Yama-Con

Yama-Con
StatusActive
GenreAnime, Japanese culture[1]
VenueLeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
Location(s)Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2012
Attendance2,600 in 2014[2]
Organized byMCA Entertainment Group[3]
Websitehttp://www.yamacon.org/

Yama-Con is an annual three-day anime convention with multigenre elements held during November/December at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.[1][4] Yama-Con's name comes from the Japanese word for mountain, "Yama."[4]

Programming

The convention typically offers an Artists' Alley, ball, concerts, costume contests, dances, exhibits, game rooms, gaming tournaments, karaoke, Maid/Butler Cafe, replicas, vendor space, and workshops.[1][4][5][6] The 2015 and 2016 charity auction benefited Pets Without Parents, and in 2015 raised $2,800.[6]

History

The first event at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center in 2012 was held in December due to the month having few other conventions.[5] Yama-Con used hotel rooms for their Video Gaming areas and tents for event space in 2013.[7] Complaints occurred due to the use of tents in the cold and wet weather.[7] The convention moved to the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge in 2014 due to outgrowing its old space.[1][4] Yama-Con located its programming for adults 18 and up at the Smoky Mountain Convention Center in 2016.[6] Yama-Con 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8][9] The convention had a dress code for 2021.[10]

Event history

Dates Location Atten. Guests
December 8–9, 2012 Smoky Mountain Convention Center
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee		1,215[11]Johnny Yong Bosch, Jo Envel, Eyeshine, James "Doodle" Lyle, The Man Power, Hushicho Phoenix, Scott West,[11] Robert Axelrod, Divided We Stand, Larry Mainland, Jim O'Rear, Paul St. Peter, Hushicho Phoenix, Mark Poole, Andy Price, and Sonya Thompson.[5]
December 6–8, 2013 Smoky Mountain Convention Center
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee		1,725[12]Manda Bear, Martin Billany, Johnny Yong Bosch, Dr3amland, Jo Envel, Eyeshine, Gavin Goszka, James "Doodle" Lyle, Larry Mainland, The Man Power, Mike McFarland, Jim O'Rear, Project: Leviathan, Sean Schemmel, Paul St. Peter, Sonny Strait, Sonya Thompson, Scott West, Greg Wicker,[12] Cosplay Kasterborous, Tom Nguyen, and Jamie Tyndall.[7]
December 5–7, 2014 LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee		2,600[2]Patricia Alice Albrecht, Linda Ballantyne, Martin Billany, Johnny Yong Bosch, Stephanie Celeste, Chalk Twins, Lucien Dodge, Eyeshine, Katie Griffin, Erik Hodson, Kazha, Laugh Out Loud, James "Doodle" Lyle, Larry Mainland, Shawn McCauley, Erica Mendez, Tom Nguyen, PikaFreakRachel, Toby Proctor, Susan Roman, Stephen J. Semones, Sonya Thompson, Vedetta Marie, Scott West, and Greg Wicker.[2]
December 4–6, 2015 LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee		Johnny Yong Bosch, Chalk Twins, Cosplay, Inc., Eyeshine, Chuck Huber, James "Doodle" Lyle, Shawn McCauley, PikaFreakRachel, Christopher Sabat, Stephen J. Semones, Ian Sinclair, The Slants, Paul St. Peter, Eric Vale, and Scott West.[13]
December 2–4, 2016 LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee		Robert Axelrod, Johnny Yong Bosch, Chalk Twins, Charlet Chung, Eyeshine, Barbara Goodson, Kyle Hebert, James "Doodle" Lyle, Larry Mainland, Professor Shyguy, Stephen J. Semones, Seraphina, Paul St. Peter, Eric Stuart, Sonya Thompson, David Vincent, Vitamin H Productions, and Scott West.[14]
December 1–3, 2017 LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee		Johnny Yong Bosch, Chalk Twins, Leah Clark, Cosplay, Inc., Cynthia Cranz, Eyeshine, Ghostbusters, Aki Glancy, Todd Haberkorn, Haiden Hazard, Chuck Huber, Kazha, James "Doodle" Lyle, Larry Mainland, Shawn McCauley, PikaFreakRachel, Derek Stephen Prince, Professor Shyguy, Stephen J. Semones, Paul St. Peter, Sonya Thompson, Vitamin H Productions, Vocamerica, and Scott West.[15]
November 30 - December 2, 2018 LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee		Johnny Yong Bosch, Cherami Leigh, Larry Mainland, Josh Martin, Vic Mignogna, Bryce Papenbrook, Professor Shyguy, Chris Rager, Paul St. Peter, Tokyo Attack!, and Vitamin H Productions.[16]
December 6–9, 2019 LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee		Morgan Berry, Beau Billingslea, Steve Blum, Johnny Yong Bosch, Caitlin Glass, Wendee Lee, Paul St. Peter, J. Michael Tatum, and Christopher Wehkamp.[17]
December 10–12, 2021 LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee		Johnny Yong Bosch, Mike McFarland, Bryce Papenbrook, John Swasey, Abby Trott, and Mark Whitten.[18]
December 9–11, 2022 LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee		Johnny Yong Bosch, Griffin Burns, Chalk Twins, Kazha, Keith Silverstein, Paul St. Peter, Cristina Vee, Vitamin H Productions, and Linda Young.[19]
December 8–10, 2023 LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee		Zach Aguilar, Johnny Yong Bosch, Chalk Twins, Aaron Dismuke, Erika Harlacher, Kazha, Bryce Papenbrook, Michelle Ruff, Paul St. Peter, and Catherine Sutherland.[20]
December 6–8, 2024 LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee		Bryn Apprill, Johnny Yong Bosch, Dani Chambers, Ricco Fajardo, Todd Haberkorn, Brian Mathis, and Paul St. Peter.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Old, Jake (December 4, 2014). "Pigeon Forge hosts anime convention". The Mountain Press. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Yama-Con 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  3. ^ Cardon, Dustin (7 January 2022). "ABC Winterfest Remix, Fans Lead Anime Convention in Southaven". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d "'Nerds, Gamers, Geeks, Otaku' taking over LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge". Knoxville Daily Sun. December 3, 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  5. ^ a b c Boyd, Kelvin Ray (December 1, 2012). "Yama-Con premiers in Pigeon Forge". The Daily Times. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  6. ^ a b c Jones, Maggie (November 25, 2016). "Yama-Con, Pigeon Forge anime convention, to celebrate geek culture". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  7. ^ a b c McNeil, Sheena (January 13, 2014). "The Con that Suffered Yama-Con 2013". Sequential Tart. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  8. ^ "Yama-Con 2020 - Postponed till 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic". Yama-Con Anime & Comic Convention. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Yama-Con 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  10. ^ ""Demon Slayer," "Fire Emblem" and "Attack on Titan" voice actors to appear at Pigeon Forge anime convention". WBIR. December 10, 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Yama-Con 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  12. ^ a b "Yama-Con 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  13. ^ "Yama-Con 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  14. ^ "Yama-Con 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
  15. ^ "Yama-Con 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
  16. ^ "Yama-Con 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  17. ^ "Yama-Con 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  18. ^ "Yama-Con 2021 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  19. ^ "Yama-Con 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
  20. ^ "Yama-Con 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  21. ^ "Yama-Con 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2024-12-24.

35°47′51.3″N 83°33′43″W / 35.797583°N 83.56194°W / 35.797583; -83.56194