By: Dylan Hudkins
Have you ever wanted to go to San Diego Comicon but didn’t want to travel across the country for a weekend convention? Then you’re in luck, why go to San Diego when there’s Anime NebrasKon right here in town. Well, it’s no longer in town; it takes place in the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Anime NebrasKon is the metro’s longest running and largest anime convention. Dating back to 2004, the convention was started as a fundraiser for the University of Nebraska Lincoln’s Anime club. The first time NebrasKon was hosted, it had a total of 300 attendees. This last year, it was reported on Anime NebrasKon’s X.com post that NebrasKon had over 7,000 attendees. The convention hosts over 150 different panels and events over the course of the 3-day event. Examples of things you can do at NebrasKon are walk the arena floor that gets turned into the vendor hall filled with all sorts of goodies, attend a dance party with a live preforming DJ, meet any number of the special guest the NebrasKon brings out, and watch the Cosplay Contest that is operated and judged by professional cosplayers and costume designers.
So, why is a Nebraska convention with Nebraska apart of its name’s sake taking place in Council Bluffs, Iowa? funny story. Over the 22 years that NebrasKon has been operating, it’s had to move all around Nebraska due to its increasing size. For 15 years, Nebraska was the home of the convention. It was hosted in multiple different venues, the last one being the Ramada hotel off of 72nd street and I-80. Most readers will recognize the hotel as the former home of Coco Keys Water Resort. During the epidemic of 2020, the Ramada hotel was sold and demolished leaving NebrasKon without a home. After hunting for a location that could meet the needs of NebrasKon, like size and hotel access, the Mid-America center was ultimately decided as the best venue for the job.
While NebrasKon is done this year, it’ll be right back next year. Taking place at the same place, over the weekend of October 15th, 2027. For interest in purchasing admission badges for the weekend, head over to animenebraskon.com for updates on when ticket sales go live. Be on the lookout for their Black Friday promotion as well if you want to get your ticket for a reduced price.
