Chewelah's First Quartzite Mini-Con Draws Hundreds, Blending Creativity, Community and Rural Fandom Culture

What started as an idea between Steven and Nancy Cross became one of Chewelah’s most successful events, as the first-ever Quartzite Mini-Con packed the Mistequa Casino Hotel on Saturday with cosplay, gaming tables, local authors, families, and fans from across the region.

Attendance swelled to an estimated 500 people over the course of the day, an overwhelming response that organizers worried might draw only modest interest as Steven Cross admitted he wasn’t sure what to expect at the opening.

“After not getting a lot of comments or responses from posts on social media… I wasn’t sure what the turnout would be,” he said. But once the doors opened, “People were excited about an event like this to be in our county.” He said what surprised him most was the creativity on display. “The most surprising thing was the talent and creativity of people who said they have never participated in a costume contest but there were costumes that would compete in Lilac City Comicon’s cosplay contest.”

Nancy Cross said the mix of ages stood out from the start.

“The biggest surprise to me, aside from a really amazing turn out, was the age span,” she said. “People brought in their babies, and their grandparents and they were all having fun.”

The event welcomed attendees from Kellogg, Wallace, Post Falls, Ione, Addy, Valley, Colville and beyond, which was proof, Nancy said, of how much the region needed a space for fandoms to gather.

“It was insane having people say they traveled all the way,” she said. “That really just goes to show how much these types of events are needed.”

Drawing on their work as vendors at conventions around Washington, the Crosses set out to bring more than a shopping experience. Steven said their goal was simple.

“People attend these events for the experience and not just to buy things,” Steven said. “They attend for a sense of a place that they feel welcomed and are allowed to express their excitement for their chosen fandoms.”

Nancy echoed that vision.

“One thing we will never change is that this is not simply a vendor fair. It is a themed event,” she said. “We want people to come in and be able to not only shop, but make friends, hang out, have some food and just enjoy themselves.”

The event featured gaming tables, book signings, original artwork, cosplay, and themed foods – elements the couple had seen resonate at larger shows but wanted to share with a rural community.

“We wanted the community to have a chance at cosplay even if it was on a smaller scale,” Nancy said. “Having authors on hand to do book signings was huge for us.”

A major motivation for the Crosses was providing a space for teens and young adults who often feel disconnected in rural communities. Nancy said one interaction highlighted exactly why the event mattered.

“We had a young man from Flat Creek express how grateful he was because he had nothing like this and felt this was the first time he was able to make friends and feel like he belonged,” she said. “Sometimes even the nerds need to feel celebrated and seen.”

Steven agreed, noting how isolating large conventions can be for rural residents.

“Some people don’t like to or can’t afford to travel very far but they want the experience of a show like this,” he said. “Hearing teens and even adults excited that this was here and that they were able to make new friends… lets me know that this has been needed in our area for a very long time.”

With space running out this year, the Crosses are already brainstorming ways to grow. Nancy said she hopes to add more vendors and artists, introduce cosplay divisions for different age groups, and expand categories to separate store-bought and handmade costumes. She also hopes for author panels or Q&A sessions – something Steven is exploring as well.

“We don’t have the budget to bring in panels and celebrities like the bigger shows,” Steven said. But inviting regional authors to speak, or even a “local celebrity” to host a discussion, would help elevate next year’s event while keeping it free for the public.

Keeping the event accessible is a priority.

“I feel the entry fee to get into some of the bigger events in the area is what keeps people away,” Steven said. “The community really appreciated that they had more money to spend with the vendors and on the awesome con merchandise that Nancy made!”

For Nancy, the event’s name came from looking out a hotel window during early planning meetings, Quartzite rising against a clear sky. For Steven, the event’s purpose was on full display Saturday.

“Seeing the smiling faces and people having fun made my day,” he said. “Bringing the community together… to let them know that even though we might live in a rural community… that does not mean that you can’t enjoy the wide variety of fandoms out there. We all have a little nerd in us.”