23163576_10102840114375243_439521634_nThis weekend, November 4 and 5, The Mountain State Pop Expo happens, this time in a new location. The Holiday Inn & Suites, located at 400 2nd Ave SW, South Charleston (formerly the Ramada) plays host to two days of fun fandom, with all proceeds going to a great cause, The Children’s Home Society of West Virginia.  Admission is a mere ten bucks each day, with kids getting in for free. A weekend pass is an even bigger bargain, at fifteen dollars for both days.

Fans of comics, toys, movies, TV, videogames and all manner of genre culture will find vendors, guests, events, contests and a massive pop culture raffle. All vendor table costs, admission, and raffle ticket sales will go directly to Children’s Home Society of West Virginia to benefit the area’s neediest kids this holiday season.

Guest this year include author and filmmaker Daniel Boyd, and artists J.R. Earls, Frank Browning, Chris Woodall and more. Authors Daniel Foster, Joshua “Arkaran” Smith, Jason Pell and J.D. Byrne will be on hand. Many of the state’s coolest rare toy and videogame stores will be there with incredible assortments of cool stuff from the not-too-distant past. Cosplayers from all over will appear, including Ghostbusters WV Division and the 501st Legion. There will even be late-night panels and entertainment, including Final Form Fusion dancers, Saturday night.

My description only scratches the surface of the coolness that awaits, and since it’s all for a good cause, you don’t need to feel guilty about spending all your student loan payment money on GoBots and back issues of Plop!

It all takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Holiday Inn & Suites in South Charleston (not too far from Olive Tree, if you want an awesome lunch) from 10 AM to 6 PM, with after-hours events on Saturday. Make your way out to soak in the wonderfulness of it all.