Event will feature special guests BAFTA and Emmy-nominated actor and Hackettstown native Jimmi Simpson and Tim Jacobus, illustrator for the iconic R.L. Stine Goosebumps book series

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, March 30, 2026—Centenary University will present its third annual pop culture convention, CycloneCon 2026, on Saturday, April 11, from 10 am to 6 pm at the university’s Hackettstown campus. Emmy-nominated actor and Hackettstown native Jimmi Simpson will headline CycloneCon 2026 with an interview in the Sitnik Theater. The event will also feature special guest Tim Jacobus, the original illustrator for the iconic R.L. Stine Goosebumps book series.

CycloneCon—whose name evokes the Centenary University Cyclone mascot—will shine a spotlight on fandoms, including comics, anime, horror, and video games. Attendees can enjoy an exhibitor hall featuring more than90 vendors, artists, local authors, and independent video game developers; a cosplay masquerade; food trucks; and a Super Smash Bros tournament hosted by the County College of Morris’s Student Electronic Gaming Organization. In addition, guests can participate in free workshops including stage combat, theatrical makeup, kids drawing, voice acting for adults and kids, pitch writing, and belly dancing; activities such as Story Time with Superheroes, Gravity Falls Jeopardy, Yarn Spinning Demo, Orb’s Eye Board Gaming, Learn to Paint Miniatures, a horror movie screening with a Q&A, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trivia; and panels including Intro to Decora Fashion, Intro to Variant Cosplays, Cosplay Competitions 101, and Corey’s Cartoon Class. Check out the CycloneCon website for new announcements and the latest schedule of programs.

            Headlining CycloneCon 2026 is BAFTA and Emmy-nominated actor Jimmi Simpson. A 1994 graduate of Hackettstown High School, Simpson can currently be seen in the hit Apple TV+ adaptation of Dark Matter. He recently wrapped production on a leading role in season 3 of AMC's Walking Dead spinoff, Dead City. He has also appeared in the Netflix hit series, Black Mirror, earning a BAFTA nomination, and in the Apple TV+ series Pachinko, adapted from the best-selling novel. In his impressive career, Simpson has starred in The Man Who Fell to Earth and Perpetual Grace, Ltd., and earned an Emmy nod for his role in Westworld. In addition, he has appeared in a host of feature films and on Broadway in The Farnsworth Invention, as well as the Los Angeles stage production of Trevor.

Special guest Tim Jacobus, the original illustrator for the iconic R.L. Stine Goosebumps book series, is responsible for the creation of more than 100 Goosebumps Classic Series, Series 2000, and special edition cover illustrations. Throughout his career, Jacobus has done over 300 book covers and painting for various series, novels, and video games.

“CycloneCon 2026 reflects what we love about fandoms: Storytelling, imagination, and community,” said Associate Professor of English Erica McCrystal, Ph.D., who is coordinating the event. “From the exhibitor hall to workshops, gaming, cosplay, and special guests, we can’t wait to share another unforgettable day with students, families, and visitors at CycloneCon on the Centenary University campus.”

Advance tickets for CycloneCon 2026 are $10 general admission and $5 for Centenary University and Hackettstown High School and Middle School students. Kids under 12 are free. Purchase tickets or sign on as an exhibitor or event sponsor here.

Photo: CycloneCon 2025 Cosplay Catwalk and Masquerade. Credit: Fresco Alessandro

ABOUT CENTENARY UNIVERSITY

Centenary University was founded in 1867 by United Methodists and offers extraordinary learning opportunities that empower students to develop intellectually, emotionally, and interculturally—keys to career and personal success. The University aspires to advance its reputation as a world class institution offering innovative programs, including the world’s first Ph.D. in Happiness Studies and first Master of Arts in Happiness Studies, to lift the future for our students and local communities.