FACTS 2025 (Spring)
It has been since November 2024 that we were last in Ghent for the Fall edition of FACTS. FACTS has two editions per year, and we do our best to attend the convention, as it’s always a good time. We generally love the atmosphere, the products on offer, and it’s always an interesting day out. This year proved to be no exception as we once again waded through the many intriguing booths in Flanders Expo while also being impressed by many cool-looking cosplays.
In terms of layout and the general atmosphere, not that much had changed. We were greeted by the impressive decor, an impressive array of different vendors, and many cosplayers who attended the event. The products on offer haven’t changed that much, as Pokémon cards were still omnipresent, as well as other TCG stalls, Funko POP! collectibles, manga, (retro) games, and other figurines and statuettes. The main hall mainly consisted of professional sellers, most of whom also own shops outside of the convention hall(s). There was once again a separate hall dedicated to arts and crafts, and there were so many pretty items for sale here. There were a lot of stalls selling original artwork, but there were quite a few interesting other items for sale as well. For the first time, there was also a small separate room dedicated to adult merchandise. While the latter was an original touch, we felt this part of the convention missed the mark. There was hardly any merchandise here, and it just felt a bit out of theme.
Of course, FACTS is not just about the merchandise and other goodies. You can also meet several celebrity guests. For example, stars such as Elijah Wood and Evanna Lynch attended the convention and were ready for autographs and photoshoots. The guests have slowly been getting better over the last few years, and we’re looking forward to seeing how this further evolves in the coming editions. Other activities included trying out different card games, getting a medieval combat demonstration, enquiring about different fan groups, and even the maze made its return. We sadly didn’t have time to try the latter, but seeing how many people were queuing up, we assume this was a success. There were also a few booths at which you could try out retro games, but also several newly released titles. There was a bit of everything, and this is probably also why FACTS is quite popular as a ‘family-oriented’ event.
This year, we noticed fewer strollers and fewer passageways being blocked. The pathways were easily accessible, and some of the stalls seemed a bit bigger, making it easier to browse their wares. Some decorations or oddly shaped booths created a few chokepoints, and some vendors put a chair in the pathway, blocking the flow of visitors in that area. Luckily, there were no real random food stalls in the way in the main hall, and even the popular onigiri booth had a proper queue that didn’t interfere with the walkways. The food hall was properly organized with a decent sitting area. Sadly, the tables were quite messy, and it seemed that nobody actually bothered to get rid of their own trash. We didn’t see that many staff members in this hall, except to change the bins when they were too full. While it would already help if conventiongoers weren’t too selfish to pick up their own trash, some staff members making sure tables are clean would already help a lot.
Conclusion
The Spring edition of FACTS 2025 was a blast. While perhaps there is still some work to be done regarding the overall cleanliness of the food hall, the products on offer were great, the guests were interesting, and there was simply a lot to do. We were under the impression that we could roam the halls more freely thanks to the improved layout, and there were a lot fewer chokepoints at crossroads or due to odd booth layouts. We are certainly looking forward to the Fall edition after this successful edition.
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