Ponyville Ciderfest
| Ponyville Ciderfest | |
|---|---|
 Official logo for Ponyville Ciderfest 2024 | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | My Little Pony fan convention |
| Venue | Hyatt Regency Milwaukee |
| Location(s) | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | November 2014 |
| Most recent | November 2024 |
| Attendance | 1,064 in 2023 |
| Organized by | Worthwhile Events NFP |
| Filing status | 501(c)(3) non-profit organization |
| Website | https://ponyvilleciderfest.com/ |
| My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic |
|---|
 |
Ponyville Ciderfest (abbreviated PVCF) is an annual brony convention held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin organized for the fandom of the animated television series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, whose adult fans are commonly referred to as bronies.
Overview
[edit]Ponyville Ciderfest is an annual convention primarily dedicated to fans of the animated television show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, particularly the adult fans known as "bronies". The event is organized by Worthwhile Events NFP, which also runs Whinny City Pony Con in Illinois and MLP-MSP F in Minnesota. The convention features a variety of activities including fan panels, musical acts, guests from the show, vendors, and a formal gala called the "Grand Galloping Gala". The event maintains a fully family-friendly environment until 8 PM each day, with dedicated kids programming. After 8 PM, panels may feature adult content. The convention operates both in-person and online; the con uses platforms like Discord, Twitch, and YouTube to reach fans who cannot attend physically by live streaming some of its events.[1]
According to a report in local newspaper Wisconsin Life, the three-day event brings in more than $500,000 to the city of Milwaukee. The convention draws attendees for its music events, including nightly dance parties, and vendors selling handmade merchandise such as T-shirts, posters, and wood carvings.[2]
The inaugural convention in 2014 drew 829 attendees to the Hyatt Regency in downtown Milwaukee. The event collected donations for the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and emphasized themes of "love, tolerance, and acceptance" that are central to the show.[3] The first Ciderfest featured voice actors from the show including Andrea Libman (voice of Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy), Peter New (voice of Big Mac), Sam Vincent (voice of Flim), Michelle Creber (voice of Apple Bloom), Ingrid Nilson (voice of Maud Pie) and G.M. Berrow (author of "My Little Pony").[4] The 2018 edition, which was the fifth year of the convention, was themed as a music festival celebrating the music from the fandom and the show. It featured 58 guests and panelists, 39 music acts, and 41 vendors with over 170 events throughout the weekend.[5]
According to Cody Miller, the programming director for the convention, the event serves as "an escape from the daily grind" and a place for mutual support among fans. The convention showcases values central to the show such as harmony, generosity, laughter, and kindness. Miller notes that the convention challenges traditional gender stereotypes, stating, "We get a lot of mixed messages about what it means to be a man... It's very refreshing to have a group of people come together and say, 'No.' We want to be nice to each other, we want to have feelings."[2]
Like other brony conventions, Ponyville Ciderfest has established a tradition of charitable activities. From 2014 to 2016, the convention supported Extra Life 4 Kids, raising a total of $26,758.50. From 2017 to 2019, charity efforts benefited Generations Against Bullying, raising $72,999.08. Since 2021, the convention has supported the Wisconsin Humane Society, with the 2023 event raising $111,186.90. As of 2023, Ponyville Ciderfest has raised a total of $261,005.98.[1]
Locations, attendances, and charity efforts by year
[edit]| Year | Dates | Location | Venue | Attendance | Charity | Amount raised |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014[6] | November 7–9 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Hyatt Regency Milwaukee | 829 | Extra Life 4 Kids | $4,887.50[1] |
| 2015[7] | November 20–22 | 1,135 | Extra Life 4 Kids | $11,871.00[1] | ||
| 2016[8] | October 28–30 | 1,160 | Extra Life 4 Kids | $10,000.00[1] | ||
| 2017[9] | October 20–22 | 1,064 | Generations Against Bullying | $21,771.00[1] | ||
| 2018[10] | October 26–28 | 1,399 | Generations Against Bullying | $25,306.08[1] | ||
| 2019[11] | November 1– 3 | 1,371 | Generations Against Bullying | $25,922.00[1] | ||
| 2020 | Online only due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||||
| 2021[12] | October 22–24 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Hyatt Regency Milwaukee | 822 | Wisconsin Humane Society | $16,955.00[1] |
| 2022[13] | November 4–6 | 833 | Wisconsin Humane Society | $33,106.50[1] | ||
| 2023[14] | November 17–19 | 1,064 | Wisconsin Humane Society | $111,186.90[1] | ||
| 2024 | November 1–3 | TBA | TBA | TBA | ||
| 2025 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "About Us & Archives". Ponyville Ciderfest. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
- ^ a b Hess, Corrinne (December 11, 2019). "Friendship, Rainbows & Bronies: My Little Pony Convention Comes To Milwaukee". Wisconsin Life. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
- ^ Handelman, Ben (November 9, 2014). ""All about the Bronies!" Milwaukee plays host to state's inaugural "My Little Pony" convention". FOX 6 Now Milwaukee. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
- ^ Snyder, Molly (November 3, 2014). "Weekend festival welcomes "My Little Pony" fans of all ages". OnMilwaukee. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
- ^ "Ponyville Ciderfest celebrates the "Magic of Friendship"". Urban Milwaukee. VISIT Milwaukee. October 23, 2018. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
- ^ Ponyville Ciderfest 2014 Con Book (PDF). 2014.
- ^ Ponyville Ciderfest 2015 Con Book (PDF). 2015.
- ^ Ponyville Ciderfest 2016 Con Book (PDF). 2016.
- ^ Ponyville Ciderfest 2017 Con Book (PDF). 2017.
- ^ Ponyville Ciderfest 2018 Con Book (PDF). 2018.
- ^ Ponyville Ciderfest 2019 Con Book (PDF). 2019.
- ^ Ponyville Ciderfest 2021 Con Book (PDF). 2021.
- ^ Ponyville Ciderfest 2022 Con Book (PDF). 2022.
- ^ Ponyville Ciderfest 2023 Con Book (PDF). 2023.