My Little Pony fan convention

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic |
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A My Little Pony fan convention (also called a brony convention, brony con, or pony con) is a fan convention organized for the fandom of the animated television series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, whose adult fans are commonly referred to as bronies. These conventions bring together fans of the show to participate in various activities including panels, workshops, vendor halls, cosplay, and meeting voice actors, writers, and other people involved in the production of the show. The first significant brony convention, BronyCon, was held in New York City in 2011 and initially attracted 100 attendees, but grew dramatically in subsequent years, reaching over 10,000 attendees in 2015.
These conventions typically span a weekend and feature specialized events such as music festivals, charity auctions, and interactive activities with show creators. While the fandom is predominantly male, conventions have attracted diverse audiences, with BronyCon recording 34% female attendance in 2014.
As of 2025[update], despite the original television series ending in 2019, active conventions continue worldwide in various locations—including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and China—with many of them maintaining strong charitable components and raising tens of thousands of dollars for various causes. With the closure of BronyCon in 2019, Everfree Northwest is the largest brony convention in the world.
History
[edit]2011–2019: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic era
[edit]
As the fandom grew between 2011 and 2012, nearly a dozen brony conventions were planned across the United States and internationally.[1] Many of these conventions featured appearances by voice actors, writers, and other creative staff involved with the show who interacted directly with fans at panels, autograph sessions, and other convention activities.[2][3]
BronyCon was the largest brony convention, held annually from 2011 to 2019.[3] Initially established as a small gathering in New York City with approximately 100 attendees, BronyCon grew rapidly, eventually reaching a peak attendance of over 10,000 fans at its height.[4] The convention was originally styled as "BroNYCon," referencing its New York City origins, but later dropped the "NYC" capitalization when it moved to venues outside the city.[5] In 2012, the third BronyCon attracted 800 attendees, and the fourth in 2013 expanded to a two-day event at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in New Jersey in June 2012, drawing more than 4,000 attendees. In 2013, the convention permanently relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, and established itself as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization under Lunar Solis Corp.[6] Despite the brony fandom consisting predominantly of male fans (approximately 85% based on a 2013 unofficial survey), BronyCon attracted a more balanced demographic, with 34% female attendance at the 2014 convention. The event maintained a family-friendly atmosphere, with children under 14 comprising about 10% of attendees.[7] In later years, BronyCon moved to the larger Baltimore Convention Center, with attendance exceeding 8,000.[8] In 2015, BronyCon reached its peak attendance of over 10,000 guests, becoming the first brony convention to do so.[4] The final BronyCon, held in 2019, also attracted over 10,000 attendees.[9]
Other brony conventions founded during this period included Everfree Northwest in Seattle, Washington,[10] Midwestria in Chicago, Illinois,[11] Canterlot Gardens in Cleveland, Ohio,[12][13][14] Equestria LA in Los Angeles,[15] BABSCon in Burlingame, California,[16] Ponycon NY in the metropolitan New York City region,[17][18] BronyCAN in British Columbia, Canada,[19] GalaCon in Ludwigsburg, Germany,[20] BUCK in Manchester, United Kingdom,[21] PonyCon AU in Sydney, Australia,[22] Crystal Mountain Pony Con in Salt Lake City, Utah[23] and Pacific PonyCon in San Diego, California.[24] In addition, My Little Pony conventions established prior to the airing of Friendship Is Magic, such as the My Little Pony Fair and UK PonyCon, saw increases in their numbers due to the brony fandom.[1][25][26][27] A long-running annual art show, the "My Little Pony Project", where artists re-imagine My Little Pony figurines and toys into works of art, also saw additional attendance and contributions from the brony community.[28][29]
2020–2021: COVID-19 pandemic
[edit]The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the brony convention scene, as organizers were forced to cancel, postpone, or transition events to virtual formats. Virtually all brony conventions were unable to hold in-person gatherings due to health restrictions, venue closures, and COVID-19 lockdowns.[30][31][32][33] During this period, some conventions experimented with online alternatives. Vanhoover Pony Expo conducted its January 2022 event virtually using a Pony Town server that featured digitally recreated Vancouver landmarks.[34] Other conventions organized online panels, virtual vendor halls, and livestreamed performances.
2021–present: Post-COVID era
[edit]As pandemic restrictions eased, brony conventions began returning to in-person formats. UK PonyCon 2021,[32] Everfree Northwest 2021,[35] and Ponyville Ciderfest 2021[36] were held in-person.
