There’s a little nerd in everyone

Celebrate your love of pop culture and allow your inner nerd to shine at BerryCon this weekend.

Let your nerd flag fly this weekend at Berry College as BerryCon 2017 begins Friday.

The convention allows people who are passionate about popular culture to celebrate with other fans. The genres include science fiction, fantasy, comic books, anime and video games.

All events will be at the Krannert Center.

“Last year, we had about 300 people from all across the community show up,” said Katherine Edmonds, a junior at Berry College and one of the organizers of this year’s event.

The event had its beginnings as an anime festival in 2003, but began expanding in 2009-2010, Edmond said.

BerryCon begins at 6 p.m. Friday with a twohour improv performance by the Interpret As You Will Improv Group. The group will teach some improv basics and invite attendees to participate in group games.

At 8 p.m. Friday, the event will hold its first Murder Mystery performance featuring pop culture villains and Sherlock Holmes solving the crime.

On Saturday, events will begin at 1 p.m. with the Maid Cafe, filled with fandom-themed desserts, snacks and beverages. Items are free, but the maids and butlers — Berry students dressed in French maid costumes and English butler garb —will accept tips, which will all be donated to Hospitality House.

More events run through 9 p.m. Saturday, including video game tournaments, Dungeons & Dragons, Cosplay Costume Contests, tabletop and trading card games and light saber duels. Vendors and artists also will be onsite.

A full schedule is available on the con’s website and more information can be found on the Facebook page. Registration is

available on the website as well, but participants will have to pay onsite.

Berry students, faculty and staff and children under 12 get in free. General admission for Friday is $5 and Saturday is $12. A twoday pass is $15. Berry College alumni may pay $5 for Friday, $8 for Saturday and $10 for a two-day pass.

“This is a family-friendly event,” Edmonds said. “We encourage parents to bring their children and we want everyone to have a good time.”

Edmonds added that the event is unique for Rome.

“Everybody has a little nerd in them,” she said. “Bring your gear; wear your costumes that put your love of something on display. Wear your nerdy T-shirts. I guarantee you that you’ll meet someone else who loves whatever you love too.”