FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2011
For more information:
Zach Stratton
360-750-1553 Ext 19
marketingadmin@visitvancouverusa.com
VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON, BECOMES MECCA FOR ANIME ENTHUSIASTS OVER
LABOR DAY WEEKEND
More than 4,000 to attend ninth-annual Kumoricon convention
VANCOUVER, Wash. - During the last weekend before school starts and autumn sets in,
thousands of anime fans will be gathering in downtown Vancouver dressed up in elaborate
costumes for Kumoricon, a regional convention in its ninth year. Attendees dressed up as
characters ranging from animated icons to science fiction mainstays will be gathering at the
Red Lion at the Quay and Hilton Vancouver Washington hotels enjoying everything from gaming
and dancing to exhibits, panel presentations and workshops.
"We're excited to welcome back such a fun special-interest group to Vancouver," said Kim
Bennett, president and CEO of Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office. "The city is the perfect
setting for large conventions such as Kumoricon because we have so much to offer when
attendees are not participating in meetings and planned activities. There are great restaurants
and bars, theaters, shops, trails, and Esther Short Park all within walking distance of the Hilton
and the Red Lion at the Quay."
Kumoricon was last held in Vancouver in 2007 at the Hilton. Because convention organizers are
anticipating more than 4,000 attendees this year, approximately 1,000 more than attended in
2007, the event has grown to occupy two host hotels.
For those who are unfamiliar, anime and manga refer to illustrated books and TV shows or
movies that gained popularity in Japan and have spread throughout the world. There are stories
and characters that appeal to all ages and genders. Kumoricon is a convention where those
who enjoy the anime and manga culture come to: attend games, dances, and panel
presentations; meet special guests including voice actors; engage in cosplay, a practice in
which players dress up as characters; purchase items from vendors or sell their own wares; and
get to know other local and regional enthusiasts. For more information on Kumoricon, please
visit www.kumoricon.com . About Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office
Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office (formerly Southwest Washington Convention & Visitors Bureau)
is an economic development organization responsible for competitively marketing Vancouver and the
surrounding area as a destination for meetings, conventions, and group and leisure travelers. The
organization's mission is to promote Vancouver and Clark County by increasing convention and visitor
business. For more information call 877-224-4214, or log on to www.VisitVancouverUSA.com .
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