This past July brought a new type of event to Greene County – it’s very first toy and comic convention. The Waynesburg Toy & Comic Expo returns for a December show, bringing with it lots of toy, art, and comic vendors, celebrity guests, and more!
The July event had 560 people attend, from through the surrounding area and as far away as Chicago, Columbus, New York City, and mid-state Missouri. That show featured plenty of vendors selling a variety of collectibles and art, the Outer Rim Praxeum’s lightsaber battles, and former WWE superstar Rosa Mendes (Milena Roucka).
At the December show, you’ll be able to meet Miko Hughes and Wayne Grayson. Miko Hughes is best known for his roles in the original Pet Semetary, New Nightmare, Spawn, Kindergarten Cop, Full House, and other movies. Wayne Grayson is a voice over actor best known for his role as Michelangelo in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series that ran from 2003 – 2009, Joey Wheeler in Yu-Gi-Oh and hundreds of other characters over his extensive career. You’ll also have a chance to see Santa Clause and get a picture, with all proceeds going to a charity of Santa’s choice.
The show is organized by Legendary Conventions, and at its head is Dave Plavi. Dave was born and raised in Nemacolin. He left for two years to run sound and lighting for concerts in Laughlin, Nevada. Upon his return, he was with the Nemacolin Volunteer Fire Department through 2010 and worked EMS professionally through 2015. He’s now the Regional Director for Pace Healthcare Transportation.
In 2010, Dave became a replica prop maker focusing on Power Rangers. After creating helmets and weapon replicas for over 40 Power Rangers actors, be began vending at conventions across the East Coast. Once the pandemic shut down conventions, he shifted his focus to running conventions instead of being a vendor.
He hosted the first Mountaineer Comic Con in September 2021, and taking a hiatus from that after its completion, introduced the Waynesburg Toy & Comic expo. He is also the organizer for both Salem Toy & Comic Expo and Salem Horror Festival, held in Salem, OH.
A lot of hard work and dedication go into hosting these events. “[Y]ou have to find the need and fulfill it… find what genre or interest works best. Timing is one of the most important things, how close to it, in time, compared to other regional events. Once you determine the type of event you want, you’ve got to attend some similar [events] and possibly even volunteer at some to see how they work, what would work for you and what could be changed.”
Dave and Legendary Conventions believe in giving back to the community and making the area a better place. For the past three years, they’ve organized the Carmichaels Trunk or Treat event, which will be a part of the new Carmichaels Halloween Festival next year. They plan to organize a Food Truck and Music Festival but are waiting on permits to shut down some state roads. Currently in the early stages of planning are a sports memorabilia show, home services show, and an outdoor show, all held in Greene County or the surrounding area. There are also tentative plans to hold a professional wrestling convention in Waynesburg, as well as exploring interest in a show in Wheeling, WV.
“I feel we’ve lost our sense of community. I’m from here, live here, and have no plans to leave. Events that have gone on, in the past, have become shells of what they once were and I’m trying to come up with events that people look forward to yearly, to infuse new and fresh ideas to our area. The most important thing to me is that there is something for the next generation to look back and talk about what they enjoyed in their childhood,” Dave says.
Dave adds that he’s “[t]hankful for all of the support the events have received so far.”
The Waynesburg Toy & Comic Expo is being held at the EQT Rec Center (400 Evergreen Drive Waynesburg, PA) on December 3, from 10am to 5pm. Early Bird tickets are available for purchase at ShowClix. All pre-sale ticket holders will be able to gain access one hour before general admission sales, at the door at 9am. The Waynesburg Toy & Comic Expo is presented by Jack FM 101 and is a Legendary Conventions, LLC event.