WATSONVILLE >> Five years ago, members of Friends of Watsonville Parks and Community Services had an idea: Why not bring the large-scale pop culture conventions seen in big cities to our hometown?

This idea led to the first-ever Nerdville convention at the Gene Hoularis and Waldo Rodriguez Youth Center in 2021, where a thousand fans of comic books, video games, anime and all things pop culture gathered to mingle with other fans, dress up, buy items for collections and hear from creators. What started small has grown each year to the point where it switched venues to the gym at Watsonville High School, and brings in voice actors from some of the most popular anime series.

This year’s installment June 29 promises exactly that, with four voice actors from popular franchises such as “One Piece” and “Dragon Ball Z,” and will get started a day earlier with a screening of the local classic “Killer Klowns from Outer Space,” featuring a panel discussion with its creators, the Chiodo Brothers.

Francisco Marmolejo, who handled marketing and booked talent for this year’s Nerdville, said the 2025 installment will all be in one location, rather than previous years where different activities were spread out in different buildings.

“The people just felt like everything was so separate,” he said. “This year, we heard what they wanted, and they wanted everything close by, so we’re hoping of doing that this year and having everything under the same building.”Marmolejo said this would allow for more foot traffic.

Booking special guests like the voice actors, Marmolejo said, is always a process but typically involves looking at whatever anime is popular at the moment or which shows still have devoted followings.

“Whatever’s been popular and whatever’s more prominent right now in anime is who we try to target to come to the event,” he said.

This year’s special guests are Kyle Hebert, who did the narration for “Dragon Ball Z” and also has had roles in “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Naruto,” “Bleach” and “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure;” Jesse Hooker, who voiced Portgas D. Ace in the English dub of “One Piece” and Blaze in “Yu-Gi-Oh! GX;” Stephanie Nadolny, who voiced Gohan and young Goku in English dubs of different “Dragon Ball” media; and Trina Nishimura, who voiced Mikasa in “Attack on Titan” and also has had roles in “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” and “My Hero Academia.”

Saturday will have a special panel discussion at Watsonville Public House with the sibling trio of Charles, Edward and Stephen Chiodo, who created puppets for films like “Critters” and “Team America: World Police,” as well as the claymation effects on Large Marge in “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.” They also produced, and Stephen directed, the 1987 cult horror comedy “Killer Klowns from Outer Space,” which features scenes filmed throughout Watsonville and Santa Cruz.

The Chiodo Brothers will take part in a Q&A at the event, which will also feature a screening of “Killer Klowns,” raffle and food catered by My Mom’s Mole. This event is 6 p.m. June 28 at Watsonville Public House, 625 Main St. Doors open at 5:30. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at EventBrite.com.

The usual hallmarks of Nerdville are also to be expected this year: art and collectible vendors, food trucks and special gifts for cosplayers. Game Vault, a video game and trading card store with locations in Watsonville and Capitola, will be organizing a trading card tournament.

“People that come to Nerdville are able to see firsthand how to play some of the games that are in style right now,” said Marmolejo.

Marmolejo hopes people leave this year’s Nerdville feeling excited and wanting a bigger event, as the goal is always to expand.

“My takeaway is hoping that they ask for more, like making Nerdville a two-day event where people can enjoy more days and just leave the event with a big smile and hopefully eager to cosplay or come out the following year and be a little bit more involved too,” he said.

Marmolejo is grateful for the volunteers who put Nerdville on each year.

“We all work hard, we all have our professions, and somehow we always make it possible to make this event a reality,” he said.

Nerdville is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 29 at Watsonville High, 250 E. Beach St. Tickets are $15 for general admission online, $20 at the door, $5 for students not enrolled at Pajaro Valley Unified School District schools and free for Pajaro Valley Unified students and kids under 5. There is also a $50 VIP package that includes a commemorative poster, T-shirt, stickers, early access pass and a surprise gift. For information, go to Nerdville831.org.