The Nerd-vana Convention kicks off Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. with the 30th Anniversary Power Ranger dinner. Tickets to the dinner also include VIP admission to the Nerd-vana Convention Saturday, Aug. 26.

Tickets to the dinner are limited. The dinner will include several Power Rangers actors, including Selwyn Ward, Jeffrey Parazzo, Kevin Duhaney, and Sandi Sellner, who played Alpha 5. The dinner will be held in the multipurpose rooms at the Lafayette County Arena. 

Stay late for a Yu-Gi-Oh game night with Oxford Gamerz Den starting at 7:30 p.m. in the same location, then join the action on Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early bird tickets are on sale now. General admission is $15, but it will be $20 at the door. 

The con will feature vendors, performances and panels. Three featured vendors are local to North Mississippi, including Oxford Gamerz Den with tabletop games, Bad Eddy’s with collectibles and comics and Alpha Gaming with new and vintage video games. Oxford Gamerz Den and Bad Eddy’s are both located in Oxford, and Alpha Gaming is from Tupelo. 

“Nerd-vana has been a growing regional event,” said Wayne Andrews, director of the Arts Council. “Stacy Irby and his team who organize the event are providing an opportunity for regional game shops, artists and performers to bring in celebrities in the genre and offer an chance for fans to build a sense of community.”  

Events also include a magic show, a comedy show, musical performances and a Mystery Box  drawing. Buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win a mystery box filled with prizes including Pokemon cards, McFarlane toys, DC action figures, Funko Pop merchandise, card games from Flux, and branded gift items from Marvel, Star Wars and Toy Story. Tickets are only $5, and there are multiple chances to win.

You can see more of the vendors and celebrities attending the con by checking Nerd-vana Convention on Facebook.

See the full schedule of events here: 

• 9 a.m.: VIP admission
• 10 a.m.: General admission 
• 10:10 a.m.: Screening of the first episode of the POW miniseries
• 10:30-11 a.m.: Peter Prankster
• 11-11:30 a.m.: Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Funding Panel; learn about grants for creatives
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Anubis Improv comedy show
• 12:30-1 p.m.: Bentley Burns Magic Show
• 1-1:30 p.m.: Voice acting panel
• 1:30-2 p.m.: Power Rangers panel
• 2-3:30 p.m.: Mystery Box game show
• 3:30-5 p.m.: Cosplay contest
• 5 p.m.: Vendor hall closes
• 5:30-6 p.m.: Super Nerd presents Nerd Core Rap
• 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Violet Creek Band
• 7:30 p.m.-midnight: Bad Eddy’s after party

Get your tickets online.