Laman Library in North Little Rock throws open its doors Saturday for Laman Con 2026, a free, all-ages festival running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that mixes archery lessons, a murder mystery and a silent disco with crafts, cosplay groups and a community mural. The event is open to anyone, not just North Little Rock residents, and organizers say visitors can drop in for an hour or stick around for all four.
A Growing Genre Lineup Beyond Sci-Fi and Fantasy
According to KATV, Laman Library Special Projects Coordinator Lauren Schmidt said the convention is expanding beyond its traditional science fiction and fantasy focus this year, with historical romance, mysteries and comic books now part of the mix. The North Little Rock Public Library System frames the day as bringing together readers, watchers, gamers and fans of many genres, with its own promotional material promising attendees can “Craft a fairy wand, solve a murder mystery, add to a community mural, jam out at a silent disco, compete in a video game tournament,” and explore “Mystery, fantasy, music, horror, sci-fi, and beyond!”
Per KATV, Schmidt said the goal is to make every kind of fan feel included and to help visitors discover new genres along the way. The event also includes an all-day, library-wide quest with areas themed to different genres, where participants can collect keychains at each section and earn a raffle entry for completing the full circuit, a structure the library's event page confirms by noting that “All adventurers who complete the quest will be entered into a drawing for raffle prizes!”
A Murder Mystery Stalks the Stacks
Among the headline attractions is an all-day interactive murder mystery staged throughout the library stacks, where participants hunt for evidence connected to suspects and a victim identified in the KATV report as Albert Normlman. Raffle prizes tied to the day's activities reportedly include a gift card provided by Caverns and Forest, a screen-printed tote bag, and items donated by vendors, per the station's report.
The first 50 people who make their way to the Welcome Table can pick up a bandana featuring the event's logo, though the library's own site notes the giveaway is limited to one per group. That logo was designed by Jenna Jones, described by KATV as a local artist, and attendees can see her work incorporated into the community mural, which uses a paint-by-number format that Schmidt said requires no artistic skill to join.
Archery, Screen Printing and a Historical Duel
Hands-on learning rounds out the schedule. An archery basics class is set for noon, led by Rick Fields of Arkansas Game and Fish, who the library's site says will let participants “practice with a real bow.” At 1 p.m., the Society for Creative Anachronism is scheduled to stage a historical fight, continuing a presence at the convention that dates back to at least 2024, when a longtime member told Yahoo he got hooked after a renaissance festival demonstration and was still doing it 14 years later.
Attendees can also bring an item such as a T-shirt, bandana or tote bag to have the Laman Con design screen-printed on-site, as long as the item is at least 60 percent cotton, according to KATV's reporting; the library's own Makerspace schedule lists the printing window as running from 1 to 2 p.m. Those arriving without their own item can take part in cardboard cosplay creations instead, with the library's program listing noting that templates come in both child and adult sizes, though young children should have adult help since hot glue is involved.
Trivia, Vendors and Costumed Visitors
A trivia contest themed after Um, Actually is being hosted by Pocket Dimension, with a prize on offer for participants, KATV reports. Local vendors are also set to sell items such as jewelry and bookmarks, continuing a tradition from the 2024 event, which Yahoo described as featuring local vendors and hands-on crafts including personalized buttons, tote bags and T-shirts at the family-friendly gathering.
Costumed groups scheduled to appear include the Central Arkansas Ghostbusters, the Star Trek group USS Blackstone, and the 501st Garrison, a Star Wars villain cosplay group that KATV describes as playing “bad guys doing good.” Schmidt encouraged attendees to dress for the weather, with a bit of a cold day expected Saturday, and to help spread the word through the library's social media promotions.
Laman Con 2024 took place at the same North Little Rock library and drew families for a similarly hands-on, community-driven celebration, per Yahoo's coverage at the time. This year's edition builds on that foundation with its library-wide quest and expanded genre lineup, with Schmidt and library staff positioning Laman Library as a community space built for fun, creative events open to all ages.
