A place where fantasy becomes reality, or – once again – a few (thousand) words about how much fun we had at this year’s Pyrkon Fan Convention and why we remember it with a tear in our eye!

NOTE! As always, so this time we do not take responsibility for sighs full of nostalgia, eyes refracted with longing and triggering a post-Pyrkon melancholy attack. As a consolation, however, we want to assure you that it will pass, because it always passes, and we will see you soon, in less than a year! If you expect that any of these symptoms may occur in you, we recommend that you consult any magical being of your choice, they will tell you what to do next (just don’t listen to necromancers, djinns and any entity with evil eyes, lest there be trouble later!).

Here we are, another year, another June… and another – already the 22^nd– edition of Pyrkon, which has just come to an end, really (I’m betting that some people still haven’t managed to sleep it off yet, and I’m certainly not not one of them). However, I’m sure that although the Pyrkon Fan Convention itself lasted a relatively short time (what are three days compared to eternity?), the memories of this year’s event will remain with us for a long time to come (maybe even for all eternity).

As every year, Poznań turned into a real capital of fantasy, attracting tens of thousands of lovers of the genre from all over Poland… and beyond (yes, as every year we had not only foreign guests, but also participants who came to Poland to have fun at probably the best fan convention in this part of the continent!). This was yet another amazing edition, which proved that Pyrkon is more than just a convention – it’s a place where fantasy becomes reality.

Not only that, for these magical three days, the Poznań International Fair becomes a space where countless worlds intersect! It is here that you will meet the admiral of the Starfleet, walking hand in hand in hand with the superhero who was bitten by a radioactive spider, and their paths intertwine with a sorceress whose trademark is the smell of lilacs and gooseberries. And all this takes place at the entrance to the PCC, so imagine what must have been going on in Mark Square!

Oh, what a Pyrkon it was!

Since I’ve already called up Mark’s Square, let’s take a closer look at it, because there were seriously a lot of attractions going on in this space, and I don’t know where to start! So, by the natural course of things, I will freestyle, as promised in the introduction and let myself be carried away not only by the moment, but also by memories. This year (like, let’s not kid ourselves, throughout each of the past years) Mark’s Square was bustling with life, being the center of Pyrkon – there were blood donation buses of the Pyrkon Blood Donor’s Club, which allowed you to donate blood throughout the event, for which we thank you from the bottom of our hearts (and hope you took proper care of yourself afterwards!). There was also an opportunity to register as a potential bone marrow donor (and here again, hats off to everyone who decided to take this step, not just at this year’s event). If that’s not proof enough that you’re a superhero, then I don’t know what would be!

However, it’s impossible to forget what was also going on in Mark’s Square, because a few steps away was the Catering Zone, where you could eat and regain some health (especially if you belong to that group of people who have a life bar very much coupled with your tummy’s level of being filled) – there was an opportunity to sit there, eat pretty good food, have a drink and catch a breather. And if you happened to hit the right time, you could also listen to what was happening on the Outdoor Stage a dozen or so meters away (and there was a huge amount of activity going on there!). The hit of the Scene was a concert by Nocny Kochanek (well, who would have expected that, huh?), which attracted a crowd of the band’s fans to Mark’s Square area that left us all in shock! Of course, we can’t fail to mention the performances of our beloved Percival, which were also quite popular! And I could list so endlessly all that was happening on the Outdoor Stage, but musical attractions and performances lasted for most of the Convention, so understand… there was a lot of it! After all, Jeremiah Kane played, there were Ryczące Dwudziestki, and for lovers of folk sounds, Svita and the Song Laboratory gave a concert, and this is actually the tip of the iceberg (however corny the text may be, I fully agree with it!).

And I was there, at the concerts, enjoying myself!

However, the Outdoor Stage was not the only place where the thrilling sounds could be listened to by the audience! There was no shortage of musical events at the Earth Hall either (and not just any musical events, you have to admit it yourself!). On Friday, the Orchestra of the City of Poznań at MPK played for you, giving an epic concert that combined symphonic music not only with classical music, but also rock music… and more. And you also heard  a performance of our Pyrkon Song for the very first time (and we really hope you liked it, because we are delighted). There was also something for fans of manga and anime, as BURNOUT SYNDROMES – a three-member band from Osaka, known for its great openings and endings – gave a concert that same evening. 