In February 2022, Corgi Events LLC—the parent organization of Ponyville Ciderfest and Whinny City Pony Con as well as five furry conventions—collapsed amid financial troubles including an exorbitant tax warrant against its founder, unpaid staff compensation, and management issues. Tech Charlie, the convention chair of Ciderfest and Whinny City, initially stepped down due to the organizational turmoil. Michelle, Charlie's wife, purchased both conventions from the dissolving company and reinstated Charlie as chair of both events.[37][38] In 2023, Ponyville Ciderfest raised $111,186.90 for charity.[39]
In February 2024, the Mi Amore Fest in Moscow, Russia was closed early by organizers after Russian police investigated complaints that the convention promoted LGBTQ+ content. Police conducted two inspections but found no evidence of illegal activity.[40] The incident occurred amid Russia's restrictions on LGBTQ rights in Russia, following the Russian Supreme Court's 2023 designation of the international LGBTQ movement as an extremist organization.[41]
Activities
[edit]Schedule and programming
[edit]
Typically spanning a weekend, pony conventions schedule activities from Friday morning through Sunday afternoon.[42] Peak attendance tends to occur on Saturday. Some conventions offer discounted single-day admission options.[43]
Conventions frequently feature presentations, panels, workshops, lectures, Q&As, karaoke, and autograph signings as part of their schedule.[42] Information about a specific con can be found on their website or in their con book (or conbook), an informational pamphlet or booklet typically distributed at the convention. Con books also include maps of the venue, vendor listings, and information about the guests of honor. They also often include codes of conduct, welcome letters from organizers, staff listings, and sponsor acknowledgements. If a charity is being supported by the convention, it is often listed there.[42][44]
Music concerts
[edit]
The brony music scene is considered unique in its enormous volume, spanning numerous genres including electronic dance music, rock, classical arrangements, and specialized fusion genres.[45] Fan-created music is a major part of My Little Pony fan conventions, with dedicated performance spaces and events that showcase the fandom's musical talent. Conventions often feature specialized music festivals with unique branding: for example, BronyCon hosted BronyPalooza,[46] while Everfree Northwest continues to present Ponystock.[47]
Charity auctions
[edit]Brony conventions tend to be non-profit organizations with a heavy focus on charity.[48] Brony conventions have raised tens of thousands of dollars towards various charitable causes. In 2012, Everfree Northwest's charity auction raised $13,535 for the Seattle Children's Hospital. In 2015, BronyCon's charity auction raised $30,645 for CureSearch for Children's Cancer.[48]
Charity auctions at brony conventions are viewed as competitive spectacles where bronies bid on rare merchandise like signed prints from voice actors, worn lanyards, and unique convention posters, with value determined by the money participants are willing to spend for exclusive ownership. According to Theo A. Peck-Suzuki writing in the journal Transformative Works and Cultures, these auctions function as "tournaments of value" that allow winners to distinguish themselves within the brony community and affirm their belonging.[49]
List of conventions
[edit]Active events
[edit]Next/Last held | Name | Place |
---|---|---|
17–19 January 2025 | Vanhoover Pony Expo | Vancouver, Canada |
31 January–2 February 2025 | HarmonyCon | Dallas, Texas, United States |
22–23 March 2025 | Festival of Friendship | Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom |
5–6 April 2025 | Ponies Online | Discord (virtual), International |
3–4 May 2025 | Griffish Isles | Manchester, United Kingdom |
31 May–1 June 2025 | EponaFest | Cremona, Italy |
6–8 June 2025 | Everfree Encore | Uslar, Germany |
19–20 July 2025 | China Southern Brony Carnival | Guangzhou, China |
25–27 July 2025 | TrotCon | Columbus, Ohio, United States |
22–24 August 2025 | Everfree Northwest | Bellevue, Washington, United States |
5–7 September 2025 | Mare Fair | Orlando, Florida, United States |
6–7 September 2025 | GalaCon | Waiblingen, Germany |
19–21 September 2025 | SeaquestriaFest | Ocean City, Maryland, United States |
25–26 October 2025 | UK PonyCon | Birmingham, United Kingdom |
25–26 October 2025 | Ponycon Holland | Zeist, Netherlands |
21–23 November 2025 | Ponyville Ciderfest | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States |
5–7 June 2026 | Whinny City Pony Con | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
21–23 August 2026 | Czequestria | Prague, Czech Republic |
Discontinued events
[edit]Last held | Name | Place |
---|---|---|
1–4 August 2019 | BronyCon | Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
14–16 September 2012 | Midwestria | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
28–30 September 2012 | Canterlot Gardens | Cleveland, Ohio, United States |
25–27 August 2017 | BronyCAN | Richmond, British Columbia, Canada |
17–19 November 2017 | Equestria LA | Los Angeles, California, United States |
April 2014 | BUCK | Manchester, United Kingdom |
18–20 April 2025 | BABSCon | Burlingame, California, United States |
31 August–1 September 2018 | Crystal Mountain Pony Con | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
See also
[edit]- Furry convention
- My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fandom
- Music of the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fandom
- Art of the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fandom
References
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- ^ a b Pantozzi, Jill (2012-10-01). "My Little Pony's Tara Strong Chooses Twilight Sparkle For Her First-Ever Cosplay". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^ a b c Wennemer, Rob (2012-06-29). "Pittsburgh guys profess love for My Little Pony". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
- ^ a b @BronyCon (August 9, 2015). "In case you missed it at closing ceremonies, #BronyCon 2015's final total for attendance was 10,011! The first pony con to hit five digits!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Scotellaro, Shaun. "BronyCon 2013 Moves to Baltimore". Equestria Daily. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
- ^ Scotellaro, Shaun. "Addition to Bronycon Venue Announcement". Equestria Daily. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
- ^ Gregory, Jennifer Goforth (2014-08-08). "The Bros Who Love My Little Pony". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
- ^ Drabinski, Kate (2013-08-07). "WHAT'S SO FUNNY 'BOUT PEACE, LOVE, AND BRONYCON?". Baltimore City Paper. Retrieved 2013-08-07 – via University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
- ^ a b Reysen, Stephen; Plante, Courtney N.; Chadborn, Daniel (2022). "Perceived Permeability of Group Boundaries as a Mediator Between Belonging to Multiple Fandoms and Loneliness". Popular Culture Studies Journal. 10 (1): 315.
