If you're anywhere near Colorado this weekend, Pikes Peak Gamers is hosting its final board game convention at Memorial Hall in Manitou Springs from April 10-12. The three-day event features a library of over 1,500 games, tournaments, attendee-scheduled events, and a flea market, all at the foot of Pikes Peak.
Organiser Jose Balderrama confirmed that this will be the last PPG Con, at least for now. Speaking to Axios Colorado Springs, he described the step-back as a pause rather than a permanent closure, expressing hope that either the convention could restart someday or that others might be inspired to build something similar in the region.
PPG Con carved out a niche as a community-first convention. No massive exhibit halls or publisher booths. Instead, it focused on what most gamers actually want from a convention: a huge game library, table space, and a weekend surrounded by people who want to play. The setting helps too. Manitou Springs is a quirky mountain town with local restaurants and shops within walking distance of the venue.
Full-weekend badges are $70, with limited single-day passes available at the door for $40. The schedule includes PPG-sponsored tournaments alongside open gaming, so the programme covers tournament players and casual gamers alike. Three days of pulling games off a shelf with strangers who become friends is hard to beat.
Community conventions like PPG Con are the backbone of the hobby. They don't make headlines the way Gen Con or Essen do, but they're where many gamers first discover that this hobby is bigger than their living room shelf. If you can make it to Manitou Springs this weekend, it's worth the trip. If you're looking for game nights and events closer to home, there's always a table waiting somewhere.
Sources: Pikes Peak Gamers | Axios Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs Gazette
