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VillaCon 2024 - Save the Date!

VillaCon: The Third Edition is coming March 2, 2024. Save the date!

VillaCon '23 ScheduleVillaCon Rules & RegulationsCampus Map

VillaCon 2023 Details

*Updated information for 2024 coming soon!*

Attendance for the general public is $10, Villa Maria College students will be admitted for free. Start preparing for the Cosplay costume contest now, and keep checking in here for more details as they’re finalized.

  • Physical tickets are not required for entry; attendees will check in and be cleared for admission upon arrival and given a badge to be worn and displayed as you move throughout the Con.
  • Everyone must check in at the registration table before entering the Con.
  • Pre-registration will close on Friday, March 24 at 11:59 PM. Anyone who did not pre-register but wishes to attend may pay with cash or a card at the registration table.
  • Please enter through the doors located in Parking Lot A and proceed directly to the registration table.
  • If you plan to participate in the Cosplay contest and did not pre-register, you can register at check in up until 1 PM. No late registrations will be accepted.
  • Attendees must sign up for games and panels at VillaCon; advanced registration is not available at this time.
  • A very limited number of VillaCon t-shirts will be available for purchase in the registration area.
  • No new guests will be admitted after 7 PM.

*Updated information for 2024 coming soon!*

Food trucks will be ready to serve by noon, so come hungry!

Metz Dining Service – Opens for lunch service at 11 AM

The Cheesy Chick – Grilled cheese and ​mac-n-cheese, 12 PM – 4 PM

House of Munch – The latest and greatest snack emporium 12 PM – 9 PM

Dirty Bird – Chicken and waffles 12 PM – ?

*Updated information for 2024 coming soon!*

Artists & vendors
Video gaming
Games
Panels
Cosplay, Karaoke & Dance Party with DJ Hassan
Food
Animation, film & game design showcases
Animation Club fundraiser

*Updated information for 2024 coming soon!*

  • Click here for a Campus Map
  • Artists & vendors should enter campus on Pennock Place and park in Parking Lot B
  • Attendees can enter on Pennock Place and Parking Lot A or enter on Pine Ridge Road and park in front of the Main Building or Felician Hall

*Updated information for 2024 coming soon!*

Artists & Vendors
Video Gaming
Games
Panels
Food
Animation, film & game design showcases
Animation Club fundraiser
Wakanda Alliance & Galactic Tribe Panels

*Updated information for 2024 coming soon!*

VillaCon 2023 Artists:

Applications for artists are no longer being accepted for VillaCon 2023. Please see below for more details. Details are subject to change.

    • Artist Alley will be open from 10 AM – 6 PM; Artists must be present until 6 PM
  • Artists can begin unloading and setting up on Friday, March 24 between 1 PM and 5 PM
  • On the day of VillaCon, artists can begin uploading and setting up at 8 AM
  • Artists must be fully set up and ready by 9:45 AM on Saturday
  • VillaCon volunteers will be available to assist with unloading and will help direct you to your table
  • You will be issued an ID tag indicating your status as an artist
  • Enter campus from Pennock Place & park in Parking Lot B
  • Click here for a campus map
  • All artists will receive a 36″ x 96″ table located in Artists Alley
  • 10 x 10 total space
  • Wifi access will be given at registration
  • Upon acceptance to the Con, artists must complete the Code of Conduct Agreement – https://forms.office.com/r/HZWaxE8WTH

*Updated information for 2024 coming soon!*

Esports at VillaCon 2023

  • Buffalo Fighting Game Community Tournaments
  • Buffalo Fighting Game Community Open Play
  • Super Smash Brothers Ultimate

*Updated information for 2024 coming soon!*

VillaCon 2023 Games
Run time for each game is two hours

Shelley High, by Gayle Petri
12 PM – 2 PM & 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Ground Floor, Room 11
Dungeons & Dragons 5e. Have you picked out your outfit for Shelley High School’s Fall Formal: A Night Under the Moon? As the big night fast approaches, join your fellow high school freaks, geeks, and popular kids to uncover the supernatural secrets hiding below the surface of the school, find the perfect date, slay some monsters, and save the fall formal. Go Shelley High Creatures!

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), by Eddie Mas
12 PM – 2 PM & 5 PM – 7 PM
Ground Floor, Room 12
Table top role playing game, 2-6 players.

Lego Club – Build & Compete, by Gabriel Cormack
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Ground Floor, Room 12
Villa’s Lego Club will provide some Lego sets and host an open build room, so come down and see what you can build! Enter your build into their competition – the last 20 minutes, all builds will be judged and a winner will be announced!

Cave of Chaos (D&D), by Todd Michalek
12 PM – 2 PM
1st Floor, Room 101
Dungeons & Dragons 1e. This will be a starter adventure for 6 players of any age or experience level using core Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules. The adventure will center on adventuring to the Caves of Chaos to find a stolen key. Rumor and evidence suggests Orcs have taken this key and a very rich Baron wishes it back. He will pay handsomely, those that deliver it.

