Blerdcon

Blerdcon
Blerdcon
Status	Active
Genre	Multi-genre
Venue	Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport
Location(s)	Arlington, Virginia
Country	United States
Inaugurated	2017
Website	https://blerdcon.org/

Blerdcon is an annual three-day multi-genre convention held during July at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia. The convention's name comes from the word "blerds", a term for black nerds.^[1]^[3]^[4] It was co-founded by Hassan Parrish and Hilton George.^[5]^[6] Blerdcon aims to be diverse and inclusive.^[3]^[4]

Programming

Blerdcon typically features cosplay contests, concerts, gaming tournaments, maid café, panels, vendors, and workshops.^[1]^[7]^[8]^[9] The gaming room is open 24-hours during the event.^[3]^[8]^[10]

History

Blerdcon's idea came out of the experience of attending another convention, MomoCon.^[1] First year attendance was higher than expected, with 1,800 people.^[3] Blerdcon 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[9]^[11]^[12] Blerdcon 2021 required attendees to wear masks and provide their COVID-19 vaccination card.^[9] The cosplay contest caused controversy in 2021 due to it being won by a Caucasian female.^[13]^[14] Blerdcon in 2022 continued to have mask and vaccination requirements.^[15] The convention had programming on Thursday in 2023.^[16]

Event history

Dates	Location	Atten.	Guests
June 30 - July 2, 2017	Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport Arlington, Virginia	1,800 (est.)^[3]	Bec's Cosplay Wonderland and Eric "The Smoke" Moran.^[17]
July 27–29, 2018	Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport Arlington, Virginia		Karan Ashley, Mega Ran, Michael "Knightmage" Wilson,^[18] Douriean Fletcher, Kevin Grevioux, and Keisha Tucker.^[19]
July 12–14, 2019	Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport Arlington, Virginia		Beau Billingslea, Estelle,^[20] Shaina “Samuraider” West, and Rachel True.^[21]
July 16-18, 2021	Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport Arlington, Virginia		Karan Ashley,^[22] Dax ExclamationPoint, Barr Foxx, Roxxy Haze, Wreck it Ronnie, Scotty Swan, Violette Verse, and Yeliz.^[23]
July 8-10, 2022	Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport Arlington, Virginia		J'adore Cosplay^[24] and Orlando Jones.^[6]
July 7-9, 2023^[16]	Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport Arlington, Virginia		Karan Ashley, Ade M'Cormack, Cree Summer, and Rachel True.^[25]^[26]
July 12-14, 2024^[27]	Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport Arlington, Virginia		Ahmed Best, Atandwa Kani,^[27] Walter Jones, Phil LaMarr.^[28]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Rozen, Courtney (Jun 30, 2017). "Blerdcon Blends Diversity and Geek Culture". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^ Allen, Troy-Jeffrey (August 7, 2018). "Adventures at BLERDCON DC". Black Public Media. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Page-Kirby, Kristen (July 26, 2018). "Now bigger and brighter, the 2nd annual Blerdcon has space for everyone". Washington Post. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Showcasing amazing cosplay looks for Blerdcon 2018". WUSA. July 25, 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
^ Laws, Khalid (12 July 2022). "Blerdcon returns to Virginia to celebrate Black nerd culture". The National Desk. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
^ ^a ^b "At Blerdcon, Black nerds see themselves and find their tribe". TheGrio. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
^ Berko, Katherine (30 June 2017). "'Minority Nerd' Convention Coming to Crystal City". ARLnow. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^ ^a ^b Lefrak, Mikaela (July 26, 2018). "Blerdcon Is Back: What To Expect From The Convention That Celebrates Black-Nerd Culture". WAMU. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c DeVoe, Jo (16 July 2021). "Inclusive 'Blerdcon' Convention Kicks Off in Crystal City". ARLnow. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
^ Orobana, Michelle (July 1, 2018). "Blerdcon". Whurk Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^ "BLERDCON ANNOUNCEMENT". Facebook. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
^ "Blerdcon 2020 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
^ Cardin, Kathryn (22 July 2021). "White woman wins cosplay contest at convention celebrating Black nerds, sparking outrage". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
^ Banim, Julia (July 22, 2021). "White Woman Wins Cosplay Contest At Convention Celebrating Black Nerds". UNILAD. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
^ Chan, Mavis (8 July 2022). "Blerdcon, celebrating Black nerd culture, returns to Arlington today". ARLnow. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
^ ^a ^b Wicker, Kay (4 July 2023). "'Fae'd to Black': Blerdcon returns for its 7th year with a star-studded lineup". TheGrio. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
^ "Blerdcon 2017 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
^ "Blerdcon 2018 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
^ Pincus, Melanie (20 July 2018). "Blerdcon, 'Fully Inclusive' Convention for Nerds, Returns to Crystal City". ARLnow. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
^ "Blerdcon 2019 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2019-09-10.
^ "3rd Annual Blerdcon Celebrates Diversity in Nerd Culture". The Zebra. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
^ "Blerdcon 2021 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
^ Cremen, Alanea (July 16, 2021). "BlerdCon: Why you may see Spider-Man, Batman and more walking around this weekend". WUSA. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
^ "Blerdcon 2022 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
^ Wicker, Kay (8 July 2023). "Blerdcon 2023 opens with a high-energy first day". TheGrio. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
^ LeTendre, Hallie (7 July 2023). "BlerDCon, celebrating Black nerd culture, kicks off today in Crystal City". ARLnow. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
^ ^a ^b Smith, Brandon (13 June 2024). "BlerDCon 2024: Black nerd convention brings cosplay, food trucks, and star guests to Arlington". FOX 5 DC. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
^ Goldchain, Michelle (11 July 2024). "Things to do in the DC area: Blerdcon, Bastille Day … and more!". WTOP. Retrieved 22 July 2024.