In turn, Faun, who combines medieval and ancient sounds with much more modern influences, has come to us from Germany to create an enchanting and powerful atmosphere for their concerts. I have to tell you that it was magical, and I hope you felt it in your bones (or at least that that wonderful shiver that usually comes from experiencing good music  ran down your spine at least once). Percival certainly gave some goosbumps to more than one fan (yes, they gave two concerts at Pyrkon this year, because after all, there’s no need to limit yourself when it comes to something amazing!). You have to admit yourselves that at this year’s Pyrkon, musically there was really a lot of variety going on!

All the more so because – as every year – there was a party rocked by Red Bull, in which you participated in large numbers, willingly and with great commitment (I personally admire the fact that after a whole intense day at the Convention you still had the strength to go dance so joyfully to the music!). Not only that, after all, there were still musical games waiting for you in the Integration Zone: you did Dance Dance Revolution, you gave karaoke a go, and I really don’t know where you got the energy for all this! You are truly amazing, and watching you at play (or during the more or less spontaneous Chapelloise) is the purest pleasure, because it is thanks to you that Pyrkon is such a Fantastic Meeting Spot.

You guys are breathtaking! 

You know how it is… every year I marvel not only at your energy, with which you are able to recharge even completely drained batteries and uplift even the most tired organizer. Really, I’m sure that if you found some battery that could capture particles of your energy and positive emotions, the light bulb plugged into it would shine so brightly that it would be visible from space (or maybe we are already visible from there, only NASA does not want to talk about it…?). In any case, your enthusiasm and joy is what gladdens my heart as much as how your smiles and colorful outfits delight my eyes!

Your costumes catch the eye and impress every onlooker with how nifty they are, how much attention to detail and craftsmanship they require. Also this year we were visited by Disney princesses, all possible superhero teams (with a solid representation of Spider-Men, which makes me extremely happy), Jedi knights and representatives of the Dark Side of the Force. There were hobbits (although this time they didn’t throw any jewelry into PIF’s sewer manholes) and Nazgûls, as well as a whole plethora of magical creatures from fairy tales, fables, animations, stories and legends of all sorts! From elves, to orcs and goblins, to adorable mushrooms (whose source I can’t identify, but I delight in seeing them every year). I’ll state it once again (and I’ll repeat it until I get tired of it) you guys are really amazing! 

And this is the moment when I can’t help but mention the cosplay contest, which has been called the pearl in the crown of Pyrkon for some time now, which effortlessly fills the entire Earth Hall, and the result is extremely important, as the winners will represent our country in the World Championships of Extreme Cosplay Gathering with the finals in Paris. Of course we are talking about the phenomenal Masquerade! Also this year, the level of outfits presented was extremely high (seriously, it would be easier for me to climb Mount Everest than to match you!). Your costumes were fantastic, and we congratulate each and every one of you not only on your awards, but also – or perhaps: above all – on the courage it takes to show up in front of such a huge audience!

There’s no way you’re counting that!

If in the TV quiz show Jeopardy!  the theme would be Pyrkon, I bet dollars to donuts that to the answer provided “at the Pyrkon Fan Convention it can be counted in the thousands,” the correctly arranged question would be “how extensive is the program of the event?”. And it’s funny because… it’s true! I’ll just clarify for those younger readers of this report (if anyone made it to this point at all) that the convention of this quiz show was to give the participants the answers to which they were to arrange the questions – that’s the whole thing.

I have no idea how you did it (admit it: you’re drawing your energy from some neutron star, huh?), but amidst all the concerts, prancing around, wandering the vendor and exhibition halls (and this year there really was a lot to see and buy!), you still had the capacity to gain knowledge at the numerous panels, lectures or workshops, and that’s even if getting to them required a solid dose of patience (and I know I write about this every year, but every year it is something that drives me into no small admiration for your perseverance and determination). Again, you weren’t afraid to ask the presenters vexing questions, digging into the topics they raised and took advantage of the knowledge. And, most importantly – you really showed up in large numbers at all the meetings with our invited guests! I am really impressed, and from the point of view of someone who has had the pleasure of moderating several panel discussions for you, I admit that it was a great pleasure (and I will long remember the shared laughter and my galloping around the the room to hand the microphone to yet another person).

