ColossalCon celebrates fandom

HURON TWP. — Kalahari's convention center was packed to the brim Saturday with elaborately dressed visitors.From Thursday through Sunday, the area's largest pop culture convention, ColossalCon, attracted fans of video games, anime, film and television.Among those in attendance were three new friends, Stephanie Shultz, Jessika Spence and Molly Federdici. All three women quickly formed a friendship because of their shared interest in lolita fashion, a Japanese subculture street trend heavily influenced by Victorian and Edwardian style.[gallery]"I wanted to be unique and go against mainstream norms and focus on self-expression," Shultz said.The trio credits ColossalCon's welcoming environment for the ability to dress up in such a creative fashion.Many other guests cosplay, or dress as popular characters.For Pennsylvania native Emily Tucker, the convention has helped her refine and improve her cosplay skills over the last five years.On Saturday, Tucker wore a homemade costume inspired by a modified version of Overwatch, a popular combat video game. She said it took almost 5 weeks to construct.Tucker enjoys attending ColossalCon because its a "judgement free" convention all about making friends and taking pictures with others playing prominent characters.In addition to cosplay, the massive convention also touts dozens of informative guests, including self identified "pop culture anthropologist" Charles Dunbar.Dunbar attends 30 conventions a year to lead instructional panels about Japanese history and culture, as well as the culture surrounding the conventions themselves.He said ColossalCon is unlike any other."The con community at ColossalCon is laid back and relaxed," Dunbar said. "You come here and you get a general appreciation of just being a fan. ColossalCon does that better than any other convention."ColossalCon guests browse the Dealer's Hall on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at Kalahari Convention Center. Iowa resident Anna Lam focuses on an arcade game in one of the video game rooms at ColossalCon on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center. Sara Becker, of Columbus, celebrates catching a football thrown by voice actor Vic Mignogna on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at ColossalCon. ColossalCon guests cheer during a dodgeball tournament at the convention at Kalahari Resorts on Saturday, June 2, 2018. A group cosplaying Star Wars characters pose for a picture at ColossalCon on Saturday.