Colossalcon East 2022 Convention Report
/Front of the Kalahari Resorts entrance
The Colossalcon East anime convention and pool party returned for its fifth outing this past weekend from September 9-11, 2022 at the Kalahari Resorts in Pocono Manor, PA. I missed out last year so this is actually the first time that I’ve been back to CCE since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. I feel that this convention has grown and matured a lot since its debut back in 2017 and am definitely looking forward to returning next year.
If there are any complaints that I have at all about this convention then it is mostly just minor ones like a lack of signage to point people in the right direction such as where to go for registration and badge pickup or where the cosplay photoshoot locations are at. That and the fact that the Kalahari Resorts needs to build more parking space. But other than those minor gripes, CCE ran fairly smoothly and offered all of the usual offerings that you would expect from an anime convention. Back when the con debuted in 2017, Colossalcon East felt more like a pool party first with its emphasis on the massive indoor waterpark and less as an anime convention as the con itself occupied a small space and felt a bit claustrophobic and almost like an afterthought. Fast forward to 2022 and the convention space now takes up a larger footprint (thanks to the finished expansion to the convention center area) and the events that take place in the con space seem to be bigger and more densely populated with attendees.
In addition to the usual attractions like panels, dealers room and artist alley, video gaming, etc., the con also had some outdoor games and events set up in the back at the River Patio area which was cool although they probably could have done a better job advertising those attractions. They also set up a Crafts Fair on Saturday which was basically an extension of the Artist Alley for artists who didn’t get an official spot and they had a Flea Market on Sunday for attendees to set up tables on a first-come-first-serve basis to sell their excess weeb goods. I also noticed this year that they had anime music playing around the clock over the intercoms which was pretty cool as well to set the vibe. Overall Colossalcon East is still a small but very well run convention.
I didn’t actually go into the indoor waterpark this year as I didn’t have any reason to buy a pass for the waterpark when I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to make it to any of the cosplay photoshoots that were scheduled there. I did notice at the ticket stand that they no longer list a spectator’s pass as an option although I probably should have asked one of the clerks to verify whether or not they still offer them. The spectator’s pass was a cheaper way to gain access to the indoor waterpark as it allowed you to enter the indoor waterpark but not take part in any of the rides or pools. It would definitely be a bummer if they no longer offer that option. Another popular cosplay photoshoot location is at a small waterfall out in the woods behind the convention center. Again, I didn’t make the trek out there as I didn’t have any need to but it does appear to still be a go-to place for cosplayers to visit.
Overall Colossalcon East was pretty good this year and I’m definitely looking forward to going back next year. Going to end with a few random photos taken around the con.
Check out my Facebook Photography page for photos from the Persona series cosplay photoshoot.
Check out my YouTube channel for my video recordings of the Steve Blum & Beau Billingslea Q&A panel, the Brittney Karbowski and Kristen McGuire Reincarnated as a Slime Q&A panel, and the Cosplay Showcase (aka Masquerade or Cosplay Contest).