Nekocon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anime convention held in Hampton, Virginia
| Nekocon | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Cosplayers at Nekocon, 2014 | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Anime, Asian culture[1][2] |
| Venue | Hampton Roads Convention Center |
| Location | Hampton, Virginia |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1998 |
| Attendance | 6,900 in 2014[3] |
| Website | www |
Nekocon is an annual three-day anime convention held traditionally on the first weekend in November at the Hampton Roads Convention Center in Hampton, Virginia. It is Virginia's oldest anime convention.[4] The convention's name comes from the Japanese word neko, meaning "cat".[5]
The convention typically offers art shows, artist's alley, autograph sessions, card game tournaments, charity auction, concerts, costume competition, dances, dealer's room, fashion show, karaoke contests, kimono/tea ceremony workshop, maid cafe, music video contest, panels, Q&A sessions, role playing, tabletop games, vendors, video game tournaments, video rooms, and workshops.[5][6][7][8][9] Nekocon's 2015 charity events benefited Be The Match.[9] More than $7,000 was raised in 2023 for the Carolina Manga Library and Heritage Humane Society.[10] Nekocon's 2025 charities included the Carolina Manga Library and Hampton Roads Cancer Care Foundation, for which the convention raised $7,249.[11]
History
An attendance cap of 1,600 passes was instituted in 2003 due to fire code regulations.[12] The convention held its first J-rock concert in 2009, hosting Suicide Ali.[13] Virginia Air and Space Center provided content during the 2012 convention.[1] Nekocon in 2017 had an Anime style cooking challenge with students from the Culinary Institute of Virginia.[14] Nekocon 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15][16]
Event history
| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2–4, 1998 | Holiday Inn Executive Center Virginia Beach, Virginia | 506 | Steve Bennett, Jessica Calvello, Robert DeJesus, Colleen Doran, Pat Duke, Kuni Kimura, Hiroyuki Kitazume, Tristan MacAvery, Stephen B. Pearl, Fred Perry, Jan Scott-Frazier, Jeff Thompson, Elin Winkler, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[17] |
| November 5–7, 1999 | Holiday Inn Executive Center Virginia Beach, Virginia | 1,048 | Steve Bennett, Michael Brady, Colleen Doran, Pat Duke, Kuni Kimura, Hiroyuki Kitazume, Tristan MacAvery, Steve Pearl, Jan Scott-Frazier, Elin Winkler, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[18] |
| October 27–29, 2000 | Holiday Inn / Chesapeake Conference Center Chesapeake, Virginia | 1,100 | Steve Bennett, Michael Brady, Robert DeJesus, Colleen Doran, Nickey Froberg, Elizabeth Kirkindall, Shin Kurokawa, Rachael Lillis, Tristan MacAvery, and Jan Scott-Frazier.[19] |
| October 26–28, 2001 | Holiday Inn Executive Center Virginia Beach, Virginia | 1,450 | Nickey Froberg.[20] |
| November 8–10, 2002 | Holiday Inn Executive Center Virginia Beach, Virginia | John Barrett, Steve Bennett, T. Campbell, Robert DeJesus, Kara Dennison, Colleen Doran, Brian Drummond, Fred Perry, Deb Rabbai, Jan Scott-Frazier, Rikki Simons, Jeff Thompson, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[21] | |
| November 7–9, 2003 | Holiday Inn Executive Center Virginia Beach, Virginia | 1,600 | Greg Ayres, John Barrett, Steve Bennett, Tim Buckley, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Christy Lijewski, Chris Patton, Fred Perry, Deb Rabbai, Monica Rial, and Jan Scott-Frazier.[22] |
| November 5–7, 2004 | Chesapeake Convention Center Chesapeake, Virginia | 2,368 | Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Tim Buckley, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Dizzy, Tiffany Grant, Trish Ledoux, Fred Perry, Monica Rial, Carrie Savage, Jan Scott-Frazier, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, Shawn the Touched, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[23] |
| November 4–6, 2005 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | Greg Ayres, Laura Bailey, Steve Bennett, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Jason Cumberledge, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Dizzy, Jerry Jewell, Mike McFarland, Novablade Studios, Jen Starling, Renee Starling, Sonny Strait, Donnie Sturges, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, and Danny Valentini.[24] | |
