Erie's Hazard Con to kick off 2024 convention by setting sail with anime cruise

Anime fans will have a chance to set sail on a riverboat cruise aboard the Victorian Princess the day before the 2024 Hazard Con.

Con Chair and Erie resident Kate Copp joined Hazard Con this year with plans to bring more events to Erie throughout the year.

“I joined as board president and Con chair this year,” Copp said. “I used to help run the Library Con, pre-pandemic. So when I came aboard to Hazard Con, I wanted to give us some great pop-up events to have all year long."

To get fans hyped up for the convention taking place from June 21 to June 23 at the Ambassador Hotel, 7792 Peach St., Copp wanted one of the pop-up events to be a Moonlight Magical Cruise on the Victorian Princess .

“Why not a Magical Girl Moonlight Cruise?” Copp said. "Rumor has it I might be working on a special 'One Piece' (series) themed one for the future."

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The Moonlight Magical Cruise will set sail from Dobbins Landing at 8:30 p.m. on June 20. The evening will be filled with mocktails, trivia and a cosplay contest.

What’s on the menu during the Moonlight Magical Cruise?

Guests aboard the Victorian Princess will enjoy a full bar, including beer, wine, seltzers and mixed drinks along with some light snacks. However, there will be a signature mocktail specifically for this cruise.

“Our signature mocktail will be a secret for our guests to discover at the event and we will provide some light snacks and fun Japanese-themed snacks as well,” Copp said.

Hazard Con highlights

Hazard Con is a local pop-culture style convention that focuses on anime, mange and video games with a focus on fun for all ages.

The convention was started by a local non-profit called the Society of Utils .

“Our convention this year will feature voice actor Ciaran Strange from (video game) Borderlands 3, (series) 'Chainsaw Man,' (video game) Tiny Tina's Wonderland and more,” Copp said. “Also a very prominent activist for LGBTQIA+ causes, KT Strange , will also join us and is a USA Today best-selling writer and producer of LGBTQIA+ media and music. We are also really excited for our Helluva Panel Karaoke that will have a certain Fandom going crazy. There will be local game stores providing demos and some great vendors.”

Copp said that the theme of this year's con will be detectives.

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If you go...

Tickets for the cruise are $26.50 plus fees. Hazard Con is also offering a combo price for both the cruise and admission to the convention at $67.30 plus fees.

Hazard Con is selling tickets for $35 for pre-registration which will get you in all three days. That deal will end on June 20 when tickets will be $50 for all three days.

Hazard Con is also selling a Sunday-only admission for $30.

Purchase your tickets and learn more by visiting HazardCon.org or Facebook page/HazardCon.

Contact Nicholas Sorensen at Nsorensen@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie's Hazard Con to kick off 2024 convention by setting sail with anime cruise