While board games are at the heart of Gen Con, our annual convention offers up so much more for the hungry, nerdy soul. We’re introducing a new blog series for you, featuring all things beyond games at Gen Con.
Today, this blog post focuses on the wonders of the Exhibit Hall, written from the perspective of one of our fabulous content creators, Sonja from This Geeky Life.
It’s hard to believe that Gen Con 2024 was just a month ago. I’ve been attending Gen Con on and off for the past 20 years, and whenever someone asks, “Is Gen Con for me?” I always say yes—there’s truly something for everyone. Whether you’re into supplemental activities like yoga or crafting, cosplay, or exploring the exhibit hall, there’s a little bit of magic for everyone. Personally, when I’m not participating in events, you’ll find me either cosplaying or wandering the exhibit hall.
The exhibit hall is fantastic for finding the latest game but there is more to the hall. It’s also the perfect place to hunt for that elusive cosplay accessory or a piece of art for your wall. Cosplay accessories are scattered throughout the hall, from wigs and foam swords to wizard staffs. As a cosplayer, I know that a costume is never truly finished—I’m always on the lookout for the next item to elevate my ensemble. This year, an oversized hand fan was a must-have for me.
We cannot forget about my favorite thing to find in the hall…DICE. I make sure to stop by every dice booth in the hall to hunt down the cutest set to add to my collection. Shiny math rocks know how to get a girl in the heartstrings. There are so many cool sets every year.
I personally love seeing what the dice companies add to the center of the dice. A great example is the newest Catan dice that FanRoll rolled out at the convention this year. A d6 for each commodity in the game and a marble robber. The real winner for dice this year for me was the d20 a friend gifted me that has music notes on the inside.
This barely scratches the surface of what you can find in the hall. There’s also the Art Show, where you can pick up unique items like handmade parasols, and numerous exhibitors offering adorable plush toys to enhance any collection. This year, I added a cute ghost plush to my own collection. I can’t wait for next year to see what treasures await. See you next year!
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