RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — ImmerseCon held its second day of events on Sunday to celebrate video games, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and geek culture.
The convention was held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31, for its second day and second year of operation, highlighting how adventure and innovation collide. This year, the event took place at the Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa in Short Pump.
With robotics, retro arcades and immersive experiences, Jeramy Moore, the media director of ImmerseCon, emphasized the event’s goal of supporting those interested in finding STEM jobs, saying that “the convention is about celebrating STEM, video games.”
“We want to make sure people understand there’s a lot of great STEM entities here and there’s a lot of STEM jobs available here in Richmond,” Moore said.
The event has garnered strong support from local partners, who recognize its potential “to highlight the region as a hub for innovation,” according to a release.
In 2025, the Richmond Region Tourism Sports Grant was awarded to ImmerseCon’s partner organization, RVA Esports, for the 2025 RVA Esports Championship held at the convention.
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ImmerseCon held its second day of events on Aug. 31, celebrating video games, STEM and geek culture. (Photo: William Berksteiner, 8News) -
ImmerseCon held its second day of events on Aug. 31, celebrating video games, STEM and geek culture. (Photo: William Berksteiner, 8News) -
ImmerseCon held its second day of events on Aug. 31, celebrating video games, STEM and geek culture. (Photo: William Berksteiner, 8News) -
ImmerseCon held its second day of events on Aug. 31, celebrating video games, STEM and geek culture. (Photo: William Berksteiner, 8News) -
ImmerseCon held its second day of events on Aug. 31, celebrating video games, STEM and geek culture. (Photo: William Berksteiner, 8News) -
ImmerseCon held its second day of events on Aug. 31, celebrating video games, STEM and geek culture. (Photo: William Berksteiner, 8News) -
ImmerseCon held its second day of events on Aug. 31, celebrating video games, STEM and geek culture. (Photo: William Berksteiner, 8News) -
ImmerseCon held its second day of events on Aug. 31, celebrating video games, STEM and geek culture. (Photo: William Berksteiner, 8News)
“We’re living and learning with ImmerseCon — a lot of lessons learned the first year,” Moore said, with separate sections this year.
“[We’re] excited to see ImmerseCon bring people together around the power of STEM and gaming,” said Morgan Stanley, Sports & Events Specialist with Richmond Region Tourism. “[It’s] events like these that make Virginia a vibrant destination for innovation, creativity, and community.”
The convention received a grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Marketing Leverage Program for its “ImmerseCon 2025 Regional Marketing Initiative.”
The grant program is reportedly designed to “stimulate new tourism by creating partnerships to leverage marketing dollars and extend the Virginia is for Lovers brand,” per a release.
“Tourism is a unifying force that strengthens communities, fuels small businesses, and supports jobs across the Commonwealth,” said Rita McClenny, President and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation, ahead of the event. “These grant programs empower our local partners to share the stories, experiences, and destinations that make Virginia such a special place to visit.”
“We’re creating — with this convention — more immersive experiences to be different than other conventions,” Moore said on Sunday. “We want to create an experience where they’re immersed, they’re engaged and we really want to create those moments that last a lifetime.”
Moore said ImmerseCon is a great place to get involved in video games and STEM, saying, “If you want to be inspired and get immersed, come on out to ImmerseCon.”
