A local event manager and FanCon volunteer Dyanne Lybbert is hosting a special holiday event to raise money for her favourite annual event.
The 45-year-old mother of six is hosting a special Holiday Bazar on Dec. 17 and 18 to raise funds for the non-profit Northern FanCon Society.
After seeing back-to-back years of the event struggling with lower attendance due to COVID-19, Lybbert decided to do her part to help Northern FanCon’s fundraising efforts.
"FanCon is such an amazing family event that has done so much for the city," said Lybbert. "I am happy to do my part to contribute to it and encourage others to do the same."
Lybbert has been a volunteer of FanCon since its inaugural year in 2015 and said she’s seen firsthand the effect it has had on the cultural fabric of Prince George.
As Christmas approached, she came up with the idea to host a festive family tradeshow which will happen this week at the Roll-a-Dome with proceeds being donated to FanCon.
The event will feature 100 vendors, unique gifts, door prizes, Santa photos on Saturday or Grinch photos on Sunday, and a taste of FanCon through the years playing on screen.
Originally a for-profit trade show venture created by the Prince George Citizen, FanCon changed hands in 2020 after a successful $100,000 Kickstarter campaign enabled former employee Norm Coyne to assume ownership.
In late 2022, Coyne converted the event into a non-profit society and left it as a gift to the city after moving to Kelowna.
His hope was that a shared leadership would preserve the event's legacy and the new iteration would enable access to previously unattainable funding support.
The Holiday Bazaar runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec 17 and Sunday, Dec 18 at the Roll-A-Dome. Admission is free. A limited amount of booths are still available for sale.
