Blerdfest, a convention celebrating Anime, Comix, Cosplay, Sci-Fi and Black fans, takes place in New Orleans on Saturday, April 6.

According to organizers, Blerdfest is happening in part because many mainstream celebrations of “nerd culture” (like ComicCon) exclude the Black experience.  “As Black Nerds, or ‘Blerds,’ we want to change that,” they say. Featuring special guests, panels, costume contests, video gaming, a Microsoft kids corner, vendors, live entertainment and more, Blerdfest will build “a community of us, by us, and for us, in New Orleans and beyond.”

Featured Speakers include Hannah Beachler, the first Black woman to win an Oscar for Production Design (BLACK PANTHER, 2019). 

Taking place at the Algiers Auditorium on April 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Blerdfest is all ages, with tickets costing $25 in advance (kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult). From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., there will be a Blerdfest Ball, featuring live entertainment from Power 102.9’s DJ Chicken, Calvin Johnson, Grid Squid, Higher Heights and The BLERDAZONS Go-Go Dancers. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door or $45 in advance if you want to attend the convention and the ball. Ten percent of profits to go to New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter & Women With A Vision.

Blerdfest is produced by True Blerd, LLC,  a collective of Creatives with decades of experience in the performing and visual arts, education, and public cultural event programming. For more information, click here.