PortConMaine is an annual four-day anime and gaming convention held during June at the Holiday Inn Portland-By The Bay in Portland, Maine. PortConMaine was founded by Julie York.[1]
Programming
The convention typically offers artists alley, boardgame tournaments, collectible card games competitions, cosplay competitions, dealers room, film screenings, karaoke, and video gaming.[4][5][6][7][8]
History
Julie York started PortConMaine in 2002 due to the lack of nerd events in New England, with the first event being held at the University of Southern Maine.[9] PortConMaine added multigenre content to the convention in 2011.[10] In 2014, Thursday's content was for pre-registered attendees only.[11] Despite running out of space at the DoubleTree, the convention at that time could not move from the hotel due to the lack of available options.[9] PortConMaine in 2016 utilized space in The Maine Mall for gaming.[6] The changes allowed for an expanded artists alley and panel space. PortConMaine 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12][13]
John Andersen, Ian M. Clark, Bobby Kayetennae Crowwolf, David Foster, Christopher Gurney, Daniel Kevin Harrison, Scott A. Melzer, Jared A. Sorensen, and Ben Spaulding.[14]
Jason Amerkanian, Rae Bradbury-Enslin, Stephen K. Chenault, Ian M. Clark, Joe Digiorgi, Daniel Kevin Harrison, Alaina B. Karavitis, Jason Libby, Dave Lister, Truax McFarland, Matthew Pearson, Sidney C. Peters, Robert Quill, Jared A. Sorensen, Ben Spaulding, Ukyo, and Darren Watts.[15]
June 18–20, 2004
Best Western Inn: The Merry Manor South Portland, Maine
811
Jason Amerkanian, Chris Barrett, Allison Carmichael, Ian M. Clark, Joe Digiorgi, Nate Frisoli, Daniel Kevin Harrison, Sarah "Nami" Hevey, Sharon Lee, Jason Libby, Ian McConville, Jessica McLaughlin, Steve Miller, Robert Quill, Zev Shlasinger, Jared A. Sorensen, Vaz, and Jes Weigand.[16]
June 24–26, 2005
Sheraton South Portland Hotel South Portland, Maine
1,170
Kevin Brunelle, Brian Carroll, Drew Cass, Cat Dancer, Chris Drouin, Sean Edwards, Nate Frisoli, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, Daniel Kevin Harrison, Nick Johnson, Alex Karantza, Dave Lister, Clayton McNally, Ananth Panagariya, Megan Phonesavanh, Peter Rimkunas, and Michael "Mookie" Terracciano.[17]
June 30 – July 2, 2006
Sheraton South Portland Hotel South Portland, Maine
Tom Brown, Drew Cass, Cat Dancer, Luci Christian, Jonathan Doughty, Chris Drouin, Lisa Furukawa, Shawn Handyside, Daniel Kevin Harrison, Chris Judd, Jon Knight, Jason Libby, Joe Miles, Theresa Pereira, Scott Ramsoomair, R.A. Salvatore, Jared A. Sorensen, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, and Nathaniel Jay Alexander Wiley.[18]
June 22–24, 2007
Sheraton South Portland Hotel South Portland, Maine
1,663
Tom Brown, Svetlana Chmakova, J Dee DuPuy, Jessica Franklin, D.S. Gannon, Karen Gosselin, Garth Graham, Daniel Kevin Harrison, CJ Henderson, Erica Henderson, Elizabeth Jackson, Stacey Kardash, Jon Knight, Bettina M. Kurkoski, Dave Lister, Chris "Kilika" Malone, Mike McFarland, Joe Miles, Theresa Pereira, Michelle Pinard, A.E. Prevost, Robert "Sketch" Scholz, Michael Sinterniklaas, and Katy Ullman.[19]
July 3–6, 2008
Eastland Park Hotel Portland, Maine
