Spa-Con

Held annually in Hot Springs (Garland County), Spa-Con is a multi-genre entertainment convention that generally takes place in late September at the Hot Springs Convention Center. The three-day convention focuses not only on comic books and sci-fi/fantasy-related film and television, but also includes popular culture and entertainment elements spanning virtually all genres. These include action figures, animation, anime (hand-drawn and computer-generated animation from Japan), collectibles, fantasy, gaming, horror, manga (comics/graphic novels from Japan), music, toys, video games, and webcomics.

Spa-Con draws its name from the popular designation of Hot Springs as the “Spa City.” Spa-Con is one of Arkansas’s largest pop culture conventions, and in 2025, its website said it had attracted more than 17,500 attendees from twelve states since its origin in 2016. It features celebrity Q&A sessions, panels, parties, photo opportunities, workshops, and more than 200 vendors, along with activities such as films, gaming, laser tag, and locked room adventures. Sponsors for the event have included the Garland County Public Library, National Park College, Relyance Bank, and the Visit Hot Springs convention and visitors bureau.

One of the most popular features of Spa-Con is its annual roster of guest stars. Celebrities have included Arkansas natives Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy) and Rodger Bumpass (voice of Squidward Tentacles on SpongeBob SquarePants), along with iconic figures such as actress Nichelle Nichols, who portrayed Star Trek’s Lieutenant Uhura. Other top guests have included Barry Bostwick (Rocky Horror Picture Show); Sherilyn Fenn and Sheryl Lee, both from TV’s Twin Peaks; Seth Gilliam (Dr. Alan Deaton on Teen Wolf and Father Gabriel Stokes in The Walking Dead); Pam Grier (Jackie Brown); Sean Maher (Firefly); Butch Patrick (The Munsters); and Shannon Purser (Stranger Things). In addition, actress Annabeth Gish, comedian Orlando Jones, Veronica Taylor (voice of “Ash” in Pokémon), and Janeshia Adams-Ginyard of the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Panther have been on hand. Stars from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie have appeared, as well as Erin Macdonald, an astrophysicist who is the science adviser for the Star Trek franchises.

Spa-Con also attracts noteworthy vehicles, including a 1981 DMC DeLorean featured in Back to the Future, the 1985 Pontiac Fiero used in F9 (the ninth movie of the Fast and the Furious franchise), a 1972 Winnebago RV featured in the fourth season of Stranger Things, and the sheriff’s 2000 Ford Crown Victoria from The Walking Dead. Other vehicles on display have included the Batmobile, Herbie the Lovebug, and Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters.

A major draw of Spa-Con is the element of cosplay, short for “costume play.” Cosplayers wear costumes and accessories representing a specific character, or in the words of the Spa-Con promoters, “creatures and characters from all over the known (and unknown) galaxies.” There are contests for cosplayers, with categories including Best Overall Adult, Best Overall Teen, Best Overall Kid, and Best Makeup/Hair.

For those purchasing a VIP pass, there is access to complimentary food and drinks in the VIP lounge. The VIP pass also gives access to local after-parties.

Spa-Con guests can browse a multitude of vendor booths, and role-playing game opportunities are available, including Dungeons & Dragons and Street Fighter, along with laser tag and video gameplay.

A popular addition to Spa-Con has been the Star Wars–themed heavy metal band Galactic Empire. The band interprets classic selections from the Star Wars franchise by composer John Williams, such as “The Imperial March” and “The Mandalorian Theme.” Galactic Empire’s costumed musicians and their alter egos include guitarists Dark Vader, Red Guar, and Shadow Ranger; bassist Bass Commander; and drummer Boba Sett.

For additional information:
Galactic Empire. https://galacticempireband.com/ (accessed February 6, 2025).

Leigh, James. “Spa-Con Infinity to Offer New, Familiar Guests for Cosplayers.” Hot Springs Sentinel-Record, June 30, 2024. https://www.hotsr.com/news/2024/jun/30/watch-spa-con-infinity-to-offer-new-familiar/ (accessed February 6, 2025).

Spa-Con. https://spa-con.org/ (accessed February 6, 2025).

Topich, Al. “7th Annual Spa-Con Does Right by Conventioneers.” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, September 29, 2023. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/sep/29/7th-annual-spa-con-does-right-by-conventioneers/ (accessed February 6, 2025).

Nancy Hendricks
Garland County Historical Society