TrotCon
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TrotCon is an annual brony convention held in Columbus, Ohio organized for the fandom of the animated television series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, whose adult fans are commonly referred to as bronies.
Overview
TrotCon is an annual convention primarily dedicated to fans of the animated television show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, particularly the adult fans known as "bronies". The event features various activities including panels, artist vendors, and appearances by voice actors and writers from the show.
The convention was founded in February 2012 by a group of staff members who had previously been involved in organizing anime conventions throughout Ohio. They wanted to create a convention that wasn't focused on anime and would allow fans of animation from around the world to come together. The first TrotCon was held at the Ohio State University's Union in July 2012 with 700 attendees.
In 2013, the convention was held at the Sheraton Columbus at Capitol Square from June 14–16; rates were $40 for a three-day pass, and single-day badges priced at $25 on Friday, $30 on Saturday, and $20 on Sunday. The 2013 event featured Dave Polsky, one of the show's writers, along with numerous electronic musicians including Eurobeat Brony, who was noted as the first DJ to remix a song from the show.
In 2017, the convention theme was Fallout: Equestria, a popular My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fan fiction that places ponies in the post-apocalyptic world of the Fallout video game series. The convention featured ponies dressed in armor with guns, and many attendees wore paintball armor and other quasi-military attire. TrotCon features both daytime programming suitable for all ages and adult-oriented events in the evening, including an "Artist Alley After Dark" where explicit My Little Pony artwork is displayed and sold during late-night hours. TrotCon has been noted to be more adult-oriented than other conventions. As researcher Zachery Palmer writes in his recollection of TrotCon 2017,
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and part of 2021, TrotCon was held as virtual events, with in-person conventions resuming in December 2021.