CollectorCon returns this spring, vendor tables nearly sold out

The organizers of Steel City NerdCon are excited to invite the public to their second ever CollectorCon this April.

Vendors across northern Ontario will gather at the Moose Lodge and sell all sorts of collectibles, including comics, video games, toys, sports cards, anime, vinyl, and other pop culture knickknacks.

Mike Turcotte, event organizer and Vintage Games ‘N Junque business owner, says they weren’t planning on doing a CollectorCon this year, but they sensed there was a growing demand to bring it back.

“People just kept asking so we decided to do it,” he says. “We always get a good mixture of new and regular vendors. We already have new ones signed up, and we’re almost sold out of tables already.”

Featuring upwards of 60 unique and assorted tables, CollectorCon has already sold around 40 of them.

Turcotte organized the first CollectorCon last October, which he described as a trial run to see how a smaller variation of NerdCon would perform in a smaller venue.

“It’s more vendor focused,” he says. “We started doing CollectorCon because NerdCon only comes around once a year. It’s easier for us to coordinate and set up in a smaller venue.”

“We’re really excited for it, and we’re projecting it to go well again.”

Turcotte says he’s still hoping to organize NerdCon again this fall, but they’re waiting to see if they can find a venue big enough to support the event.

“If I did NerdCon again, I’d probably have to go with a bigger venue,” he says. “We want to do a lot of different things with NerdCon that we can’t do with CollectorCon because of the size of the venue.”

“We’re looking at the Machine Shop and hoping that could potentially work out.”

While CollectorCon is still growing, Turcotte explains it’s a great opportunity to test out what works and what doesn’t.

“With every show we do, we make mistakes,” he says. “But we’re always trying different things, and maybe in a few years from now, we’ll have it perfect.”

“There are limited things to do in Sault Ste. Marie, but it’s heading in a positive and forward direction. Having events and any positive things going on in the Sault keeps people positive and keeps the city moving forward.”

Steel City CollectorCon will run at the Moose Lodge on Apr. 2 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Entry tickets can be purchased ahead of time for $5 at Vintage Games ‘N Junque on Queen Street, or at the door. Kids under 10 are free.

Vendors interested in registering for a table can message the Vintage Games ‘N Junque Facebook page.