# OMGcon

OMGcon (sometimes stylized as OMG!con) is a three-day anime convention held during June at the Owensboro Convention Center in Owensboro, Kentucky. The convention was previously held in Paducah, Kentucky. The name of the convention comes from the common abbreviation of Oh My God. OMGcon is run by volunteers.

## Programming

The convention typically offers an artist alley, card tournaments, cosplay events, dance/rave, dealers, formal dance, LARPing, special guests, tabletop gaming, video game tournaments, and workshops.
OMGcon's 2016 raffle benefited the charity Cliff Hagan Boys and Girls Club, and raised around $4,000.

## History

OMGcon was started because of the long travel time needed to attend other conventions. The convention moved to the Owensboro Convention Center in Owensboro, Kentucky for 2014 onwards. The decision was made to allow for the convention's growth. The Owenboro Convention Center had to be evacuated during the 2015 convention due to a bomb threat. In 2016, the convention began using space in the Holiday Inn for workshops. OMGcon also used all available space in the convention center, with its attendees and other events occupying every hotel room in Owensboro, Kentucky. In 2017, OMGcon again used the entire convention center, and all of Owensboro 1,369 hotel rooms were occupied.
OMGcon 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. OMGcon 2021 was also cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Online conventions were held in 2020 and 2021. OMGcon held HallOMGween over Halloween weekend 2021 at the Owensboro Convention Center and Towneplace Suites. The convention in 2022 had a mask policy.

### List by year

| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
| June 9–11, 2006 | JR's Executive Inn Riverfront Paducah, Kentucky | 260 | Greg Ayres |
| May 25–27, 2007 | JR's Executive Inn Riverfront Paducah, Kentucky | 380 | Greg Ayres, Luci Christian, Emily DeJesus, and Robert DeJesus. |
| June 6–8, 2008 | JR's Executive Inn Riverfront Paducah, Kentucky | 660 | Robert V. Aldrich, Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, and Robert DeJesus. |
| June 5–7, 2009 | Julian Carrol Convention Center Paducah, Kentucky | 1,100 | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, and Robert DeJesus. |
| June 11–13, 2010 | Julian Carrol Convention Center Paducah, Kentucky | 1,220 | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Jessie James Grelle, Rikki Simons, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| June 3–5, 2011 | Julian Carrol Convention Center Paducah, Kentucky | 1,275 | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Rikki Simons, Eric Stuart, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| June 8–10, 2012 | Julian Carrol Convention Center Paducah, Kentucky | 1,300 | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Jessie James Grelle, Bill Rogers, Rikki Simons, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| June 14–16, 2013 | Julian Carrol Convention Center Paducah, Kentucky | 1,380 | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Steve Johnson, Rikki Simons, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| June 13–15, 2014 | Owensboro Convention Center Owensboro, Kentucky | 1,739 | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Jessie James Grelle, Darrel Guilbeau, Steve Johnson, Rikki Simons, St. Louis Osuwa Taiko, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| June 12–14, 2015 | Owensboro Convention Center Owensboro, Kentucky | 2,500 | Greg Ayres, Gavin Hammon, Melissa Hutchison, Steve Johnson, Xander Mobus, Carter Newton, Rikki Simons, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| June 10–12, 2016 | Owensboro Convention Center Owensboro, Kentucky | 3,137 | Felecia Angelle, Greg Ayres, Erika Harlacher, Allyssa Lewis, Xander Mobus, NateWantsToBattle, Robert J. Schwalb, Rikki Simons, Sarah Anne Williams, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| June 9–11, 2017 | Owensboro Convention Center Owensboro, Kentucky | 3,740 | Dino Andrade, Felecia Angelle, Greg Ayres, Martin Billany, Shirley Curry, Emily DeJesus, Fighting Dreamers Productions, Briana Lawrence, Xander Mobus, Carli Mosier, Rikki Simons, Jessica Walsh, Gareth West, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| June 8–10, 2018 | Owensboro Convention Center Owensboro, Kentucky | | Greg Ayres, Andrea Caprotti, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Rachelle Heger, Caleb Hyles, Comfort Love, Marin M. Miller, Carli Mosier, Bill Rogers, and Adam Withers. |
| June 7–9, 2019 | Owensboro Convention Center Owensboro, Kentucky | 2,506 | Greg Ayres, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Rikki Simons, Michael Sinterniklaas, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| October 30–31, 2021 | Owensboro Convention Center Towneplace Suites Owensboro, Kentucky | 500 (est.) | |
| June 24–26, 2022 | Owensboro Convention Center Owensboro, Kentucky | | Greg Ayres, Dawn M. Bennett, Fighting Dreamers Productions, Xander Mobus, Michael Sinterniklaas, Callon B, Robert DeJesus, Emily DeJesus, and Nintendrew. |
| June 9-11, 2023 | Owensboro Convention Center Owensboro, Kentucky | | Greg Ayres, Jennifer Cihi, Colossal Senpai, Caleb Hyles, Rikki Simons, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons. |
| June 14-16, 2024 | Owensboro Convention Center Owensboro, Kentucky | | Greg Ayres, Martin Billany, Caleb Hyles, Marin M. Miller, and Michael Sinterniklaas. |