| November 3–5, 2006 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | 2,500+ (est)[7] | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, JL Brown, Luci Christian, Jason Cumberledge, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Brian Godwin, Tiffany Grant, Mike Hall, Brittney Karbowski, Bettina M. Kurkoski, Dave Lister, Monica Rial, Doug Smith, Jen Starling, Renee Starling, Donnie Sturges, and Danny Valentini.[25] |
| November 2–4, 2007 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | 3,249 | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Troy Baker, Eirik Blackwolf, Ron Chiu, Emily DeJesus, Aaron Dismuke, Daniel Kevin Harrison, Jerry Jewell, Michele Knotz, Bettina M. Kurkoski, Christy Lijewski, Dave Lister, Chris "Kilika" Malone, Bill Rogers, Leo Saunders, Joe Silver, Donnie Sturges, Jamie Sturges, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, Danny Valentini, and Travis Willingham.[26] |
| November 7–9, 2008 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | Nearly 3,500[27] | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Troy Baker, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Aaron Dismuke, echostream, GPKISM, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, Jerry Jewell, Bettina M. Kurkoski, Dave Lister, Steven Napierski, and Ananth Panagariya.[28] |
| November 6–8, 2009 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | 3,429 | Greg Ayres, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Richard Epcar, Newton Ewell, Caitlin Glass, Mike Hall, Kyle Hebert, Steve Napierski, Tony Oliver, Fred Perry, Ellyn Stern, Donnie Sturges, Jamie Sturges, Suicide Ali, Tainted Reality, and Danny Valentini.[29] |
| November 5–7, 2010 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | 3,788 | 501st Legion, Greg Ayres, Richard Ian Cox, Lar DeSouza, Newton Ewell, Yan "Kern" Gagne, Mary "Kite" Garren, Garth Graham, Mike Hall, Bettina M. Kurkoski, Chris Rager, Ryan Sohmer, Akemi Solloway, The Sound Bee HD, Donnie Sturges, Ryan Thompson, Danny Valentini, and Cristina Vee.[30] |
| November 4–6, 2011 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | 4,487 | Takuya Angel, Born, Leah Clark, MC Frontalot, Kyle Hebert, DJ Hip*Starr, Jerry Jewell, Donald Kinney, Taku Otsuka, Chris Rager, Akemi Solloway, Tainted Reality, VJ ValuJet, and David L. Williams.[31] |
| November 2–4, 2012 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | Chris Cason, Chin Hamaya Culture Center, Mikako Joho, DJ KaKuMeI X, DJ Midget, Tony Oliver, The OneUps, Brina Palencia, Re:VB-P, Jan Scott-Frazier, The Slants, J. Michael Tatum, and Hiro Usuda.[32] | |
| November 1–3, 2013 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | Steve Blum, Anthony Burch, Ashly Burch, Chin Hamaya Culture Center, Jonathan Coulton, Yan "Kern" Gagne, Mary "Kite" Garren, DJ HeavyGrinder, Cherami Leigh, Mike McFarland, Chris Rager, and John Swasey.[33] | |
| November 7–9, 2014 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | 7,100[34] | Dr. Awkward, Jessie James Grelle, Todd Haberkorn, Kyle Hebert, KristyBee!, Lauren Landa, Jason Charles Miller, Jez Roth, Sayaka Sasaki, Schäffer the Darklord, Tribe One, and Adam WarRock.[34] |
| November 6–8, 2015 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | Dr. Awkward, Breathlessaire, Kira Buckland, Erik Scott Kimerer, Hiroshi Kitadani, Erica Lindbeck, Erica Mendez, Professor Shyguy, RinRin Doll, Starlighthoney, Tribe One, David Vincent, and Sarah Anne Williams.[35] | |
| November 4–6, 2016 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | Akinori Isobe, Masumi Kano, Lauren Landa, Cherami Leigh, Mike McFarland, Bryce Papenbrook, Vocamerica, and Lisle Wilkerson.[36] | |
| November 3–5, 2017 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | 6,900[3] | Aimee Blackschleger, Kira Buckland, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Diana Garnet, Kyle Hebert, Joe Inoue, Kyle McCarley, and Jez Roth.[3] |
| November 2–3, 2018 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | Bennett Abara, Greg Ayres, Caitlin Glass, haru, Lauren Landa, Tyson Rinehart, Michelle Ruff, Tara Sands, and Eric Stuart.[37] | |
| November 1–3, 2019 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | Ray Chase, Robbie Daymond, John Gremillion, Hollow Mellow, Mela Lee, Max Mittelman, Michael Sinterniklaas, Paul St. Peter, and Lex Winter.[38] | |
| November 5–7, 2021 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | Johnny Yong Bosch, Todd Haberkorn, Jill Harris, Greg Houser, Dallas Reid, David Vincent, Mark Whitten, Brandon Winckler, and Mick Wingert.[39] | |
| November 4–6, 2022 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | Jon Allen, Morgan Berry, Beau Billingslea, Griffin Burns, Megan Hollingshead, Ezra Weisz, and Lex Winter.[40] | |
