LeadCON is setting up inside the Homestake Opera House this weekend, filling the space with tabletop games, cosplay, tournaments, and a full day of panels and screenings.
The event is being put on by the Lead Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Lookout Games in Spearfish and Henry’s Books. It’s the first time they’ve built this, and the goal is pretty straightforward: give people a place to show up, hang out, and lean into the things they’re usually doing in smaller circles or at home.
It started with an idea from Tyler Tillman, owner of Lookout Games, who brought it to the chamber. From there, chamber board president Levi Wilson and executive director Jami Grangaard helped shape it and carry it through planning. Henry’s Books is also involved as a partner, contributing to the writing panel, contest prizes, and an afternoon session of Blood on the Clocktower.
The Homestake Opera House, under executive director Todd Jones, is hosting the event, and Sean Covel is part of the lineup for the midday screening and Q&A.
What to expect…
The first year goal is pretty straightforward:
Give people a place to show up, hang out, and lean into the things they’re usually doing in smaller circles or at home.
A lot of the day is structured around participation, not just watching. There are two Dungeons & Dragons sessions specifically set up for people who have never played before, with short “one-shot” campaigns that start and finish in a single sitting. You don’t need to bring anything or know the rules going in. Characters are assigned, and you jump in.
At the same time, there’s a Warhammer 40K tournament, a Magic: The Gathering tournament, and Smash Bros matches happening throughout the day, alongside a board game gallery upstairs where people can step out of the noise and sit down with something slower.
Panels run through the theater space, starting with a DnD discussion with local dungeon masters and players, followed by a writers panel that includes Sean Covel, producer of Napoleon Dynamite. That leads into a midday screening of the film with a Q&A, before the afternoon shifts into cosplay, including a panel and a contest.
There’s also a vendor and art alley set up throughout the Opera House, along with a tattoo flash session running during the day, built around quick, nerd-themed designs. Outside, food trucks will be parked along Main Street, with the expectation that people move in and out of the building instead of staying in one place the entire time.
The whole thing starts Friday night with a trivia event at Lewie’s Burgers & Brews, then runs from 9 a.m. through the evening on Saturday, closing out with a screening of The Princess Bride inside the theater.
Costumes are encouraged, as long as they follow the event guidelines. No real weapons, nothing dangerous, and keep it family-friendly. The rest is open.
Organizers say they’ve already seen strong early ticket numbers for a first-year event, with people coming in from Lead, Spearfish, Rapid City, and likely beyond.
By mid-afternoon Saturday, the Opera House will be running multiple tournaments, panels, games, and conversations all at once, with people in costume moving between rooms, checking brackets, sitting down at tables, and figuring out where to go next.rnaments, panels, games, and conversations all at once, with people in costume moving between rooms, checking brackets, sitting down at tables, and figuring out where to go next.
LeadCON Schedule
April 10–11
Friday · April 10
6:30–9:00 PM
Nerd Trivia Night
@ Lewie’s Burgers & Brews
Saturday · April 11
(All events at Homestake Opera House unless noted)
9:00 AM
Doors Open
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Vendors & Art Alley
Board Game Gallery
10:00 AM
Warhammer Tournament
Magic: The Gathering
Smash Bros Tournament
DnD One-Shot Sessions (new players welcome)
10:00 AM
DnD Panel
11:00 AM
Writers Panel
12:00–2:00 PM
Napoleon Dynamite + Q&A (Sean Covel)
1:00 PM
Blood on the Clocktower
DnD Session (Round 2)
2:00 PM
Cosplay Panel
3:00 PM
Smash Bros Championship
4:00 PM
Cosplay Contest
5:30 PM
Closing Ceremony
6:30 PM
The Princess Bride (Screening)
Schedule subject to change**