The cover of ‘Cuentos Infernales: Frightening Folklore from Latin America’ Written by Octavio Ramos and illustrated by Paul Ziomek. Courtesy photo
COUNTY NEWS RELEASE
The Los Alamos Public Library is hosting Atomicon, the library’s annual community festival of comics and fandoms, on Saturday, August 29, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Mesa Public Library and Fuller Lodge. The lineup of activities, crafts, special guests, community groups, and vendors has grown again for this 5th year of Atomicon.
Comics author Octavio Ramos Jr. Courtesy photo
Illustrator Pail Ziomek. Courtesy photo
Comics Author and Illustrator Talk
This year’s adult Atomicon schedule for teens and adults features creators, Octavio Ramos Jr., comics author, and Paul Ziomek, illustrator. From 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m, they will be in Mesa Public Library’s upper rotunda to share how they developed and published their latest comic, “Cuentos Infernales: Frightening Folklore from Latin America.” Audience members will be able to see the work of both Ramos and Ziomek around Atomicon throughout the day. Ziomek will be on the lower level of Mesa Public Library, as a caricature artist during the morning and Ramos will be in the Vendor Hall at Fuller Lodge with his comics available for purchase.
Tabletop role playing games and activities will be part of the morning program for Atomicon 2026 at Mesa Public Library. Courtesy photo
Tabletop Role Playing Games
The library is also hosting tabletop role playing games and activities. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., a miniatures painting workshop will allow new and experienced teen and adult players to customize their miniature figures for games. All materials, including the miniature figures, will be offered in the session, and the experienced workshop leaders will offer as much or little assistance and inspiration as participants wish.
During the afternoon at the library, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., teen and adult participants can take part in one of the three tabletop role playing games available. Three experienced game masters will each guide players in a one-shot RPG game. Craig Fox will lead a quest of Rangers of the Shadow Deep, David Larkins will guide an adventure in Pendragon: The Quest of the Adventurous Shield, and dungeon master, Alex Muñoz, will challenge players to a race in Dungeons & Dragons. As there is limited space available at each game table, the library requests advance registration to participate. No experience is necessary as the game masters are developing the one-shots to be accessible to all. Viewers and drop-ins are encouraged to visit the live games to explore the fantastical worlds created.
On the weekend prior to Atomicon, the Los Alamos Public Library is hosting Choose It, Print It: A 3D Printing Workshop on Saturday, August 22, from 1 p.m to 3 p.m, at Mesa Public Library with Los Alamos Makers. Registered participants will have the opportunity to learn about 3D printing and print one item with the 3D printer in the workshop. Attendees of Atomicon can print miniatures at this workshop, customize them on the morning of Atomicon at the miniatures painting session, then use their personalized figures during the tabletop role playing games at Atomicon’s afternoon session.
Lego Competition
Teen and adult LEGO aficionados at Atomicon will be invited to join the timed Lego building competitions in Mesa Public Library, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Competitors will complete a Lego free-build to a theme announced as the time clock begins. All the entries to the competition will be on display throughout the day for con attendees to vote on best of each theme. Winners will be announced at the end of the day.
Costume Competition and Parade
All ages are invited to be part of the morning costume photo session and afternoon costume parade. From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in front of the library, those who wish to be part of the public voting will pose for a county photographer. Those photos will be posted in the lobby for con attendees to vote on till about 3:30 p.m. Beginning at 4 p.m., anyone in costume is invited to the costume showcase, this year outside at the skatepark. From 4 to 4:30 p.m., music will play and cosplayers are invited to strut, dance, or otherwise show off as the crowds gather for a 4:30 p.m. red carpet walk and winner announcements.
Vendor Hall
The Atomicon Vendor Hall will once again be held inside Fuller Lodge. Local and regional artists, crafts makers, bakers, game developers, and more will have their items available. This has been one of the community’s greatest draws of fandom-related art and the library is excited to share the day with the gifted artists familiar and new.
More Activities
In addition to the above activities for teens and adults, much more will be available to discover inside and around Mesa Public Library and at Fuller Lodge. Activities for all ages, including crafts, art, scavenger hunts, games, demonstrations and more will be a part of the Atomicon adventure. More details are available at LosAlamosLibrary.org and at the library.