1,650
Tom Brown, Garth Graham, Daniel Kevin Harrison, CJ Henderson, Erica Henderson, Elizabeth Jackson, Stacey Kardash, Jon Kneeland, Michele Knotz, Christian Matzke, Clayton McNally, Kori Michele, Randy Milholland, Mike Oxx, Michelle Pinard, Nicklaus Reichel, Bill Rogers, Robert "Sketch" Scholz, Christina Siravo, The Slants, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, and Andi Wrede.[20]
June 18–21, 2009
Wyndham Portland Airport Hotel South Portland, Maine
1,804
4Player Podcast, Tom Brown, Garth Graham, Tiffany Grant, Daniel Kevin Harrison, CJ Henderson, The Hsu-nami, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Bettina M. Kurkoski, Christian Matzke, The Penny Dreadfuls, Denise Poirier, Robert "Sketch" Scholz, and Michael "Mookie" Terracciano.[21]
June 24–27, 2010
Wyndham Portland Airport Hotel South Portland, Maine
2,072
Tom Brown, Chris Cason, Geek Comedy Tour, CJ Henderson, Erica Henderson, Stanley Hollenbeck, Jon Kneeland, Christian Matzke, Luke Morgan, Mike Oxx, The Penny Dreadfuls, Robert Quill, Robert "Sketch" Scholz, Jared A. Sorensen, and Michael "Mookie" Terracciano.[22]
June 23–26, 2011
Wyndham Portland Airport Hotel South Portland, Maine
2,150
4-Player Co-Op, Christopher Ayres, Brian Brushwood, George Dalphin, Barry Dodd, Karen L. Dodd, Barry C. Fernandes, Daniel Kevin Harrison, Sharon Lee, The Mandalorian Mercs, Christian Matzke, Steve Miller, Luke Morgan, Elizabeth O'Malley, Robert "Sketch" Scholz, J. Michael Tatum, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, Mort Todd, and Lex Winter.[23]
June 21–24, 2012
DoubleTree by Hilton South Portland, Maine
2,306
Ay-leen the Peacemaker, Sue Boisvert, Brian Brushwood, Lucretia Dearfour, Robin Lown Gardella, Ghostbusters, Kyle Hebert, Jim's Big Ego, Bryant Paul Johnson, The Mandalorian Mercs, Joel McDonald, Luke Morgan, nickelPUNK, Elizabeth O'Malley, Odaiko New England, Michael Peterson, Rachel Robichaud, Robert "Sketch" Scholz, and Lex Winter.[24]
June 20–23, 2013
DoubleTree by Hilton South Portland, Maine
2,502
4-Player Co-Op, Eric Anderson, Sue Boisvert, The Boston Sprockettes, Jeff Burgess, Chris Cason, Jeff Day, Keith R. A. DeCandido, Dorks in Dungeons, The East Kingdom, Shawn French, Nicolas Genovese, Ghostbusters, Mortimer Glum, Frederick Greenhalgh, Bethany Ingraham, Late Night Disaster, Julie Le Shane, Cherami Leigh, Maine, JL Major, The Mandalorian Mercs, Luke Morgan, Nuclear New England, Elizabeth O'Malley, Robert "Sketch" Scholz, Side Scrollers, and Lex Winter.[25]
June 19–22, 2014
DoubleTree by Hilton South Portland, Maine
2,634
Christopher Alcott, Dan Brian, Christine Marie Cabanos, Chamber Band, Crunk Witch, George Dalphin, Dark Follies, Dorks in Dungeons, Glenn Given, Savannah Houston-McIntyre, Stacey Kardash, The Mandalorian Mercs, Mary Bichner & Planetary Quartet, Meg McGinley-Crowe, Luke Morgan, Corinne Sudberg, Michael Tresca, Catherynne M. Valente, David Vincent, and Vivid Motion.[26]
501st Legion, Brian Beacock, Barak Blackburn, Bill Brock, Jessica Calvello, Chuck Carter, Svetlana Chmakova, Julie Falatko, Ellie Hillis, Ross Kearney, The Mandalorian Mercs, Bill McLean, Gabby Nu, Odaiko New England, Rebel Legion, Carol Salemi, Lucas Schuneman, and Lex Winter.[28]
