From February 20th to the 22nd, Pensacon celebrated 13 years as Pensacola’s biggest convention. It attracted a multitude of celebrities, with actors and actresses like Cara Buono (Karen Wheeler in Stranger Things), Clifford Chapin (voice of Katsuki Bakugo in My Hero Academia) and Mark Pellegrino (Lucifer in Supernatural) among many others, as well as wrestlers, artists, and authors. 

Pensacon hosted many events during its three-day span, including a D&D game and film festival that ran throughout the event.

The title of Best in Show was awarded to Franken Struck, a five minute animated short film with the synopsis “A reckless hand, a lethal play, a love so pure now ripped away. Forged hot from rage and shocking light, the Creature’s love must set things right,” by Screamfest, another film festival that awarded the short Best in Show. 

“The film festival is one of my favorite parts of the con,” said Kierstynn Crawford. “It’s so cool to see so many movies made by very different people!” 

The film festival featured many different genres and showed the best of each on Sunday, the final day of the convention. 

Smaller events happened as well. Dozens of panels were hosted, discussing topics like creative writing, the final season of Stranger Things, banned books, and representation in pop culture and fan spaces. Also hosted were two costume contests, one for adult competitors and one for children 12 and under. 

The adult costume contest was hosted by WKRG’s chief meteorologist Ed Bloodsworth on Saturday. Judges examined costumes that competitors created at least 65% by hand, with winners and honorable mentions being named shortly after. Kids competed on Sunday, showing both handmade and bought costumes. 

Gulf Breeze members of the National Honor Society volunteered at Pensacon this year. This was facilitated by the First United Methodist Church in Pensacola, which hosted the

some of the aforementioned panels and the adult costume contest. Their affiliated thrift store hosted D&D sessions and the film festival. 

NHS volunteers took on a variety of roles, like many non-NHS affiliated volunteers at Pensacon. 

“I was at the cashier and scanned in people’s bracelets,” said Gia Jimenez, senior. “I got to meet so many cool people and cosplayers, and it was a lot of fun; I loved it!” 

Next year’s Pensacon is already set to take place from February 19th to the 21st.