From Captain America to Star Wars Jedi, the free, family-friendly OC Con event in Ocean City is the place to witness the best of comic book and memorabilia cosplayers. Running April 11–12 at the Music Pier, OC Con marks its 10th anniversary this year with cosplay (short for costume play), races, artists, trivia, vendors, and more.
According to a Cape May County Herald report, highlights of the event include a one-mile Super Hero Run for all ages, a separate kids’ run, a card and pin-trading event, an inflatable maze, face painting, balloon twisting, LEGO building, trivia, music, and a 3 p.m. costume contest on Sunday, April 12.
OC Con is described as a smaller version of Comic-Con, a premier national event for everything comics and related popular art, which includes movies, television, gaming, interactive multimedia, and more.
Attendance typically ranges from 1,300–1,400 on Saturday and 800–1,000 on Sunday. It attracts tri-state artists, vendors, and broader celebrity and fan engagement.
This year, notable guests and features include Kevin D Cosplay and Lady J Cosplay. Thematic elements include the Pizza Planet Delivery Shuttle from Toy Story, a DeLorean time machine from Back to the Future, and artist Bob Petrecca returning with a new mascot design, Conrad.
Organizers for OC Con include the Ocean City Free Public Library and the city. Individuals such as Sara Bruesehoff, Karen Mahar, Julie Howard, Kevin Bligh, Lisa Rumer, and Michael Allegretto have played key roles in planning and programs, according to the Cape May County Herald.
OC Con started as a small, evolving event — even surviving a snowfall one year — and has grown into one of Ocean City’s first major seasonal happenings. Artists come primarily from the tri-state area of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, but each year, organizers reach out for big-name stars, musicians, and others from a broad area.
“We have quite a few repeat artists coming, so that’s a testament to our success,” Mahar said.