Twin Cities Con celebrates comics, toys, TV, film, cosplay, games and generally nerdy fun

November 14, 2022 at 3:19AM
Ethan Hagen, 11, as Frodo of the Lord of the Rings tells Darth Vader aka Derek Plymate about his R2D2 figurine at Twin Cities Con in Minneapolis on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Sunday marked the conclusion of Twin Cities Con, a three-day celebration of comics, film, popular culture and various nerdy pursuits at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Featuring appearances by Sean Astin and Elijah Wood, two stars from "The Lord of the Rings" and other movies, the event featured sessions on everything from "The Power of Board Games" to "Your Star Trek Economy."

As with similar fan conventions held in cities across the country, many in attendance Sunday came dressed in costumes including those who competed in a "cosplay" contest.

"It's like a pop culture festival," said Ben Penrod of Nerd Street LLC, the company that organized the event.

"It's a giant exhibit hall of vendors and artists selling kind of nerdy things. And then we've got a bunch of celebrities who are signing autographs. And then we have rooms that have discussion panels and different things like … the costume contest!"

"You can say costume or cosplay — I don't get offended," said Lauren Leigh, 24, of St. Louis Park, who dressed as an anime character. "It's nice to ask, though, because some people might."

Vale Balough spent two hours on makeup to create her Two Face character which she was showing off at the Minneapolis Convention Center in during Twin Cities Con on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

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Christopher Snowbeck

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Christopher Snowbeck covers health insurers, including Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group, and the business of running hospitals and clinics. 

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