Why is the age limit 18+

I certainly appreciate that many families game together and I myself game with the kids in my life, but for this event I made the decision to limit badge sales to those ages 18+. I want the Gem City Gathering to be a place where adults can come, hangout, relax, and enjoy themselves. While that is certainly possible with younger folks present, having them present does change the general feel and dynamic of an event.  The Dayton area already has several gaming conventions that are open to families and those with children.  I could be wrong, but I think there is a place for an event that is made for adults. There are several other gaming conventions around the country that limit the ages of attendees such as BGG Con or the Dice Tower Retreat. While I understand that age restrictions will be a disappointment to some, I believe it will be a selling point for others. 

Are single day badges available?

Single day badges are not available for the Gem City Gathering. With the goal of creating a tight-knit friendly environment where people will keep bumping into one another day after day, we felt that a single 5-day badge was the best option for our event. Attendees are of course certainly welcome to pick and choose which days they attend, if they don't have full 5-day availability.