I attended the popular Bristol Comic Con at Ashton Gate and was blown away by the community spirit
The popular Bristol Comic Con at Ashton Gate showcased a vibrant community spirit, uniting cosplayers and traders in a celebration of creativity.
Creed Conventions hosted its first-ever Bristol Comic Con at Ashton Gate Stadium last Sunday (March 9).
Having successfully traded at markets around Bristol and produced some 'nerdy-themed' products like hand-painted Pokemon cards, I decided to take a leap and trade at Bristol Comic Con.
I attended with my partner and one of my close friends, and it was a very welcoming and relaxing environment.
I was allocated a table directly in front of one of the main entrances, so throughout the day, I could appreciate the stunning cosplays as guests entered the floor.
It was a wholesome experience to see families doing group cosplays together, parents praising their children's creativity and appreciating the stunning creations made by guests.
Our hearts were stolen by the adorable K9 (Doctor Who) robot, which occasionally went for a stroll near the entrance, and we had a few chuckles as the Daleks interacted with visitors and made their way to the 'outside world'.
My partner and I also cosplayed for the occasion as Cody and May from the videogame It Takes Two and we were overwhelmed by the response of the community.
As these characters are dolls, it was tricky to source some of the accessories for the costume, and I had to make many elements myself, including my first-ever knitted short-sleeved jumper.
Throughout the day, we received a lot of compliments and at least 10 photos were taken of us, which was very encouraging.
I was also able to go on a short walk around the venue hall and it was stunning, especially for a smaller-scale local convention.
There was a wide range of stalls with products from a wide range of fandoms, as well as a broad variety of photo opportunities from different films, games and series, including Pokémon, Nightmare Before Christmas and Sesame Street.
I met very talented artists like Rueharb who had captured the personality of multiple characters from different fandoms, including from my latest obsession, Baldur's Gate 3.
I was fascinated by how quickly Kev F Sutherland created caricatures of my friend and I, and left with a smile after the fun interaction.
Overall, it was a very fun experience, both as a trader and a con-goer. It didn't feel too stressful to trade at, and I had an enjoyable experience interacting with the talented stallholders and creative visitors.
Everyone seemed very approachable and it was fun nerding out about cosplays and different fandoms.
I look forward to seeing what the October 12 edition will have to offer.