- ^ Connelly, Sherilyn (2012-08-22). "Beyond BronyCon: Inside the My Little Pony Convention, Everfree Northwest". SF Weekly. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
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- ^ "Bronies invade B.C. for 2nd BronyCAN My Little Pony convention". CBC. 2014-08-24. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
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- ^ a b "Darren McMullen's Wild Side 1". Darren McMullen's Outsiders. April 1, 2014. National Geographic Australia.
- ^ Murphy, Damien (2013-04-05). "My Little Pony gains growing legion of fans from left field". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
- ^ Roth, Max (2015-07-17). "My Little Pony convention welcomes 800 bronies to downtown SLC". Retrieved 2016-07-25.
- ^ Schroeder, Lauryn (10 January 2016). "My Little Pony fans invade San Diego". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- ^ a b Williams, Zoe (2012-10-05). "Men in tiaras join UK's biggest My Little Pony fans". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
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- ^ a b O'Conner, Rod (2015-08-19). "Meet the Adult Men Who Worship My Little Pony". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
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- ^ Zuckerman, Esther (2012-10-15). "What 'My Little Pony' Art Looks Like". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
- ^ Scotellaro, Shaun (2020-03-13). "COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and My Little Pony Conventions This Summer - What To Know". Equestria Daily. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
- ^ @EverfreeNW (2020-06-15). "Friends, We are sorry to announce that due to the ongoing pandemic, we have made the difficult decision to cancel #EFNW2020. But we're doubly excited to say that we're coming back next year! For full details please visit https://everfreenw.com/covid-19. Stay safe; we'll see you soon" (Tweet). Retrieved 2025-04-14 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "History of UK PonyCon". UK PonyCon. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ a b "About". TrotCon. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
- ^ Thomson, Cameron (2022-01-02). "My Little Pony fans to gallop into digitally recreated version of 'Vanhoover' (PHOTOS)". Burnaby Now. Archived from the original on 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
- ^ "Everfree Northwest 2021". Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ Ponyville Ciderfest 2021 Con Book (PDF). 2021.
- ^ McNally, Tantroo (2022-02-15). "Corgi Events to disband after staff upheaval following Sin City Murr Con's first year". flayrah. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
- ^ Scotellaro, Shaun (2022-02-12). "Corgi Events May have Collapsed, but Ponyville Ciderfest and Whinny City Pony Con Are Saved!". Equestria Daily. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
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- ^ "Police called to investigate alleged LGBTQ+ propaganda at Russian 'My Little Pony' convention". Associated Press. 2024-02-18. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
- ^ "Russian Supreme Court bans the whole LGBTQ movement and brands activists 'extremists'". Sky News. 2023-11-30. Archived from the original on 2023-11-30. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
- ^ a b c BABSCon 2017 Conbook, pp. 12-22
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- ^ Edwards, Patrick; Chadborn, Daniel P.; Plante, Courtney N.; Reysen, Stephen; Redden, Marsha Howze (September 11, 2019). Meet the Bronies: The Psychology of the Adult My Little Pony Fandom. United States: McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. pp. 49–50. ISBN 9781476663715.
- ^ Meehan, Sarah. "8 things you need to know about BronyCon, the 'My Little Pony' convention". Baltimore Business Journal.
- ^ Orsini, Lauren Rae (2012-04-21). "For brony musicians, 'Friendship Is Magic' serves as muse". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- ^ a b Connelly, S. (2017). Ponyville Confidential: The History and Culture of My Little Pony, 1981-2016. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. ISBN 9781476662091. LCCN 2016044897.
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{{cite web}}
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