| November 3-5, 2023 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | 6,022[10] | David Adkins, Erik Scott Kimerer, Cricket Leigh, Dave Trosko, Wig-Wig Cosplay, Sarah Anne Williams, and Brandon Winckler.[41] |
| November 1-3, 2024 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | About 7,000[42] | Greg Houser, Stephanie Nadolny, Katriel Paige, Pros and Cons Cosplay, Steve Staley, Dave Trosko, David Vincent, and Lex Winter.[43] |
| October 31 - November 2, 2025 | Hampton Roads Convention Center Hampton, Virginia | 7,412[11] | Catero Colbert, Greg Houser, Kazha, Steve Kramer, Wendee Lee, Tony Oliver, Michael Sorich, and Paul St. Peter.[44] |
References
- 1 2 McDonald, Sam (November 2, 2012). "NekoCon anime festival launches fans into outer space". Daily Press. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ↑ Joseph, Natalie (November 4, 2016). "NekoCon 2016 returns to Hampton Convention Center". Daily Press. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
- 1 2 3 "NekoCon 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
- ↑ McDonald, Sam (2011-10-03). "NekoCon, a Japanese animation festival, brings colorful characters to Hampton". Daily Press. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
- 1 2 "After Action Report". The Virginian-Pilot. 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
- ↑ Tennant, Diane (2011-10-03). "NekoCon, a gathering of anime aficionados". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
- 1 2 Forster, Dave (2006-10-05). "Fans of Japanese animation, or anime, convene in Hampton". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
- ↑ "Audience: Nekocon 16". WAVY. 2013-10-31. Retrieved 2013-11-06.[permanent dead link]
- 1 2 Reckling, Chris (October 30, 2015). "Audience: NekoCon 18". WAVY. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- 1 2 Appel, Jillian (8 November 2023). "NekoCon 25: Little Witch Catademia". Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. Local Daily Media. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- 1 2 Appel, Jillian (4 November 2025). "In Photos: NekoCon 27 Goes Cy-Purr-Punk". Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ↑ "Nekocon Announces Attendance Cap". AnimeCons.com. 2003-11-02. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
- ↑ McDonald, Sam (2009-10-06). "This Year's Nekocon A Treat For Eyes And Ears". Daily Press. Retrieved 2013-02-03.
- ↑ Smith, Hillary (November 2, 2017). "Thousands expected to attend 20th annual Japanese anime convention NekoCon". Daily Press. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ↑ "Sad News – Nekocon Has Been Postponed to 2021". NekoCon. 17 July 2020. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ↑ "NekoCon 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
- ↑ "Nekocon 1998 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
- ↑ "Nekocon 1999 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2000 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2001 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2002 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2003 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2004 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2005 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
- ↑ McDonald, Sam (November 16, 2008). "Heroes, Villains And Glomps". Daily Press. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
- 1 2 "Nekocon 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
- ↑ "Nekocon 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
- ↑ "NekoCon 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-09-30.
- ↑ "NekoCon 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
- ↑ "NekoCon 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
- ↑ "NekoCon 2021 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
- ↑ "NekoCon 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ↑ "NekoCon 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
- ↑ Appel, Jillian (2 October 2025). "NekoCon 27 Set to Return to Hampton Roads Convention Center". Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ↑ "NekoCon 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
- ↑ "NekoCon 2025 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
External links
List of anime conventions in North America | |||||||||
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| United States |
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37°2′13″N 76°22′55″W / 37.03694°N 76.38194°W / 37.03694; -76.38194