Start dusting off those costumes and brushing up on your geek cred: Sandemonium, North Idaho’s own fan convention, returns to Forrest M. Bird Charter School for its third year. The action kicks off Saturday, Aug. 26, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Forrest M. Bird Charter High School. Tickets are $2 each, and kids under 5 attend for free.

This year, Sandemonium planners are pleased to return to Forrest Bird Charter School for the event, which provided ample space for vendors, artists and discussion panels. Located at 614 S. Madison Ave., the school will have attendee parking clearly designated.

Those who have attended past Sandemonium events can expect the same fun-for-all-ages atmosphere this year. A celebration of all things geek across all mediums, including comics, anime, movies, video games and TV shows, Sandemonium is a chance for regional fans to celebrate their favorite entries in the world of nerdy art and entertainment.

“For our third year, we wanted to bring back the elements that made past years successful while making refinements to improve the experience for our attendees and vendors,” said Cameron Rasmusson, co-chair of the Sandemonium planning committee.

As with past years, the goal is to pack in enough activities for a full day of nerdy fun. Panels throughout the day will help attendees brush up on their cosplay abilities or explore some of the most fascinating aspects of fan-favorite franchises. Those interested in live-action role-playing or boffering — competitive melees with foam weapons — will be able to participant in group events throughout the day.

As with previous years, gamers will challenge each other for top-dog status in Super Smash Bros. The gaming room will be set up for both free-play sessions and scheduled tournaments catering to casual and hardcore players alike. Sandemonium partners Pants Pending Studios, which produces a variety of Spokane-area podcasts, will be on hand to provide commentary for the tournament.

Speaking of Pants Pending Studios, keep an eye out for them as members share suggestions on putting together a quality podcast, entertainment with improv comedy routines and record four separate live podcasts for four different shows.

Of course, what would a fan convention be without cosplay? Attendees from young to old are encouraged to dress up as their favorite fantasy, sci-fi or superhero characters. Those who wish to compete for the prize of top costume can enter a contest for both amateur- and expert-level work.

Don’t forget to stop by the vendor booths and check out some of the amazing merchandise for sale. You can expect to find fantastic art, books, apparel and more among the dozens of participating merchants and artists.

For a draft schedule of events and more information, check out the Sandemonium website at sandemonium7b.com and find the convention on Facebook at facebook.com/sdptsandemonium/.