THUNDER BAY – The Hunger and Thunder Con are joining forces later this month.
Organizers of the two events say it was a natural fit, given they’ll both fall on the final weekend of October this year, and there’s plenty of crossover between the two.
Heather Dickson, media director for the four-year-old geek fest known as Thunder Con, said at first they thought they’d be splitting audiences, forced to schedule it for Oct. 27 and 28 at the Valhalla Inn because of guest availability.
“Because the demographic is so similar, it’s a natural,” Dickson said.
“It’s just fun. As adults, we don’t play enough and it’s just an excuse to play. With The Hunger, and it’s so close to Halloween, we thought why not? You can buy a costume right now. You can make a costume, whatever you want. It’s just a form of self expression and a bit of play.”
Essentially The Hunger, the Definitely Superior Art Gallery’s major fundraiser for the year, will serve as Thunder Con’s after-party, a 19-plus event for adult attendees who want to continue the party until 2 a.m.
In its 13th year, the eight-venue party features 54 different musical acts of all different genres, and encourages the public to don their best Halloween costumes and take part in an event like no other in Thunder Bay.
Renee Terpstra, development administrator at Def Sup, said with Thunder Con drawing 2,500 people last year, and The Hunger attracting about 3,500, it just made sense to come together.
“We realized we had this common, 19-plus demographic – though Thunder Con is also all ages. They wanted to offer something more, they’d had requests for the 19-plus, something different,” Terpstra said.
“This is something we offer that they wouldn’t have to create or produce themselves. We already do it. So we’ve become the official after-party, basically the after-dark option for Thunder Con attendees, as well as the general public, who come out every year.”
The massive downtown Halloween party is $20 to attend, which gains access to all participating venues. Entertaiment, including a grinding exhibition, can also be found outside the venues, which include Black Pirates Pub, The Sovereign Room, The Paramount (two levels), The Foundry, El Tres, Red Lion Smokehous and Atmos.
This year’s Thunder Con features special guest like Tony Amendola, who played Bra’Tac in Stargate SG-1, Paul McGillion, who played Dr. Carson Beckett in Stargate Atlantis, and Gary Jones, who played Walter Harriman in Stargate SG-1.
Weekend passes for Thunder Con are $40 in advance, $60 at the door, and $15 for children age seven to 10, in advance, or $25 at the door. Children six and younger are admitted free of charge. Single-day tickets are available as well.
