NoCo Collector Con: A Community Celebration of Trading Cards
Parents, children, couples, and friends gathered over Labor Day weekend to celebrate their love for trading card games and collectibles at the inaugural NoCo Collector Con.
Inspiration Behind the Event
Event coordinator Maddy Fritzel noticed a lack of collector-specific events in the Fort Collins community after her husband rekindled his childhood passion for Pokémon card games. Motivated to bridge this gap, Fritzel and her family organized the convention.
“I love event planning,” Fritzel shared, emphasizing her excitement: “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do…so we kind of just sat down one night and were like, ‘Let’s do it.’”
Event Highlights
The two-day event at The Drake Centre charged a modest $5 for general admission, allowing attendees to re-enter throughout the weekend. Fritzel was thrilled that many visitors came back, enjoying their sense of community.
“I’m loving seeing people that I recognize coming back,” she remarked, highlighting the connections formed between vendors and attendees.
Diverse Offerings
Fritzel aimed to create a mix of vendors beyond just trading cards, featuring everything from Pokémon art to local crafts. One notable booth was run by Ezmay Newman, founder of The Stained Page Project, who showcased custom stained glass artwork. Newman expressed how the event fostered a sense of community among attendees.
“Hearing people cheer when somebody got an epic pull yesterday was really fun,” Newman reflected. “It’s always heartwarming.”
Vendors Share Their Passion
Vendor Colt Hinchley, who started collecting cards at a young age, shared his joy of both selling and connecting with families. He observed many parents introducing their children to trading card games, igniting a sense of nostalgia for themselves.
“I loved doing it as a kid, and I love when the kids actually have a good time,” Hinchley noted.
Community Engagement
Attendees, like Shelby Trimble, were quick to immerse themselves in the event, making friends and expanding their knowledge of games like Magic: The Gathering.
“There’s a lot of cool people here; they’re super friendly,” Trimble said, expressing her enjoyment of the event.
Looking Ahead
Fritzel hopes to expand the NoCo Collector Con into January and May next year, encouraging anyone with collections to participate as vendors. She’s eager to bring more unique offerings to the community.
“If you have an awesome collection of something, keep us in mind,” Fritzel said.
By the end of the second day, she deemed the event a success and expressed her commitment to fostering connections through collecting.
“We knew it was gonna be fun, but it’s ended up being even more fun than we thought,” she concluded. “We’re here for the long run, and we’re gonna keep going.”
