GrandCon is an annual tabletop gaming convention that takes place on or near Labor Day weekend in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It began in 2013, but due to skipping a couple years during the pandemic, this year was the show’s 10th running. The con has seen a steady increase in attendance over the years, rising from about 1,000 in 2013 to over 2,500 in 2024. This was my third time attending, though both previous visits were prior to the pandemic, and I was pleased to find it still thriving.
The convention’s main focus is on gaming and offering an array of experiences, but for the gamer looking to acquire or demo some of the latest games, GrandCon offers that too. Publishers such as The Op, Elf Creek Games, Cephofair, and CGE had prominent booths set up near the entrance, with other publishers and vendors along the walls of the main exhibit and gaming hall.
I attended with my nephew and we met up with my best gaming pal, who flew in just for the occasion. Our group of three decided to roam the hall to see what was on offer and enjoy some game demos. We played one of The Op’s new titles, Lure, and I demoed Honey Buzz from Elf Creek who were promoting a recent expansion for the game. The folks at Elf Creek said the show was going well for them and they were enjoying the more laidback setting after the chaos of GenCon earlier this summer.
Especially popular was the demo table for Avatar: The Last Airbender – Aang’s Destiny, The Op’s newest implementation of Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle. Many vendors offered game-adjacent accessories such as dice towers, D&D accessories and various geek culture goodies. Two or three board game retailers were also selling games, some at discounted prices, and there was a “garage sale” where attendees could sell and acquire used games.
The entire middle of the convention hall was furnished with rows and rows of tables which were in constant use. Players could check out titles from the library which, according to the GrandCon website, contains over 2,500 games. We didn’t feel particularly compelled to take on heavy games because of all the noise in the hall, so we chose lighter titles such as So Clover, Scout, Kabuto Sumo, and Horrified. It was a nice opportunity to play games I’d been meaning to try for a while.
If I had one complaint I think it would, indeed, be how loud the convention hall was, especially the overly loud PA announcements that echoed so badly we could barely make out what the speaker was saying, but I get that there probably isn’t a good way around that and it’s just part of any convention experience.
The hotel we stayed at, which offered discounted rates for con attendees, had a room dedicated to gaming that was Heaven-blessed with beautiful quiet on Sunday morning, allowing us to play through a game of Root before returning to the con. The downside was, of course, you couldn’t take checkouts from the con library all the way to this room to play in peace.
The convention also offered an array of experiences in separate halls which were just a short walk away from the convention center. The popular Youtube channel, Our Family Plays Games, hosted a seminar. There were designer workshops, as well as paint and take miniatures opportunities. Most of these events required signing up ahead of time and I’m such a creature of impulse that I chose not to sign up, plus the events I would have liked to join—like playing Ready Set Bet with designer John D. Clair—filled up before we had the chance to register.
GrandCon would be great for those who want to take advantage of a vast library and play lots of games… if you can tune out the noise. It will also appeal to anyone looking to interact with the community and industry professionals through the various offered experiences, or maybe just catch a glimpse of them “in the wild”. While I would have liked to see as many publishers as I remembered from my previous visits, I still felt there were enough offerings to tempt anyone’s wallet, and many popular newer and older titles could be found on display and for purchase.
Overall, I enjoyed my experience, particularly because I was with people dear to me and the con, facilitated an atmosphere in which we could enjoy our shared love of games. The event was well organized, and everyone we interacted with, from staff to publishers and other gamers, was friendly and welcoming. There were enough things to see and enough games to play to fill up the entire weekend. With lodging and food options nearby, it’s ideally located and easy to get to. Michigan itself has a pretty healthy gaming scene and I’m happy to see that reflected in the dedication and care the organizers put into this show. I look forward to seeing what the con will have to offer in the future as it continues to grow.
