Latest News

IMPORTANT: Hotel Change!

As many in St. Louis already know, our convention hotel, the Millennium Hotel, a landmark on our skyline, is closing in January. Despite our valiant attempts to keep the hotel open long enough to hold Kawa Kon, we were unable to change anything. It's been a tough two weeks as we talked to the Millennium and made contingency plans with the only other location able to host us on such short notice - the St. Louis Airport Marriott. We are excited to be joining them on our established dates with the same room rate of $84 a night and cheaper parking. They are also the same distance from a Metrolink stop and accessible by both bus and hotel shuttle.

Along with the change in location, we will be making some slight changes in our layout. The Aduilts Only track will be canceled as the new floorplan doesn't allow for enough privacy. The Dark Fantasy track will share a room with another track, but it will still get the majority of programming in Events I, II, and III. Gaming will be moved to an upper floor but will have extra space. If you are a vendor, please watch your email for the next week for important information on the layout of that room.

Thank you all again for your patience while we settled this. We hope the location change is not too inconvenient. We tried our best not to have this happen, but this was the only decision we could make besides canceling the convention.

A canceled guest and a new one...

Joseph Fink, due to professional obligations, will not be attending Kawa Kon, however he will be doing a live Skype session with our Night Vale panel during the convention. The time for his Skype session will be announced soon.

We welcome in his place Alisa Stern, creator of the Doctor Puppet stop-motion shorts. Find out more about Alisa on our Guests Page!

We've also added returning guests Cole Gibsen and Professor Shyguy.

We have a big round of guest announcements we plan to make shortly after Thanksgiving.

Vendor room closed.

Thank you for registering for Kawa Kon's vendor room. We are entirely full at this time, but if you would like to get on the waiting list, please contact us.

Contests open for entries!

Our Fan Fiction, FrackFic, and AMV Contests are now open for entries. Our Pony-Modding Contest is returning as well. You can check out all of the rules and entry forms on our Contests Page.

Next registration deadline - Nov. 20

See us at Archon for discounts and a chance to win a free badge!

Our last pre-registration deadline was extended until September 30, but now you have until November 20 to get a badge for only $40 ($35 for cosplayers)! Find us at Archon this weekend in Collinsville, IL for an extra $5 off. Spin the wheel for fun prizes and the chance to win a badge to Kawa Kon or Ecto Con. You can pre-register today on our Registration Page.

Panelist registration is OPEN!

If you'd like to host a panel at Kawa Kon 2014, you can now sign up to do so. We've got a list of panel ideas and forms for potential panelists online on our Panelists Page. Share your knowledge and love of a topic with the rest of the con!

New and returning guests!

For Kawa Kon 2014, we are pleased to add Three Rivers Okiya to our list of returning guests, and the amazing Chalk Twins to our list of new guests.

Learn more about both of these talented groups on our Guests Page!

Vendor Room registration is open!

Kawa Kon practices a first-come, first-served registration process in an attempt at fairness. While we do go around soliciting specific vendors in order to get the variety we want, we will not prevent two vendors from selling similar items at the con. If you ask before registering, however, we will let you know how many vendors have similar items.

Check out more information and registration forms for artists here and dealers here.

First pre-registration deadline passes... and some events are added!

Our first pre-registration deadline has passed, and as some astute early birds probably noticed, we've added our returning events to the Events Page. That is by no means ALL of the events (we'll have at least three times that), and it's not even all of the returning events. It's just what we know as of right now is definitely coming back from last year.

If you didn't get your badge before this pre-registration deadline, you can still pick one up for only $35 until September 30. Check it out on the Registration Page.

Mail-in pre-registration, group pre-registration and volunteer registration are open!

We've got a new P.O. Box number, so read your form closely.

Meanwhile, you can pre-register online for only $20 (for cosplayers)! Take advantage of this fantastic deal as it only lasts until July 20. The first FIVE people to pre-register online will receive the Kawa Kon t-shirt of their choice at our 2014 con.

You can pre-register here and sign up to be a volunteer here.

New sexual harrassment policies.

Due to incidents at other conventions, we are implementing an anti-sexual harrassment policy for 2014 and beyond. Sexual harrassment here is defined as unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, sexual contact, and intimidation to perform any sexual acts. Physical contact in the form of unwanted groping or molestation will result in the suspect's immediate removal from the convention area. Verbal harrassment that does not stop after a single "no" or negative response from a victim will also result in the suspect's immediate removal from the convention area. If the victim requests it, the police will be called. Mutual, consensual sexual contact between adults is not covered under this policy, but "mutual" means that all parties are involved in said consent. If the victim is underage, the police will be called.

Online pre-registration is open!

We're changing our P.O. Box number, so bear with us while we set up snail mail and group registrations.

You can pre-register online here.

Dates for 2014, and summer events!