Two Rooms & a Boom, by Ryan Blodgett
2 PM – 4 PM, Ages 13+
1st Floor, Classroom 101 & 103
A social deduction/hidden role party game with 2 teams, Red & Blue. The Blue Team has a “Leader,” the Red Team has a “Bomber.” Players are equally distributed between 2 separate playing areas. There are 3-5 timed rounds. At the end of each round, some players will switch rooms. If the Red Team’s “Bomber” is in the same room as the “Leader” at the end of the game, then the Red Team wins; otherwise the Blue Team wins. Many more special roles make it interesting. Lying encouraged, but unlike most social deduction games, not required. Also, you may be allowed to show people your role card.

Traditional Board Games, by Heather Carmelia & Jeff Werner
10 AM – 2 PM
1st Floor, Room 103
Enjoy many board games that vary from social deduction, strategy, worker placement, kids games and more.

Between Two Castles of Mad King Ludwig, by David Constantino
4 PM – 6 PM
1st Floor, Room 103
Semi-cooperative game on building castles with your neighbors.

Magic the Gathering Commander/EDH
10 AM – 6 PM
The Commons
Bring your own Deck; Starter Decks also available for purchase
On-demand game play
3-5 players per pod

*Updated information for 2024 coming soon!*

  • The Cosplay Contest will take place in the Auditorium from 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
  • Online pre-registration for the contest will close at 4PM on Friday, March 24.
  • If you did not pre-register and would like to, please email Joanna Zadvorney with your name, your character name/source, and a reference photo.
  • You can also register to participate in the Cosplay contest when you check in. Registration for the contest will end at 1 PM day of, so be sure to register before then! No late registrations will be accepted.

This year’s contest will be judged by Emma of Emu Cosplay Studios, Lizzy (Chibi) of Random Chibi Cosplay, and Lolliath of  Lolliath Cosplay. Awards will be given for most creative, fan favorite, and best in show.

The contest will be emceed by Kat McCabe of Kat McCabe Photography.

*Updated information for 2024 coming soon!*

GHU Game Station Gaming Trailer Tournament

  • 2 PM – 4 PM
  • Parking Lot B
  • 20 player limit
  • Pre-registration not required for participation

*Updated information for 2024 coming soon!*

VillaCon 2023 Panelists and Topics
Panels will run for 45-minutes, with an additional 15-minutes allotted for a Q&A session

Galactic Tribe & Wakanda Alliance
10AM – 6PM | 1st Floor, Room 115
An all-day rotation of panels that will cover various subjects regarding afro-futurism, Black identity, comics and media, and environmental justice.

God & Gaming, by Dr. Don Monnin
10 AM – 11 AM | 1st Floor, Recital Hall
This presentation will consist of the viewing of the first episode of a six-part series called “God and Gaming.” Video games are embraced by all walks of life, and its sense of community is one of the best aspects of modern human connection. “God and Gaming” hopes to bridge the gap between religion and the gaming culture as the two hosts, Fr. Blake Britton and Bobby Angel, discuss a Christian approach to a traditionally non-religious arena.

D&D 5th Edition Character Creation, Hosted by Eddie Mas
11 AM – 12 PM | Ground Floor, Room 12
Attendees will be introduced to new and experienced table-top roleplaying guests and learn how to make a character for the popular game Dungeons and Dragons. Attendees can look forward to playable races, classes, and ability scores while learning how to make their characters with a variety of dice. Towards the end of the panel, attendees can participate freely in a one-shot fantasy game where they will be able to practice what they have learned as their newly-created character.

Cosplay Veterans Tell All, by Michelle Insalaco
11 AM – 11:45 AM | 1st Floor, Auditorium
Just getting started in the world of cosplay? Always had a question you wanted to ask someone who has been doing this longer than you? Want to learn more about conventions outside NY? This is your time to ask! This will be an open Q&A session for people who want to ask cosplayers who have been doing this for over 10 years.

Unleash Your Super Saiyan Through Resilience & Self-Belief, by Duncan Kirkwood
11:15 AM – 11:45 AM | 1st Floor, Recital Hall
Through stories from popular anime, video games, and comic book movies, participants will get an understanding of how overcoming setbacks helps on the journey to success. The talk will center around themes of resilience and grit and provide practical tips on how to strengthen their ability to persevere through adversity in school and in life.

Addison Henderson Meet & Greet and Q&A
12 PM – 1:30 PM | 1st Floor, Auditorium
Learn more about Addison Henderson, an award-winning actor, director, producer, and writer from Buffalo, NY. Henderson worked closely with famed actor Chadwick Boseman on some of the highest-grossing films of all time, including Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame. Henderson also wrote, directed, and starred in G.O.D. (Givers of Death), which was filmed entirely in Western New York and premiered at the North Park Theatre in 2022.

