Attention, enthusiasts of pop culture gatherings and LARPing (live-action role playing): Pikesville’s Chizuk Amuno Congregation will present the Baltimore metropolitan region’s first-ever fan convention devoted to the Festival of Lights.
Only hours before the start of the Chanukah holiday season, “HanuCon” will take place on Sunday, Dec. 14, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Chizuk Amuno, 8100 Stevenson Road.
The convention will feature a marketplace with more than 90 vendors offering a wide range of gifts and specialty items, including comics and graphic novels; sports cards and memorabilia; trading cards, trading card game products and graded collectibles; and Judaica, holiday gifts, toys, artwork, jewelry and more
Guests can also enjoy cosplay photo-ops, autograph sessions, hands-on activities and exclusive HanuCon merchandise.
Among the lineup of special guests scheduled to appear at HanuCon will be:
- Dee Bradley Baker, acclaimed voice actor known for “Star Wars: The Bad Batch,” “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” Phineas and Ferb” and countless other fan-favorite roles;
- Spencer Horwitz, the Baltimore-born first/second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates and a Team Israel member;
- Dean Kremer, a Baltimore Orioles pitcher and a Team Israel standout;
- and Mathew Klickstein, an author and pop-culture historian.
There will also be appearances by the Orioles Bird , the Mandalorian, Spider-Man, Superman, Deadpool, Green Power Ranger and the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 Replica Car.
Kosher food and beverages will be available.
“With over 250 tickets sold and an expected crowd of more than 500 attendees, HanuCon is poised to become a major new community event blending fandom, culture and holiday celebration,” Chizuk Amuno said in a statement.
For tickets or information, visit chizukamuno.org/form/HanuConTickets2025
A committed philanthropist and community leader, Russel was president of R&H Motors.
The mother of four was a native of Winchester, Virginia, who spent most of her life in Northwest Baltimore.
The Columbia resident worked on the Gemini and Apollo space missions.
A St. Louis native, Edelman served as ambassador to the central African nation from 1987 to 1989.