Check out the interactive calendar.

Hello hello! This newsletter issue is coming in early, and we’ve been busy. Got some updates for you.

First up, our sit-down interview with Festival of Legends founder Jeffrey Kass is now live on YouTube. In the video, Jeffrey explains how he created North Carolina’s magical fairy festival and hints at what’s ahead for the April 25-26, 2026 show. (He unveiled next year’s theme!) Check it out and tell us what you think:

We’re also changing our newsletter cadence. Instead of writing every other week, we’re switching to weekly Wednesday issues starting August 27 so you’ll see shorter but more timely updates in your inbox.

Need a quick way to see what’s coming up? Our new interactive calendar compiles all the local nerdy events, from anime cons to video game music jam nights, and is updated weekly. We’ll link it in every issue so you can plan your weekends at a glance.

Finally, we’ve launched the North Carolina Nerd & Hobby Business Directory, a growing list of comic shops, arcades, anime stores and other pop‑culture businesses. You’ll find places like Animazed (anime/K‑pop/manga), Hidden Block Games (video games and trading cards) and Ultimate Comics, with many more to come. If you run or love a geeky spot, request a listing! We’d love to include you.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you in a couple of weeks!

– Matias