Marvelous Muppet Madness, by Jay Ramos
12 PM – 1 PM | 1st Floor, Recital Hall | Ages 18+
Learn more about the history of Jim Henson’s Muppets, ranging from Sam and Friends (1955) to The Muppets Mayhem (2023). Prepare for small jokes and some topics that are inappropriate for children (ex. the Muppet Show’s pilot being named Muppets: Sex and Violence).

Classic Science Fiction, by Todd Baker
1 PM – 2 PM | 1st Floor, Recital Hall
discussion of the early years of the science fiction genre: 1920’s – 1950’s. We’ll consider the early writers, editors, magazines, and books that moved science fiction from the pulp era (with its rockets and bug-eyed monsters) to an era of maturity (with depictions of nuclear war and how we would live in the future).

Cosplay Photography 101, by Kat McCabe
2 PM – 3 PM | 1st Floor, Auditorium
Participants will learn the ins and outs about cosplay photography from a professional cosplay photographer Kat McCabe. Learn some tips and tricks to help make your next cosplay amazing! The official cosplay contest of VillaCon 2023 will take place immediately following this panel.

How to Babygirl-ify – An Example of Tumblr, by Salem Saloman
2PM – 3PM | 1st Floor, Recital Hall | Ages 18+
Fandoms have a rich history of fixating on certain characters, especially on Tumblr. During this panel, participants will dive into this phenomenon and learn about the science behind the fixation on these characters. In other words, this panel will explain why people “babygirl-ify” these characters.

Useless PowerPoints, by Ashley Mercurio
4 PM – 5 PM | 1st Floor, Recital Hall
Spend an hour going through some of the most bizarre and unique PowerPoints out there. Some will be educational, others will make you laugh, some may make you question why this panel exists. One moment participants will be viewing a presentation about the history of Kingdom Hearts, while the next may be about types of spiders that exist in Australia…there might even be a presentation on Ashley’s favorite Villa professors.

Don’t Break Anything II: The Second Coming, by Jake Steinbroner
6:30 PM – 8 PM | 1st Floor, Auditorium | Ages 18+
The most popular comedy panel in WNY returns to VillaCon for round 2! Get ready for the worst knee-slappers you’ve ever heard in this panel. Come for the unique brand of comedy, stay for the train wreck you just can’t turn your eyes away from.

*Updated information for 2024 coming soon!*

VillaCon 2023 Vendors:

Applications for vendors are no longer being accepted for VillaCon 2023. Confirmed panelists can find more details below. All details are subject to change. 

  • Vendors will be open from 10 AM – 6 PM; vendors must be present until 6PM
  • Vendors can begin unloading and setting up on Friday, March 24 between 1 PM and 5 PM
  • On the day of VillaCon, vendors can begin uploading and setting up at 8 AM
  • Vendors must be fully set up and ready by 9:45 AM on Saturday
  • Enter campus from Pennock Place & park in Parking Lot B
  • Click here for a campus map
  • All vendors will receive a 36″ x 96″ table
  • 10 x 10 total space
  • Wifi access will be given at registration
  • You will be issued an ID tag indicating your status as a vendor
  • VillaCon volunteers will be available to assist with unloading and will help direct you to your table
  • Upon acceptance to the Con, vendors must complete the Code of Conduct Agreement – https://forms.office.com/r/HZWaxE8WTH
Wakanda Alliance & Galactic Tribe Panel Schedule - 2023Complete Schedule - 2023

*Updated information for 2024 coming soon!*

Special Appearance by Addison Henderson

Henderson is an Actor, Director, Producer, and Writer from Buffalo, NY 

Read More

Henderson’s foray into professional filmmaking began with the soul stirring documentary, The Forgotten City, a Buffalo story birthed out of tragedy that explored race relations, segregation, crime and politics. The feature garnered multiple awards, including the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award from the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival, as well as distribution with Free Speech TV. On the heels of this success, Henderson shot his second documentary feature, The Experience, an intimate story about five individuals and their pilgrimage to Ghana, Africa to uncover their personal history and identity buried by the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Since the inception of his production company Night Owl Republic Films in 2005, Henderson has written, produced, and directed feature documentaries, short films, commercials, and music videos. Most recently, Henderson wrote, directed, and starred in the prescient apocalyptic thriller, Givers of Death (G.O.D.), which premiered at the American Black Film Festival, secured multiple nominations, and won Best Screenplay. Givers of Death is currently available on all streaming platforms and is also playing on The Showtime Network. Henderson also worked closely with the extraordinary Chadwick Boseman on some of the highest-grossing films of all time, including Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame. Working alongside such a phenomenal artist and friend has imbued Henderson with a great responsibility to carry the torch forward.

Henderson is a prolific artist and has full slate of projects in various stages of development.  He is currently in pre-production on a horror-thriller, Blythe. The Oscar-winning production company, The Lagralane Group, will serve as Executive Producers.

*Updated information for 2024 coming soon!*

Special Appearance by Gayle Petri

Petri is the reigning Miss Syracuse