The Cradle of Aviation’s own local nonprofit, comic and collectible con, Cradle-Con, is back with brand new artists, cosplayers, panels and vendors celebrating Long Island and all of the top favorites including Star Wars, Avengers, Funkos, Marvel, DC Comics, Doctor Who and more.
Special guests include innovative and beloved comic book artists Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, John Snyder III, Pat Shand and Jay Stuart. Activities include Jedi training, Star Wars and Avenger cosplayers, retro video game lounge, costume contests and more.
“Cradle-Con is the newest comic and pop culture experience on Long Island,” said Director of Special Events Seamus Keane. “We have grown in our second year based upon the demand for us to bring the convention back after our inaugural year success. Our focus is on comics, local artists, local vendors and local cosplayers because they are truly the people that make this subculture continue to grow into the phenomenon that it is. We here at the museum are all fans of some aspect of comic culture and pop culture so we try to design a convention that we would want to attend as well as keeping it as locally grown as possible.”
Highlights:
- Local Artists: Jay Stuart of Poppy Cock Productions, (Westbury), Tom Travers (Battle Skull) (Williston Park), Miya Crummel (Freeport), James Avila (Melville), Tammy L. Jackson (East Elmhurst)
- Popular Vendors: Best Comics, 4thWorld Comics, The Comic Book Depot (Wantagh)
- Star Wars Cosplay (501st Region, Empire City Garrision) Jedi Training (Saber Guild- Endor Temple
- Other cosplayers include the popular New York Avengers, Babs Butcher, Barbie Chula, Bronx Spidey
Cosplay:
More than 50 professional cosplayers will be appearing with cosplay contests for convention attendees (Saturday, ages 16+; Sunday 15 and under). Cosplay favorites from the 501st Region, Empire City Garrison group return portraying beloved Star Wars characters interacting with attendees for photos and fun. Also returning is the entertaining Saber Guild–Endor Temple performers offering two Train to Be a Jedi experiences, Padawan Training for ages 5-12 and Intro to Light Saber Choreography for ages 13+. Attendees can extend their Endgame experience with Cradle-Con first time visitors, the nonprofit, New York Avengers featuring co-founder of Sam Comic and cosplayer Samantha Catalano and cosplayer and podcaster, Babs Butcher.
Retro Video Gaming:
The Long Island Retro Video Game Expo presents The Retro Video Game Lounge at Cradle-Con, featuring more than 50 classic video games, play classic titles like Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, N64, and PlayStation. Cradle-Con is also dusting off some of the arcade classics from the museum collection such as Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Spy Hunter, Tetris, Frogger, Space Invaders, Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat and many more while offering classic tournaments for players of all levels.
Vendors:
More than 50 beloved comic, toy and collectible vendors including Long Island’s own Best Comics (New Hyde Park), 4th World Comics (Smithtown) and The Comic Box (Massapequa).
Cradle-Con was founded in June 2018 in an effort to raise funds for the Cradle of Aviation’s Museum and Education Center’s Women in STEM Education programs. The programs are designed to empower and enrich education for girls and young women to excel in the science and tech-based jobs of the future.
Cradle-Con is located at the Cradle of Aviation on Museum Row at Charles Lindbergh Boulevard in East Garden City and runs from Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. to Sunday, June 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for kids ages 2-12. You can save when you buy tickets online before Friday, May 31 at www.cradlecon.com. The event has free parking.
