MomoCon 2016: As sweet a peach as ever

Cosplayers, concerts, and crystal gems - oh my!



Well, Atlanta, we did it! We made it one more Memorial Day weekend without overdosing on barbecue. Those of you who made it Downtown this past weekend might have wondered what was going on, with all of the costumes and hubbub. What you saw was Atlanta-born convention MomoCon, taking over the Georgia World Congress Center. From all across the country, thick crowds gathered Downtown for a four-day weekend of nonstop fun and festivities. Last year, over 60,000 people attended the convention over the course of the weekend — and having run around the convention floor myself a few days, it’s easy to understand why: There was just as much fun to be had this year.

From the jam-packed Dealer’s Room and Artist Alley, full of art pieces, trinkets, and toys galore, to the Gaming Hall — where I discovered Super Table Flip, an amazing arcade game in which you smack and flip tables to blow off steam — there was something for everyone, be they an anime buff, a comic enthusiast, or any style of gamer (though admittedly, there were a couple of issues with the console gaming area). That’s not even mentioning the event, photo shoot, and panel schedule, either. There was too much for five people to get done in the one weekend, let alone me!


The convention, started in 2006 with a humble home in Georgia Tech’s Student Center, has since exploded into one of Atlanta’s most prolific conventions — a status exemplified by the list of special guests. Internet sensations Doug Walker, TotalBiscuit, and the Super Best Friends, along with acclaimed voice and live TV actors Steve Blum (Cowboy Bebop, Toonami) Cree Summer (A Different World, Inspector Gadget, Codename: Kids Next Door) and Zach Callison (best known as the voice of the titular Steven Universe), only made up a small selection from the list.


As you might have noticed, MomoCon makes a point to attract even more foot traffic to Atlanta; some returning, some fresh. Callison, asked early on about the experience of coming to Atlanta and meeting the scores of Steven Universe fans present (many of whom were dressed up as characters from the show) was more than excited. “It’s awesome,” he said. “It’s my first time getting to see the city, I’ve gotta see more.”


Summer, a returning visitor, echoed the sentiments. “It’s been wonderful being back,” she said. “I love Hotlanta.” She, alongside many of the visiting attendees, had plenty of chances: One of MomoCon’s regular programming events includes a party in the Georgia Aquarium.


Those who missed out on the fun this year need not worry: MomoCon is scheduled to return next Memorial Day Weekend, in 2017. You have more than enough time to get ready for it: Those handmade costumes can take a lot of time and a lot of effort. Better start picking characters now.