WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – With countless collectibles for sale, lightsaber wielders and, most importantly, cosplayers, Anchor Con transformed Clayton into a hotbed of all things nerd culture.

“It’s fast-paced, it’s busy, it’s crowded, which is a good thing, and between you and me, it’s a quick walk in, which is great for a vendor,” said Sean Mansfield, one of the vendors at the event.

For experienced con-goers, it was an opportunity to show off elaborate costumes. Take Timothy Coleman, for example. He is 6’2″ tall and his stature requires that every outfit be made by hand. This year he is wearing a look from the “One Punch Man” series.

“I also sew and use EVA foam and stuff like that. For me, it’s much better to make my own costumes than to buy them because they don’t fit,” said cosplayer Timothy Coleman.

Others, like Jose Maldonado, are at the beginning of their cosplay career

A lifelong fan of Valve’s video games, he embodies the Scout character from the video game Team Fortress Two.

“It’s just really nice in general. There are a lot of nice people here and it’s a great start to your convention experience,” Maldonado said.

Everyone was welcome, including people’s four-legged friends. Meet Freddie Purrcury, PR Officer of the cat cafe “Pawsitivitea”.

“Cats and the internet kind of go hand in hand. It’s just something that’s up there. Seeing everyone come out in all their cosplays and stuff and seeing all the stuff for sale is just really cool,” said Alisha Reynolds, owner of Pawsitivitea Cat Cafe.

Anchor Con, hosted by the Rotary Club of Clayton, is the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year.

“It’s a fundraiser with proceeds going to local scholarships for local schools, food banks and more,” said Victoria Peck, secretary of the Clayton Rotary Club.

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