“Potter” Scholarship, Friendship, and Fun: A LeakyCon10! Recap
This past weekend was the tenth anniversary of LeakyCon, and MuggleNet was there celebrating. It was an amazing weekend filled with hilarious panels, incredible wizard rock, and heartwarming experiences. If you weren’t able to make it, here’s everything you missed.
Many of us in attendance were actually at LeakyCon for the first time! We were amazed by the amazing cosplay as well as the merchandise in the Marketplace. Anything you can think of was on offer by creatives from all around the world. Anything from customizable prints to Hogwarts House scented candles to clothing and accessories. Trust us, you cannot walk out empty-handed!
LeakyCon Boston Marketplace vendors in cosplay selling wands, Hogwarts House quills, and mandrakes
Although there is a new generation of the fandom emerging, the convention celebrated a community of wizards and witches from all walks of life, shattering the age line for all to enter. In the panels where we examined the canon, the multiple perspectives and interpretations were astounding, especially when looking at the security of Hogwarts and the true meaning behind the “Always” phenomenon.
On Friday night, we wrocked hard at the amazing wizard rock concert. The wrock concert is a LeakyCon tradition, and it was easy to see why. It was an incredible experience as wrock musicians came together to create an inspiring night of music. The night included performances by Lauren Fairweather, Tonks and the Aurors, Draco and the Malfoys, and Harry and the Potters. The Potters, in particular, put on a hilarious and wonderful show, complete with props and hilarious gags.
Harry under his “Invisibility Cloak”
But beyond just being a fun night, the wrock concert also served as a call to action for the attendees. We were inspired by the Potters to go out and do good in the world and make a change, and listening to all the amazing music definitely motivated us to do so. The whole experience was a blast.
On Saturday night, Leaky guests were cordially invited to the Esther Earl Rocking Charity Ball. Everyone put on their fanciest cosplay and Potter-themed formalwear and danced the night away. Fans re-created dances from the Yule Ball and chased away the Nargles like the Lovegoods to a soundtrack of all our favorite songs. When the night reached its end, the con staff took to the stage for the traditional singing of “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” which happens every year as a tribute to the con’s origins.
Wrapping up the con on Sunday, we spent the day sitting in on panels with featured actors Chris Rankin and Dan Fogler, as well as continuing to take in all that the Marketplace had to offer. Wishing we had a Time-Turner like Hermione in order to sit in on multiple panels at once, we attended the panels Obscurus and Patronus: Expressions of the Soul in the Wizarding World and In Defense of Prisoner of Azkaban, the Best Harry Potter Movie. As evidenced by the plethora of panels on the LeakyCon schedule, the Potter series continues to inspire thoughtful analyses and theorizing!
Actor Chris Rankin during “MuggleCast Live!” with hosts Micah Tannenbaum and Eric Scull on LeakyCon’s MainStage
Overall, LeakyCon10! was definitely a success. We all had an amazing time hanging out with other huge Potter nerds, and the panels, events, and vendors were incredible. Sadly, the con is over, but we’ll see everyone in Orlando next year!
