PORT ANGELES — Squatchcon will return to Port Angeles for a fourth year from Thursday through Sunday.
The annual comic, cosplay, gaming and fan culture convention will be at the Vern Burton Center, 308 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
Four-day passes are $20 per person, $12 for teens and $65 for a family pass at www.squatchconpa.com.
Darrell, the 2025 Squatchcon mascot, was drawn by Sequim High School student Kailah Blake.
Squatchcon includes the Artisan Market featuring more than 60 local artists and vendors, a series of panel discussions with artists and industry leaders, an all-ages cosplay contest, workshops, fan meetups, three separate cosplay, comic and kids book swap events.
The convention also will include after-hours events at Studio Bob on Thursday, The Hub on Friday and Field Arts & Events Hall on Saturday.
The convention will begin Thursday with a free community preview from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. during setup for the Artisan Market. The market will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
The preview also will include the inaugural Creative Community Showcase from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, when attendees can connect with arts, sciences and services organizations in Clallam County to learn about job training and opportunities, volunteerism and support.
Studio Bob, 118½ E. Front St., will host its annual Cosplay Drink and Draw Friday night. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the first model will take the stage at 7 p.m.
All ages and skill levels are welcome. Admission is free with a Squatchcon pass or $5 per person without a pass.
Panel discussions on Friday include:
• At noon, “From Script to Screen: Filmmaking with Ryan Grulich.” Writer, director and producer Grulich will discuss the process behind creating original fiction and documentary films, including “The Lady of the Lake,” a 2023 documentary partly filmed on location at Lake Crescent and in Port Angeles.
• 1:30 p.m., “Sci-Fi Readers and Writers Meetup.” A gathering of local readers and writers of sci-fi to discuss their favorite series, share secrets of worldbuilding and clear up cases of writers’ or readers’ block.
• 1:45 p.m., “Make Your Place: Art For Change.” Comic book artists Donna Barr and Roberta Gregory will discuss breaking boundaries, challenging the canon and using art to make your voice heard.
• 2:30 p.m., “Worldbuilding: From Culture to Bus Schedules.” A discussion with author Sally Bays about the elements of a narrative world, how to develop them and how to integrate them into stories.
• 3 p.m., “Learn to Pose in Cosplay.” Cosplayer, director and artist Tia Stephens will share her tips for taking unforgettable cosplay photos.
• 4 p.m., “Free Octopus Cosplay and Costume Swap.” Co-hosted by Donna Barr and Blake McCabe, bring clean and gently used costumes, accessories, fabrics and sewing notions to swap with cosplayers. Swaps only, no sales.
• 5:45 p.m., “Pattern Bashing.” Learn how to take what you have and make what you want. Costume designer Richard Stephens will show how to create sensations from scraps.
• 6 p.m., “Mainstage Panel: Arts in Sciences.” Local artists will join marine scientists and conservationists on stage for a discussion of how art can be used to educate, inspire and mobilize climate action.
The Hub, at 117 N. Lincoln St., will host an all-ages Blacklight Dance Party at 6 p.m. Friday.
Admission is $10 per person, free with a Squatchcon pass.
Featured panels on Saturday include:
• 9:30 a.m., “GRWM: Drag Makeup.” Drag artist Blake McCabe will offer a special “Get Ready with Me” showcasing common makeup techniques, including brow masking and contouring. Bring your own mirror and makeup to get ready alongside McCabe.
• 10:30 a.m., “All-Ages Facepainting Workshop.” Learn to facepaint with the pros at a kid-friendly workshop. Supplies will be provided for the outdoor workshop, where young artists can learn techniques and practice their skills on family and friends.
• 11 a.m., “Mainstage Panel: Creating Comics.” Comic book artists Per Berg, C. Labrie and Cammry Lapka discuss what it takes to create, publish and market your own comic in an informal Q&A-style panel covering comics from concept to completion.
