CATCH ‘EM ALL. Eau Claire will welcome Collectors Con this spring, a first-time event sure to please collectors and curious locals alike. Among the dozens of vendors and activities slated for the event, the original voice actor of Pokémon’s MewTwo, Jay Goede, will also speak at Collectors Con.

When Jen Ekblad and her husband learned the Quad Con wasn’t returning this year, they knew they had to do something. With the help of some friends, the duo has organized a first-time event they hope to make an annual favorite: Collectors Con.

Collectors Con isn’t just for established collectors but for folks of all ages who have a passion for anything from art to sports to anime to gaming. With about 30 vendors registered so far, a treasure trove of collectibles will surely be available to explore.

“It’s not just like your traditional comic con,” Jen said. “(There’s) a little something for everybody… things that people wouldn’t even think of as collectibles.” With experience organizing the local Super Summer Collectible Show and participating in Twin Cities Con, the couple saw an opportunity to bring fresh ideas to a larger, community-focused event.

The Con offers free admission and will be hosted in Wilson Hall at The Lismore Hotel over the weekend of March 21-23. The event will be open on Friday from 11am-7pm, Saturday from 9am-6pm, and Sunday from 10am-4pm.

The event also features costume contests for adults and kids, a silent auction benefiting the Sojourner House, and two special guests: voice actor and Dungeon Master Jacob Castellon, and MewTwo’s original voicer Jay Goede. Each speaker will have their own booth on Friday and Saturday and encourage attendees to come over and  chat, browse, or get an autograph.

“It’s really about giving back to the community,” Jen said. “That’s why we’re having the silent auction piece –as much as we want it to be beneficial for our vendors and have a successful show that can continue in future years, helping the community is a really important piece for us.”

Collectors Con will be held March 21-23 in Wilson Hall at The Lismore Hotel (333 Gibson St, Eau Claire). Visit Jenuine Collectibles' website to learn more, register as a vendor, donate items to the silent auction, or be a volunteer.