If you were trying to finish your Mandalorian costume before SiliCon this fall, you can stop the rush. The pop culture/maker/science fest that was scheduled to take place in Santa Clara in October has been canceled for 2023.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances and challenges beyond our control, we have had to make this incredibly difficult decision,” organizers said in an e-mail announcement. “We have explored all possible options to proceed with the event, but unfortunately, it is not feasible at this time.”
The lingering economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are part of the reason, and organizers cited a “significant disruption to public gatherings and events” and a “slow return to normalcy.” SiliCon CEO Trip Hunter said in an email that funding issues forced the decision, as the convention’s primary sponsors were nervous about the economy.
Adam Savage, the former “MythBusters” host who had been the show’s creative director and public face since 2020, addressed the cancellation in a tweet over the weekend while attending Indiana Comic Convention. “It was my honor to have spent years celebrating making, cosplay, creativity, community, and pop culture during my tenure as creative director of SiliConSJ. It’s been a remarkable ride, and I am grateful for all our collaborators, vendors and attendees for making it what it was.”
Anyone who already had purchased tickets or paid sponsorship fees to the event would receive refunds, according to the e-mail. And while the announcement sounded a hopeful note by saying options for the future are being explored, organizers also expressed “our sincere appreciation to all our sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, and attendees for your support and enthusiasm towards SiliCon over the years.”
Steve Wozniak and Stan Lee — two huge names in tech and pop culture — launched Silicon Valley Comic-Con in 2016, rebranding and expanding BigWow ComicFest. It was an immediate hit — and perhaps a victim of its own success — with an unexpected 50,000 attendees and huge lines to get into panels at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. Lee, who died in 2018, was only a big presence that first year, but the convention continued for the next four years with a few tweaks and a growing emphasis on science and maker culture and less on comics.
Guests included William Shatner, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Christina Ricci, Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Nichelle Nichols, “The Martian” author Andy Weir and even Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Wozniak stepped away after 2019 and Adam Savage of “MythBusters” fame became the creative director and public face of the show, which was rebranded as “SiliCon with Adam Savage” and then just “SiliCon” after last year.
The first year with Savage at the forefront was forced to pivot and go virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the in-person event returned to San Jose in 2021 and 2022. Last year’s big names were George Takei, Christopher Lloyd and Karen Gillian of “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Doctor Who” fame.
And while there won’t be a SiliCon this year, Silicon Valley pop culture fans aren’t being deserted. FanimeCon, a fan-driven conference that celebrates anime and Japanese culture, returns to the San Jose McEnery Convention Center for Memorial Day weekend, May 26-29. More information is available at www.fanime.com.
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