We’re finally to that time again, the end of the year, and hoping the next one won’t kick us in the face as hard as this one did. Cause yeah, it really got us good.
This year was crazy and insane, I can’t be the only one thinking about it. Sometimes it feels like I’m back in February and the year is just starting. It has all gone by so fast!
What a year this has been for me! So many new cosplays, big events, injuries, and oh so many conventions! It still boggles my brain when I think about all the conventions I was able to go to this year, and all the ones I’m planning for in this upcoming 2024. Some of these conventions are only a month away!
Looking back on this year, my luck all started with Emerald City Comic Con. It was one of the best conventions I have been to in years and really set the bar high for the rest of the year to come. Full of amazing new people, new opportunities, and lots of cool merch. From there it was Sakura Con, my local anime convention. Then came the slew of new conventions I needed to check out this time around. Washington State Summer Con, WasabiCon, San Diego Comic-Con, and DragonCon. Four new conventions for me to explore to my heart’s content, even more people to connect with, and make new bonds of friendship. Just my luck I was going to half of these with a head injury, and a personality that was too stubborn to stay home and get the rest I needed. Sadly, I only remember a bit from here and there from SDCC and WasabiCon. What I do remember was a really great zoo and some really fantastically unforgettable people.
After recovering from the non-stop five day party that was DragonCon, I headed back home for Rose City Comic Con, GeekGirlCon, and my final con of 2023…Kumoricon. All of which were fun and have turned into my yearly two-three fun days with friends. Kumoricon was a new convention to me back in 2022, and has now turned into a yearly girls’ weekend with one of my besties. So, a full total of nine conventions in one year, the most I have ever gone to in my life. I can already tell you that young Ali never even dreamed that this would be her reality or even a pipe dream for herself. But my goodness, what a lovely dream this has turned out to be.
From these conventions this year, I have been able to figure out what I would want to do for 2024. I want to do all of my planning now. So hotels, Airbnb’s, friends going, and plane tickets need to be dealt with now. Along with planning out cosplays, photoshoots, group cosplays, how to travel with said cosplays is the next step. You’re also probably wondering, Ali, you need to narrow down and figure out which of these conventions you want to go to this year..to which I say I already have. My list for 2024 is done and everything is moving along nicely, so… drumroll please……. My convention list for 2024 is Fan Expo Portland, Anime Washington, MegaCon, Emerald City Comic Con, Sakura Con, Chibi Chibi Con, DragonCon, Anime Expo, Anime NYC, Kumoricon, Rose City Comic Con, Summer Con. I know, ambitious. I know that it will change depending on my work schedule, my health, and a lot of other factors. But, I really hope I can make my dreams come true and hit up all of these conventions this upcoming year.
I am so excited to work even more on planning and spending time on the cosplays for these new conventions, the traveling will also be so much fun too!
What was your favorite convention of 2023? Feel free to leave a comment below or chat with us on Twitter/X at @TheConCollectve, Threads at @theconventioncollective, or Bluesky at @theconcollective.bsky.social
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