Opole once again turned into a capital of imagination during the weekend of September 19–21, when Opolcon 2025 brought together fans of fantasy, games, and creativity.
Organized by the Opole Fantasy Club Fenix (OKF Fenix), the biggest free festival of its kind in Poland filled three venues: the Electrical Schools Complex, the Economic Schools Complex, and Public High School No. 8. The celebration featured hundreds of attractions, a lot of which were enjoyable without any language barriers: from many lectures and quizzes to tournaments, retro consoles, and board games. Meanwhile, the corridors were filled with of stalls featuring various items (like RPGs, candy, or plushies) to buy – and at one of them, attendees were able to meet Graham Masterton, the acclaimed British writer best known for horror fiction (who appeared in Opole for the second time this year, after the prior Opole Book Festival last June).
The atmosphere throughout the three days was electric. According to the organizers, this year saw yet another record in attendance, and it was clear in the crowded halls and the constant buzz of activity. Fun and entertainment were around every turn, with helpful staff ensuring that the experience stayed joyful for all involved. The weather was also much kinder, compared to the last year’s edition – the sun was out and the temperatures were around 30 degrees Celsius.
For us, this year was particularly special. For the first time, our website had a hand in preparing part of the official Polish-language program. As lovers of all forms of media, we were able to contribute a lecture about the life of Jim Henson, offering a closer look at the creative force behind the Muppets, and we also hosted a musical quiz dedicated to songs that became Internet memes. Both of the scheduled events drew enthusiastic audiences and gave us the chance to share our passions with the community.
We also took part as contestants in several of the festival’s game-show-style quizzes, including one devoted to the parodies and medleys of “Weird Al” Yankovic and another exploring the world of Disney and other animated films. The loud laughter, the major tension of answering under pressure, and the big joy of celebrating correct answers made every round a highlight. Each of them gave participants the chance to earn points, which could later be exchanged for prizes at the information desk, adding an extra layer of excitement.
We had also attended lectures of our friends: including Gravity’s on video editing and Vojti’s on Polish communist era culture, as well as other interesting ones: on one of the most popular Polish TV shows, Asian comics, and trading card games. While walking around we also took part in various other scheduled forms of fun as viewers, looking for nice moments and costumes to share with our readers in the gallery below – including more quizzes, the cosplay contest with a once again full auditorium, as well as the musical performance by the NanoKarrin group.
What made Opolcon 2025 stand out, however, was not just the program but the spirit of the extravaganza itself. The returning combination of creativity, humor, and a sense of community created an atmosphere that lingered long after the doors closed on Sunday. We met and came across many people, shared stories, unveiled our mascot Opo the Link’s physical form (as seen in the photos), and felt once again how unique this festival has become in the cultural landscape of Opole.
This was our second year taking part in Opolcon, the prior one being our first official event, and it was yet again an experience we will be happy to return in the future. We are grateful to OKF Fenix for inviting us, and to all the volunteers for their tireless work in making the event run so smoothly. Having this year’s success in mind, we are already looking forward to what the next one will bring. Until then, we have plenty of surprises coming your way very soon!
(photos: OPOlink.pl)