It's only fitting that we announce our dates for 2014's Kawa Kon Into Darkness on the day Star Trek Into Darkness is released in theatres. Our con next year will celebrate dark fantasy in all its forms, from mind-bending magical girls (think Madoka) to vampires (think Buffy), we've got everything beautiful and scary in our Dark Fantasy Track.

Kawa Kon Into Darkness will be held February 7-9, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch. Registration will open officially next week, but you can get a head start on May 19 at the ToyMan Toy Show in Bridgeton, MO. We'll have registration as low as $15 for cosplaying adults (which is only $5 for cosplaying kids!).

If you miss your chance to pre-register at the ToyMan show, don't worry! You can still get the discount at OMGcon and Cosplacon in June. We'll be hitting other events across the area this summer, so keep your eyes out for discounts, free stickers, and, of course, candy.

Important stuff to remember for Kawa Kon 2013...

1. We ask that you do not congregate and talk in the guest room corridors, BUT the Hyatt is nice enough to allow con guests to talk late into the night in both the convention areas AND the hotel lobby. There are lots of comfy sitting areas, so grab a seat, and enjoy!

2. This year, two of our guests charge for autographs. Grey DeLisle charges a cash fee of $20 (which needs to be paid at registration rather than at her table), and Quinton Flynn will give you the first autograph on your own piece of merchandise for FREE, but any autographs after that are $10. These fees are partially to keep lines from being ridiculously long and partially the way our convention can afford such big names. All other guests will autograph for free.

3. The convention hotel is PACKED this year. On the floor above us, there is another event on Saturday night, and there will also be many revellers from Mardi Gras. Please be cautious around drunken hotel guests, and do not try to scare them. We should treat them with respect as they are also paying guests, BUT if you see someone doing something dangerous or are harrassed by someone (even if they are outside the convention group), please notify con security or hotel security IMMEDIATELY.

4. Treat the space with respect as well. We want the hotel to like us.

5. Please follow our convention rules so that we can all have a great time!

Kawa Kon 2013: Old School!

Thank you all for attending Kawa Kon 2012 and muddling through a bit of a transition year for us. We've been working on programming for 2013 ever since this year's convention closed, and every one of your comments has been read and reviewed. While we know we cannot please everyone, we would like to continue with our expanded programming; however, we will be adding more anime and manga into the mix by having a track devoted to it.

Speaking of tracks... our facebook fans got to hear early about our track plans for 2013. Soon, each track will have its own facebook page linked from our website where anyone (even people who haven't joined facebook) can see updates on track programming, contests, and more!

Here's what you can expect:

Theme track: Old School - Nostalgic for your childhood? We'll be celebrating the cartoons, toys, and video games of the 70s-90s, including a My Little Pony modding contest and a pajama party.

Adults Only - This is a track for the 18+ crowd, taking place only in the evening. Watch clips from your favorite Japanese bloodfests, and answer embarrassing questions at our speed-dating event.

Anime/Manga/Video Games - You wanted more, so we're giving you a track full of your favorite entertainment from Japan, including the Worst Video Game Tournament and a Black Butler tea.

Art & Writing - The creative track is back with even more hands-on workshops on crafting, drawing, and writing. Events include an improved Fan Fiction Contest and a Luck of the Draw guided art class.

British Invasion - If you're a fan of Harry Potter, Doctor Who, and Monty Python, this track is bound to be your favourite. Play in the second annual Doctor Who-lympics and join the Steampunk track for our Time Travellers' Ball and High Tea.

Cosplay - Want to learn how to draft your own pattern? Apply the perfect makeup? Build armor from craft foam? The Cosplay track will teach cosplay techniques, both for beginners and seasoned vets, as well as stage movement and scriptwriting for skits.

Doll Festival - Bring your doll to our annual tea, and make her a new costume with our Project Cosplay for Dolls event.

Japanese Culture - This is Japan beyond anime, a land where the customs of traditional culture coexist with modern tech. Panelists will teach aspects of Japanese culture, both past and present.

Steampunk - Re-imagine the Victorian period with panels on building steampunk props and events held cooperatively with the British Invasion track, including High Tea.

Follow Us on Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook!

Kawa Kon is on all of them! We already have some followers (how did you find us!?), and you can be one of them! Get all the updates you'd like by subscribing to our Tweets here, following us here, and liking us here.

An Easier-to-Remember Website: KKon.com!

Kawa Kon has yet ANOTHER new website to ad to the growing number of places you can go to get the same info as our homepage. Now all you have to remember is KKon.com! KKon.com will have the same information as kawakon.com, animestl.com, and animestlouis.com (we're keeping all of those, but we're just adding kkon.com to that). We're just doing it to make things easier on you when you're trying to remember how to spell "Kawa". :)

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- Our 2010-2012 photo galleries are on our facebook page.