External links

Blerdcon Website

38°50′55″N 77°3′6″W / 38.84861°N 77.05167°W / 38.84861; -77.05167

[nbc06302017-1] Rozen, Courtney (Jun 30, 2017). "Blerdcon Blends Diversity and Geek Culture". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 22 August 2018.

[bpm08072018-2] Allen, Troy-Jeffrey (August 7, 2018). "Adventures at BLERDCON DC". Black Public Media. Retrieved 22 August 2018.

[wp07262018-3] Page-Kirby, Kristen (July 26, 2018). "Now bigger and brighter, the 2nd annual Blerdcon has space for everyone". Washington Post. Retrieved 17 August 2018.

[wusa07252018-4] "Showcasing amazing cosplay looks for Blerdcon 2018". WUSA. July 25, 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.

[tnd07122022-5] Laws, Khalid (12 July 2022). "Blerdcon returns to Virginia to celebrate Black nerd culture". The National Desk. Retrieved 20 July 2022.

[tg07072022-6] "At Blerdcon, Black nerds see themselves and find their tribe". TheGrio. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.

[arl06302017-7] Berko, Katherine (30 June 2017). "'Minority Nerd' Convention Coming to Crystal City". ARLnow. Retrieved 22 August 2018.

[wamu07262018-8] Lefrak, Mikaela (July 26, 2018). "Blerdcon Is Back: What To Expect From The Convention That Celebrates Black-Nerd Culture". WAMU. Retrieved 22 August 2018.

[arl07162021-9] DeVoe, Jo (16 July 2021). "Inclusive 'Blerdcon' Convention Kicks Off in Crystal City". ARLnow. Retrieved 12 August 2021.

[whurk0720128-10] Orobana, Michelle (July 1, 2018). "Blerdcon". Whurk Magazine. Archived from the original on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.

[blerdfb2020-11] "BLERDCON ANNOUNCEMENT". Facebook. Retrieved 30 May 2020.

[FC-2020-12] "Blerdcon 2020 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2020-05-29.

[dd07222021-13] Cardin, Kathryn (22 July 2021). "White woman wins cosplay contest at convention celebrating Black nerds, sparking outrage". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 12 August 2021.

[unilad07222021-14] Banim, Julia (July 22, 2021). "White Woman Wins Cosplay Contest At Convention Celebrating Black Nerds". UNILAD. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.

[arl07082022-15] Chan, Mavis (8 July 2022). "Blerdcon, celebrating Black nerd culture, returns to Arlington today". ARLnow. Retrieved 20 July 2022.

[tg07042023-16] Wicker, Kay (4 July 2023). "'Fae'd to Black': Blerdcon returns for its 7th year with a star-studded lineup". TheGrio. Retrieved 19 July 2023.

[FC-2017-17] "Blerdcon 2017 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-17.

[FC-2018-18] "Blerdcon 2018 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2018-08-17.

[arl07202018-19] Pincus, Melanie (20 July 2018). "Blerdcon, 'Fully Inclusive' Convention for Nerds, Returns to Crystal City". ARLnow. Retrieved 22 August 2018.

[FC-2019-20] "Blerdcon 2019 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2019-09-10.

[tz08062019-21] "3rd Annual Blerdcon Celebrates Diversity in Nerd Culture". The Zebra. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.

[FC-2021-22] "Blerdcon 2021 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2021-08-11.

[wusa07162021-23] Cremen, Alanea (July 16, 2021). "BlerdCon: Why you may see Spider-Man, Batman and more walking around this weekend". WUSA. Retrieved 12 August 2021.

[FC-2022-24] "Blerdcon 2022 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2022-07-19.

[tg07082023-25] Wicker, Kay (8 July 2023). "Blerdcon 2023 opens with a high-energy first day". TheGrio. Retrieved 19 July 2023.

[arl07072023-26] LeTendre, Hallie (7 July 2023). "BlerDCon, celebrating Black nerd culture, kicks off today in Crystal City". ARLnow. Retrieved 19 July 2023.

[fox5dc06132024-27] Smith, Brandon (13 June 2024). "BlerDCon 2024: Black nerd convention brings cosplay, food trucks, and star guests to Arlington". FOX 5 DC. Retrieved 22 July 2024.

[wtop07112024-28] Goldchain, Michelle (11 July 2024). "Things to do in the DC area: Blerdcon, Bastille Day … and more!". WTOP. Retrieved 22 July 2024.

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