• 12:30 p.m., “Mainstage Panel: Disney Animation.” Disney legends Mike and Patty Peraza share stories and secrets from their 45 years doing voices, creating feature films, TV series and designing attractions for Disney parks.
• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cosplay Contest registration. Contestants must register in person at the Vern Burton Center. Categories include Sasquirts, 5 and younger; Littlefoots, 6-12, Crypteens, 13-17 and Bigfeet, 18 and older. Contestants younger than 18 must have written permission from a legal guardian. Consent forms will be available at the registration desk.
Winners will be announced during the Cosplay Costume Party at Field Hall; attendance is not required to win.
• 2 p.m., “Design Concept Mini Masterclass.” Blake McCabe will return to share tips on creating and customizing your own sewing patterns. Discuss creating patterns custom to your body, draping techniques, essential tools and more.
• 2 p.m., “How to Turn GM into $$.” Author, publisher and literary marketing guru Tom Gondolfi of TANSTAAFL Press will share how you can use GM skills to your advantage and create cash from them.
• 3 p.m., “Mainstage Panel: Costume and Cosplay.” Cosplayers of all ages and skill levels are invited to a casual moderated Q&A about costuming, confidence and bringing characters to life. Special guests include our cosplay contest hosts Blake McCabe, Tia Stephens, Richard Stephens and several cosplayers to be announced.
• 4:30 p.m., “Comic Book Swap.” Comic collectors and creators will gather to trade and share. This event is open to anyone who brings comics to share or trade, with or without a Squatchcon pass. Comic content should be G, PG or PG-13 and displayed appropriately. Tables will be provided for setup, no RSVP needed. Onsite swap only, no sales.
• 5 p.m., “Mainstage Panel: Star Wars Armor and Prop Building.” The Mando Mercs Costume Club international Star Wars costuming organization will showcase armor build strategies, answer cosplay questions and chat about their favorite parts of the Star Wars universe.
The Cosplay Costume Party, featuring live music by Abracadabra Trip, will start at 7 p.m. Saturday at Field Arts & Events Hall, 201 W. Front St. in Port Angeles.
Admission is $5 per person, free with a Squatchcon pass.
Sunday’s panelists include:
• 10 a.m. “Writer’s Meetup.” Drop in and out to chat with local writers. Share story ideas, network with other writers and put yourself out there. Coffee and snacks will be provided, hosted by Sally Bays.
• 11 a.m. “Princess Host Tea.” Get out the ball gowns and enjoy one of three tea ceremonies, a perfect to end your Squatchcon experience with a touch of sophistication. Complimentary tea and cookies will be provided.
• 11 a.m., “Neurodivergence in Media.” Artist, director, cosplayer and actress Tia Stephens will host a deep dive into some of the ways that neurodivergent characters have been portrayed, with a focus on representation of ADHD and autism.
• Noon, “Mainstage Panel: The Creative Process.” Writers, designers, actors and artists will meet for a moderated discussion about their creative processes; special guests to be announced.
• 1:30 p.m., “Kids Book Swap.” Bring the books and movies that your kids have outgrown and trade for new material. Children’s, teen and young adult content accepted. Books should be in fair to excellent condition. This is a swap only event, no sales. This event is open to the public regardless of Squatchcon pass. Bring a book to share for entry.
• 2 p.m., “Plot Not Plod.” Building and sustaining narrative tension delves into what makes a story resonate with readers or participants. Examine different types of tensions and how to help them occur naturally, either on page or in an RPG setting and how to sustain that tension without ending up with OP characters or unbelievable external forces.
Food vendors will include Southern Nibble, Frugal’s Food Truck and Olympic Mountain Goodies.
Student vendors will include Kailah Blake, Sequim High School; Salem Drop; Tariq Ghorab; Addie Hoffman, Blue Heron Middle School; Deo Herbelin, Sequim High School; Molly Hicks; Richard Kaestner; and Rihana Lundvick, Port Angeles High School.
For more information, visit www.squatchconpa.com.