I’m willing to bet (yes, the gambler’s soul awakens in me, but only in situations when I’m sure I’m going to win) that our guests were equally delighted with your energy and perseverance, because the lines for photos and autographs with some of them were…. let me diplomatically say: quite long. I have a feeling that the palm when it comes to the length of the queues was held by Miranda Otto, who visited Pyrkon this year and (I don’t think anyone will yell at me if I reveal this to you), looked delighted! So did all our other guests – whether from Poland or abroad. You made a really great impression on them!

You had the strength to wander through Zones and halls to discover an endless sea of attractions: from workshops (hey, did you make your own linocut too, or write your name in Japanese, because I had the opportunity to try both and I’m delighted), through exhibitions of works by various artists, to the Lego® Fan Zone, which appeared on the convention’s map for the first time and took the hearts of participants by storm, to repeat its success this year and also attract a huge number of lovers of this form of creative spending time to the PCC hall. In turn, the Star Wars Fan Zone appeared at Pyrkon for the first time and also made a huge impact right from the spot – there was an exhibition of costumes and gadgets from the Star Wars saga, models of space vehicles and a whole bunch of guests associated with this particular universe.

This year, for the first time, there was also an awards gala for the winners of the “Fantastically Talented” competition, which aims to promote debuting and lesser-known authors and make their books reach a wider audience. The first edition of the gala was hosted by Karol Modzelewski (yes, I’m still absolutely thrilled about that!), and we are extremely proud that the initiative was so well received! We wholeheartedly thank everyone who attended the gala and the panels with the award winners.

You were full of energy and vigor, which I sometimes envied you. You had a tremendous amount of energy, and the short time I spent with you made me feel refreshed and ready for more adventures to explore places I hadn’t yet reached (and I’m sure I didn’t visit many corners of Pyrkon during those three days anyway).

Pyrkon for everyone? But of course! 

For years we have been trying and doing our best to make Pyrkon a friendly place for everyone. At the end of the day… it doesn’t matter what polarizes us – we are united by our common passion, love of fantasy and the fact that for many of us the Pyrkon Fan Convention is one of the few places where we can really feel like ourselves. I sincerely hope that you feel the same way as we – the organizers and volunteers who strive to make sure that everyone leaves Poznań with a mass of magical memories – do.

Pyrkon is also a place for families. The Kids’ Zone offered a host of activities, from art workshops, contests, experiments and more, which were prepared by our gophers and professional entertainers. Parents can rest assured knowing that their kids are well taken care of and playing in a safe place, in turn, for many toddlers this is the first step into the world of fantasy and, we hope, in the years to come they will immerse themselves in its magic even more (who knows, maybe they will grow up to be the next Pyrkon-goers, gophers, speakers… or maybe organizers or guests?).

As part of the “Accessible Pyrkon” campaign, we have also conceived a number of actions to make the time spent at the Convention more pleasant and easier for people with disabilities – from priority checkouts, to induction loops, to free admission for an assistant or caregiver of a person with disabilities. This year, for the first time in the program of the event, there were lectures that were translated into Polish sign language, there was also a tactile map at the Convention Office, which fulfilled the informational function for sighted, visually impaired and blind people, it was also adapted to the needs of people of short stature and unable to read

Making the Pyrkon Fan Convention as accessible and welcoming as possible for all attendees is very much in our hearts!

Pyrkon is not just the program! 

Pyrkon is all about the people – amazing, open and passionate. It’s a place where you can make new friends, meet old friends and feel that you are part of a great community. Walking through the convention halls, one could see people exchanging experiences, sharing their favorite books, comic books or games. It is a place where everyone, regardless of age, can feel at home.

Pyrkon 2024 was an unforgettable event that will remain in our hearts for a long time. It was three days filled with magic, inspiration and joy. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the amazing atmosphere and we are already looking forward to the next edition. See you next year at Pyrkon!