LeJuane Bowens has spent years proving that a poem does not have to remain on the page. On Halloween, he plans to make the same argument about fandom: It does not have to stay inside convention walls.
Fayetteville Fan Fest Presents: FanQuest Day will unfold from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, across four locations in downtown Fayetteville. SkyView on Hay, 121 Hay St., will serve as the main hub for the free event, which blends animation, cosplay, panels, music, gaming, visual art and local vendors into a walkable pop-culture adventure.
Bowens, the organizer leading FanQuest Day, said the smaller format emerged from a deliberate pause. Fayetteville Fan Fest is taking a break from its larger festival this year, giving the team time to examine what it had built and what the community needed next.
“Taking a pause from the larger festival gave us time to reflect, reassess and be intentional about the future of Fayetteville Fan Fest,” Bowens said. “Ultimately, this isn’t about stepping back; it’s about growing with purpose and creating something that truly belongs to Fayetteville.”
FanQuest carries fandom beyond a single building and into downtown businesses and creative spaces. Visitors will use the event schedule and location map to move from one experience to another. Bowens said the sites were chosen for their partnerships, accessibility and ability to introduce guests to places they might otherwise pass without entering.
“The goal is to create something that feels less like attending a convention and more like stepping into an adventure,” he said. “I want people to feel like they’re part of the story, not just spectators.”
That instinct is familiar territory for Bowens, a Fayetteville poet, author, educator, event producer and U.S. Army veteran. He served six years, including two deployments to Iraq, and began committing more of his experiences to the page while in uniform. His career grew from an uncertain 2007 open-mic appearance into award-winning work as a spoken-word artist, workshop facilitator and TEDx speaker.
Bowens founded Poetry-N-Motion LLC, organizes the Southeastern Regional NC Poetry Slam and coaches emerging writers. His work has appeared through All Def Poetry, PBS and NPR, and he has collaborated with organizations including the Kennedy Center, the Poetry Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Wounded Warrior Project. Across those stages, his work has returned to one idea: Art gains power when people can see themselves inside it.
That idea informs FanQuest’s featured guest list. Catero Colbert is known to anime fans as the voice of Killer Bee and Darui in “Naruto: Shippuden” and “Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.” Terrell Ransom Jr. voiced Darwin Watterson in “The Amazing World of Gumball” and appeared in “Finding Dory” and “Days of Our Lives.”
Bowens said the performers represent different generations and different routes into entertainment.
“I want young creators to see the people behind the characters they love and understand that those voices, talents and dreams belong to real people,” he said. “Hopefully, those conversations help them recognize their own potential and realize that their creativity can open doors they never imagined.”
The local collaborators are not being treated as filler between celebrity appearances. Region Six Project, Scattered Arts, Purple Monkey Entertainment and PBS Rootle are helping define the event through exhibits, panels, sound, family programming, and connections to Fayetteville’s creative community.
“What excites me most is seeing different talents and organizations come together to build something bigger than themselves,” Bowens said.
The Region Six Project is scheduled to host the Vision Board exhibit, curated by Scattered Arts, along with two panels. Purple Monkey Entertainment will provide music at that location from noon to 3 p.m. Additional programming will include artists, vendors, contests, cosplay, and photo opportunities.
Visitors should begin by reviewing the Fayetteville Fan Festival Facebook page for the final map, schedule, parking and accessibility guidance, costume and prop rules, age recommendations, registration information, and post-event activities. Bowens said the goal is to make planning simple enough that guests can concentrate on exploring.
FanQuest’s most interesting feature may be the space between its destinations. Each walk introduces visitors to another business, artist, or part of downtown. The journey becomes part of the program, just as the pauses, breath and movement between lines help shape a poem.
For Bowens, the form may be new, but the work is recognizable: Gather different voices, give them room, and invite Fayetteville into the story.
Admission is free. Visit the Fayetteville Fan Festival Facebook page for the final schedule and planning information at www.facebook.com/share/1YFuTRqoKZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr