By: Andrew Holmes
The annual Demi-Con is coming to Des Moines Friday, May 2 through May 4. This phenomenon has been going on for twenty-five years. Many people ask what Demi-Con is, well, it's like Comic-Con in Las Vegas, but here in Des Moines, Iowa. According to Wikipedia, "DemiCon is an annual volunteer-run science fiction, fantasy, and gaming convention held in Des Moines, Iowa, in early May. DemiCon's host organization is the Des Moines Science Fiction Society (DMSFS), a nonprofit group that promotes literacy, science, and the arts, especially through the enjoyment of science fiction and fantasy."
Audubon teacher Miss Laura Granger is going to this fantastic convention for her first time with past attendee Tauna Bohlmann. Granger said, “I thought it would be something fun to try, and meeting new people in crazy costumes. Plus, it has a lot of writing workshop sessions.”
This year’s theme is steampunk, and also the silver anniversary of the convention. Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction based on an alternate timeline set in the Victorian age with advanced technology that’s mostly based on steam power. Steampunk is still fairly unknown, but fellow staff member James Thoelke has been a fan of the genre for years.
Tauna Bohlmann, who has been going to the convention for the past three years, said that by far Friday night is her favorite night of the event; “I love the Friday night hall contest & Saturday night masquerade as there are a lot of costumes and some of them are very good, some mediocre, and some awe-inspiring.“ The convention has planned events, but it is different every year. Bohlmann said “Some of the rooms are decorated to look exactly like the bridge of a starship or some anime theme. There has always been a candy room where you can get sick on chocolate & sugar. One year there was a bacon party....They had over 40 different flavors of bacon foods!”
The convention also welcomes children and teenagers offering separate youth programming and game rooms. The event is this weekend and has various prices for admission.
Audubon teacher Miss Laura Granger is going to this fantastic convention for her first time with past attendee Tauna Bohlmann. Granger said, “I thought it would be something fun to try, and meeting new people in crazy costumes. Plus, it has a lot of writing workshop sessions.”
This year’s theme is steampunk, and also the silver anniversary of the convention. Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction based on an alternate timeline set in the Victorian age with advanced technology that’s mostly based on steam power. Steampunk is still fairly unknown, but fellow staff member James Thoelke has been a fan of the genre for years.
Tauna Bohlmann, who has been going to the convention for the past three years, said that by far Friday night is her favorite night of the event; “I love the Friday night hall contest & Saturday night masquerade as there are a lot of costumes and some of them are very good, some mediocre, and some awe-inspiring.“ The convention has planned events, but it is different every year. Bohlmann said “Some of the rooms are decorated to look exactly like the bridge of a starship or some anime theme. There has always been a candy room where you can get sick on chocolate & sugar. One year there was a bacon party....They had over 40 different flavors of bacon foods!”
The convention also welcomes children and teenagers offering separate youth programming and game rooms. The event is this weekend and has various prices for admission.
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