ColossalCon
StatusActive
GenreAnime, Gaming, Japanese Culture[1]
VenueKalahari Resort and Convention Center
Kalahari Resort and Convention Center Round Rock
Kalahari Resort and Convention Center Poconos
Kalahari Resort and Convention Center Wisconsin Dells
LocationSandusky, Ohio
Round Rock, Texas
Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania
Baraboo, Wisconsin
CountryUnited States
First2002
OrganizerNostalgiaconventions.com LLC[2]
Attendance17,374 in 2015[3]
Websitehttp://www.colossalcon.com/

ColossalCon, formerly called Cleveland Colossal Convention, is an annual multi-day anime convention held during May/June at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Sandusky, Ohio.[4]

Programming

The convention typically offers an artist's alley, art galleries, concerts, cosplay contests, dances, flea market, formal ball, game room, game shows, guest speakers, karaoke, merchandise vendors, panels, and video rooms.[1][5][6][7]

History

ColossalCon was started in 2002 and began as a one-day convention in Strongsville, Ohio.[8] In 2003, it became a three-day convention and moved to the Holiday Inn Cleveland South Independence in Independence, Ohio where it remained until 2007, except for 2005 when it was located in the Embassy Suites.[9][10][11] The convention for 2008 moved to the Hilton Cleveland East / Beachwood in Beachwood, Ohio, and moved again in 2009 to the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Sandusky, Ohio where the convention has been located since.[12][13] During the 2010 convention a tornado hit the area surrounding the venue, hotel and convention guests were sent to the basement for shelter, and the venue suffered no damage.[14] The convention is considering an attendance cap due outgrowing Sandusky's hotel room capacity.[15] In 2017, the water-park remained open extra hours for the convention.[16] Nostalgiaconventions.com LLC (ColossalCon) filed a complaint against Colossus Con in 2017 for using a name too close to ColossalCon.[2]

ColossalCon 2020 was moved from June to September due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was later cancelled.[17][18][19][20] The convention had an attendance cap of 7,000 in 2021.[21]

Event history

DatesLocationAtten.Guests

Fan Appreciation Party Weekend

Fan Appreciation Party Weekend was a two-day convention held during September at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Sandusky, Ohio.

Event history

DatesLocationAtten.Guests

Colossalcon East

Colossalcon East is a four-day anime convention held during September at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center Poconos in Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania.[22] The convention is known for being located at a water park.[23]

The space the convention used in 2018 was small and issues with cosplay in the water park occurred on Sunday.[23] Colossalcon East 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24][25]

Event history

DatesLocationAtten.Guests

ColossalCon Cruise

Colossalcon Cruise is a three-day cruise held during February/March on Royal Caribbean ships that sail from Port Canaveral, Florida.

Event history

DatesLocationAtten.Guests

Colossalcon Texas

Colossalcon Texas is a three-day convention held during August at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center Round Rock in Round Rock, Texas.

Event history

DatesLocationAtten.Guests

Colossalcon North

Colossalcon North is a three-day convention held during November at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center Wisconsin Dells in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

Event history

DatesLocationAtten.Guests

Colossalcon Virginia

Colossalcon Virginia is a three day convention scheduled to be held at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center Spotsylvania in Woodford, VA in May 2027.[26]

References

  1. ^ Krafty, Matt (2010-06-07). "Where anime and gaming rule". Sandusky Newspapers. Archived from the original on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
  2. ^ Reformado, Wadi (February 28, 2017). "ColossalCon alleges Colossus Con name infringes trademark". Northern California Record. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Colossalcon 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  4. ^ DeMore, Michelle (June 10, 2024). "ColossalCon returns to Kalahari". Sandusky Register. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  5. ^ Krafty, Matt (2009-06-02). "Get dressed up and go play at ColossalCon 8". Sandusky Newspapers. Archived from the original on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
  6. ^ Addington-Hodge, Morgan (2012-06-05). "ColossalCon 11 is coming to Sandusky". Sandusky Newspapers. Archived from the original on 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
  7. ^ Widman Neese, Alissa (2014-06-07). "Colossalcon expects colossal year". Sandusky Register. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
  8. ^ "Cleveland Colossal Convention 2002 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
  9. ^ "Cleveland Colossal Convention 2003 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
  10. ^ "Cleveland Colossal Convention 2005 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
  11. ^ "Cleveland Colossal Convention 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
  12. ^ "Cleveland Colossal Convention 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  13. ^ "Colossalcon 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  14. ^ Hanson, Brian (2010-07-09). "Hey, Answerman! Identity Theft". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  15. ^ Benson, John (Jun 3, 2015). "Colossalcon returns to Kalahari". Sandusky Register. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  16. ^ Pletcher, Michelle (May 31, 2017). "Colossalcon 16 set for this weekend at Kalahari". Sandusky Register. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Colossalcon 2020 has been postponed". Colossalcon. Archived May 1, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  18. ^ "Colossalcon 2020 is cancelled". Colossalcon. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  19. ^ "Colossalcon 2020 June Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-04-22.
  20. ^ "Colossalcon 2020 September Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  21. ^ Schmelz, Ryan (June 3, 2021). "Anime convention returns to Ohio after missed 2020". Spectrum News. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  22. ^ Mataloni, Carmella (September 17, 2021). "Anime convention takes over Kalahari Resort". WNEP. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  23. ^ Wood, Carrie. "Con Recap: Colossalcon East". Scoop - Previews World. Gemstone Publishing, Inc. Archived October 21, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  24. ^ "Colossalcon East 2020 has been cancelled". Colossalcon East. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  25. ^ "Colossalcon East 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  26. ^ "Colossalcon Virginia". Colossalcon Virginia. Retrieved 6 June 2025.