Event to feature ‘full day of comics, collectibles, cosplay, gaming, celebrity guests, and family-friendly entertainment’
SiestaCon will return to Sarasota on Saturday, May 9, “bringing a full day of comics, collectibles, cosplay, gaming, celebrity guests, and family-friendly entertainment to Robarts Arena at the Sarasota County Fairgrounds, The Dark Side: Comics & Games has announced.
Roberts Arena is located at 3000 Ringling Blvd.
The Dark Side, which is headquartered on North Beneva Road in Sarasota, partners with the Ringling College of Art + Design and CGC Comics in hosting the event, a news release notes. The “convention continues to grow as one of the Suncoast’s standout pop culture events,” the release points out.
The guest lineup will feature “acclaimed comic creators Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman, along with celebrated voice actors Lisa Ortiz and John Gremillion,” the release continues. Fans also may “look forward to panels, creative workshops, trading card game tournaments, cosplay, vendors, and activities designed to appeal to longtime collectors, dedicated hobbyists, families, and newcomers alike,” the release adds.
“SiestaCon is about creating the kind of experience fans never forget,” said Brian Polizzi, owner of The Dark Side and founder of SiestaCon, in the release. “When people walk into a convention, they should feel energized, welcomed and surrounded by the fandoms they love,” Polizzi noted in the release. “That atmosphere is what inspired me to open The Dark Side, and it is what continues to shape SiestaCon,” he said.
“Partnering with Ringling College of Art and Design and CGC has made SiestaCon even more meaningful,” Polizzi pointed out in the release. “Ringling’s INDEX program gives students real-world industry experience by working on live projects with organizations in the community, and we’re proud to be part of something that connects education, creativity and pop culture. CGC has also been an incredible partner, helping us coordinate the comic creator lineup through its Signature Series program. It’s a real thrill to bring this caliber of talent to a show in Sarasota,” Polizzi continued in the release.
A significant portion of SiestaCon “will remain geared toward younger attendees, while the broader convention experience will offer plenty for teens and adults as well,” the release adds.
“We want SiestaCon to be a big, memorable day for anyone into geeky stuff,” Polizzi said in the release. “Whether you’re a longtime fan or just curious to see what it’s all about, there’s something here for you.”
For more information about SiestaCon, visit www.siestacon.com or contact Brian Polizzi at info@siestacon.com.