able to bring gaming back for the first
is a month of fun as the Pensacola Inter-
years, the convention has continued to
guests and groups of guests this year that
include Sean Schemmel who is the voice
time in a few years.” In previous years,
national Airport becomes the Pensacola
receive unwavering support from the
we’re really excited about,” Diaz said. “We
of Son Goku in the Dragon Ball franchise,
Pensacon hosted gaming events at the
“Intergalactic” Airport.
local community and enthusiastic fans
have been focusing a lot on it being not
and Colleen Ann Villard-O’Shaughnessey
Pensacola Grand Hotel which has since
worldwide, growing the convention into
just Pensacon’s 10th anniversary, but
who voices Ino Yamanaka and Kono-
been closed.
“The Pensacola community, Escambia County, the Panhandle and even South-
the annual event that we know and love
the [60th] anniversary of the science
hamaru Sarutobi in Naruto. Whether
Aside from the special appear-
ern Alabama have really embraced this
today.
fiction series Doctor Who. We have the
you enjoy sci-fi, horror, fantasy or anime,
ances of the Doctor Who cast members,
convention. That includes the individual
Since the very first convention,
biggest gathering of Doctor Who stars that
just about every genre and fandom will be
Pensacon’s 10th anniversary celebration
fans, the businesses that have partnered
Pensacon has continued attracting tens
has ever been hosted at a United States
represented at Pensacon through guests,
will be marked by a special party held
with us, and the city and county govern-
of thousands of pop culture-loving locals
convention. We are very pleased to have
artists and vendors.
and tourists alike. Last year’s attendance
that. I think we are getting a lot of people
numbers were estimated to be well over
traveling to Pensacola specifically for that.”
at the Pensacola Bay Center with artists,
33 thousand and, this year, Pensacon
Christopher Eccleston will likely
vendors and celebrities scattered
As usual, Pensacon will be hosted
at Seville Quarter. The party will feature
ment that have been so important to
Pensacon fun, food, drinks and live music
making things happen with us. We’ve just
from the goth band Vision Video.
been very lucky to enjoy that support, and
“On Saturday night, we will be throw-
it’s something we don’t take for granted,”
organizers expect attendance numbers
be Pensacon 2023’s largest and most-
throughout. The main floor of the Bay
ing a party to celebrate our 10th anni-
to far exceed that number.
anticipated celebrity guest. Pensacon
Center will once again serve as the main
versary that is free to attend for all of our
Diaz said. If you are interested in seeing what
A milestone as large as ten years
organizers think that Eccleston is such
vendor floor where more than 75 differ-
badge holders or Saturday day pass hold-
Pensacon is all about and want to take
deserves a blow-out celebration, and
a prominent guest that his fanbase may
ent types of vendors will be selling a vari-
ers. The party will be at Seville Quarter in
part in the ten-year anniversary celebra-
Pensacon organizers promise that 2023
drive tickets to sell out on the day of his
ety of pop culture and character-themed
Phineas Phogg’s,” Diaz said.
will be the con’s biggest and best year yet.
arrival.
merchandise. On the second floor, fans
tion, single-day and weekend passes are
“We’ve done parties at Seville Quarter
still available for purchase: Single-day
With this year’s convention hosting more
“Saturday is always our biggest day.
will have a chance to meet and greet their
before, but it has been a few years since
passes range from $35 to $45 each, vary-
celebrity guests than ever before, ticket
This year one of our biggest guests, Chris-
favorite celebrities, take photos, get auto-
we have been back there.
ing by day, and weekend passes are $85
sales are through the roof and VIP passes
topher Eccleston, is only here on Satur-
graphs and more. The “Artist Alley” and
We are excited to be back there in
each. Tickets, a jam-packed guest list and
for this year have already sold out. Filled
day,” Diaz said.
“Writer’s Row” portions of the conven-
downtown Pensacola’s largest entertain-
participating venues list, parking infor-
to the brim with fans, artists, cosplayers
Doctor Who will not be the only
tion, will be held on both the third floor
ment complex and celebrating our 10th
mation and much more can be found
and more, Pensacon 2023 promises to
fandom represented at this year’s event.
and around the top ring of the Bay Center.
birthday.”
online at pensacon.com.
deliver an experience like never before.
Pensacon is also hosting a slew of incred-
Here, attendees will find dozens of artists
Through the ten years of Pensacon,
Be sure to check out @PensacolaPen-
“It is going to be our biggest year yet
ible celebrity guests from television and
and writers from across the country.
one thing has remained the same:
sacon on Instagram and @Pensacon on
with it being our 10th anniversary event
anime serieses such as Naruto and
Attendees can also meet the artists and
community. Whether you’re a superfan
Facebook for important updates, special
and celebration. We have more guests
Stranger Things, as well as movies and
writers, view their works, and purchase
that attends the con decked out in cosplay
announcements, photos and more.
visit SummationWeekly.com
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