Post by Melissa Tidd, Adult Reference Librarian
My all-time favorite convention is Retro Con, held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania every September. This event consists of vendors selling retro toys and games, celebrities from television, movies, and music from the 1960s and up, contests, etc.
2024’s convention was particularly memorable. The main guests were Anson Williams (Potsie Weber) and Donny Most (Ralph Malph) from the classic 1970s sitcom “Happy Days.”
Melissa Tidd, Anson Williams, Cameron Tidd
We also met Michael Bell, a voice actor from many cartoons, including 1990s “Rugrats” (Voices include Chaz and Drew).
Melissa Tidd, Michael Bell, and Cameron Tidd
The convention also has a corner of free arcade games for all to play. Some consist of The Simpsons, Pac-Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dragon Ball, etc. Always get there early before the crowd comes!
They have many contests including for best retro t-shirt and karaoke. However, my favorite is their annual trivia contest. The host hands out prizes from many nostalgic television shows and movies. He asks a question and if you raise your hand, say an answer and get it right, you win the prize related to that question. The question I won for was the following: “What year did Dragon Ball Z premiere in Japan?” Do you know?
A second reason why this is my favorite convention is the location. Oaks, PA has a movie theater called Oaks Center Cinema. It has arcade games and gives you a retro-like feel (we saw “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”). Also in the past, the convention center has partnered with a nearby place called Arnold’s Family Fun Center, where they have fun indoor activities such as bowling, bumper cars, minigolf, etc. It is always fun to find some other places and eateries near convention centers; you can make your own new traditions!
Finally, another reason why it is my favorite is because it is a family affair. Cameron and I have gone to this convention with our siblings, their spouses, and their uncle over the past several years, and being together makes it all worthwhile. The extra quality time is the cherry on top to an already fun time! Feel free to let me know what your favorite convention is!
