Cons
I hear everyone talk about various cons but they don't always provide the details like the when and the where and the focus. I would like to make a Con list providing the name, location, approx date and what the focus is of these cons. Reading my flist this morning I see that DragonCon is this coming weekend but where is it and what kind of con is it? The poster doesn't say. Instead of having to search out the details of each con individually it would be nice to have in one place.
What are some of the major conventions you know about? SF/F cons, writing cons, anime/manga cons, comic cons...
Norwescon - Seattle, WA, USA - Apr 1-4, 2010 (Easter weekend) - Norwescon is one of the largest regional Science Fiction conventions in the United States. While maintaining a primarily literary focus, Norwescon is large enough to provide a venue for many of the other aspects of Science Fiction and the interests of its fans such as anime, costuming, art, and much, much more.
http://www.norwescon.org/default.htm
ValhallCon - Bellingham, WA - Sep 4 - 7, 2009 (Labor Day Weekend) - ValhallaCon, where heroic Viking(Con)s go when they die. ValhallaCon is the successor to VikingCon, the Bellingham SF/F convention. It is a science, SF and literature oriented Con.
www.valhallacon.com/
Orycon 31 - Portland OR - November 27-29, 2009 - OryCon is a general interest SF convention -- self-styled as Oregon's premier science fiction convention.
DragonCon - Atlanta, GA, USA - Sep 4 - 7, 2009 (Labor Day Weekend) - Dragon*Con is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the US.
http://www.dragoncon.org/index.php
Albacon - Albany, NY, USA - Oct 9-11, 2009 - Albacon is a weekend gathering of fans and creators of Science Fiction or Fantasy, including literature, movies, games, and other mediums.
http://www.albacon.org/index.php
Scottish Albacon http://www.albacon.org.uk/
Pi-Con - Pioneer Valley, MA - Aug 21-23, 2009 - Pi-Con is a convergence of geekery. Fantasy literature, larping, webcomicists, bloggers, costumers, artists, authors, performers, and both scientists and science fiction buffs all under one roof for one weekend.
ConStruct -Ann Arbor MI - Aug 21-23, 2009 - A sort of build your own con.
Context 22 - Columbus, OH - Aug 28-30, 2009 . - Context is a friendly convention focused on speculative fiction literature and related games, comics and films. If you enjoy manga, anime, science fiction, fantasy, or horror, you'll find plenty to entertain you at this convention.
North American Discworld Convention 2009 - Tempe, Arizona - Sep 4-7 2009 - The North American Discworld Convention is a fan-run convention designed to celebrate Terry Pratchett's long-running, bestselling, hilarious, insightful (etc.,etc. - we can keep going all day) series of satirical fantasy novels.
KillerCon - Las Vegas, NV - Sep 17-20, 2009 - Horror, thriller, and paranormal romance collides in this inaugural multi-genre writer’s convention.
Fantasycon 2009 - Nottingham, UK - Sep 18-20 2009
FenCon VI - Addison TX - Sep 18-20 2009 - FenCon is a literary science fiction and fantasy convention with quite a lot of filk programming, some science programming, an outstanding collection of guests, an art show, a charity auction, a short story contest, a writers workshop, and members like you. FenCon is a production of the Dallas Future Society.
Horror Realm - (formerly known as Zombie Fest) - Pittsburgh PA - Sep 18-20 2009 - Horror Realm™ (the convention arm of the popular Zombie Fest) returns to Pittsburgh in 2009 as a three-day convention geared toward fans of zombies and the horror genre. We have changed our name and format to distinguish the event as a full fledged horror convention vs. a fan festival.
Foolscap 11 - Redmond, Washington - Sept. 25-27, 2009 - Foolscap is a small convention devoted primarily to the discussion of written science fiction and fantasy.
Archon 33 - Collinsville IL - October 2-4, 2009 -
VCON 34 - Vancouver, BC, Canada - October 2-4, 2009VCON is the longest running science fiction and fantasy convention in Western Canada having started in 1971. Traditionally focused on literary and artistic SF&F, our convention now supports a full palette of SF&F fandom that includes tabletop gaming, comics, media, costuming and more.
Gaylaxicon 2009 - Minneapolis, MN - Oct 9-11 2009 The annual GLBT science fiction, fantasy and horror convention. - Gaylaxicon is a fantastic and fabulous event that gives all of us who appreciate LGBT characters and themes in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and comics an opportunity to socialize and share ideas.
ConClave 34 - Romulus, MI - Oct 9-11, 2009 - Art show, dealers' room, literary, science, masquerade, filking, writer's
workshop, gaming, etc.
Capclave - Rockville, Maryland - Oct 16-18, 2009A production of the Washington (DC) Science Fiction Association. A literary science fiction convention with panels, autographing, readings, filking, gaming, a hospitality suite and a full set of workshops including writing, reviewing, contracts, publicity, and how to get an agent.
Geek.Kon - Madison WI - Oct 23-25, 2009Madison convention celebrating all things geeky (sci-fi, fantasy, anime, gaming, etc.)
Steamcon - Seattle WA - October 23-25, 2009) A steamposium with panels, demonstrations, vendors room, art exhibition, cabarets, dances, games and more
World Fantasy Convention - San Jose, CA - Oct 29 - Nov 1 '09 -
IDWCon 09 - Ennistymon, Co Clare, Ireland - Nov 6-9, 2009The First Irish Discworld Convention. Talks, interviews, dealers room, games, music and sing-a-longs, fun (and lots of it!).
IlluXCon 2 - Altoona, PA - Nov 12-15, 2009 - Exhibition of fantastic illustration.
TusCon 36 - Tucson, AZ - Nov 13-15, 2009 -
Life, the Universe, and Everything XXVIII - BYU ?? - February 11-13, 2010 - The Marion K. "Doc" Smith Symposium on Science Fiction and Fantasy
Boskone 47 - Boston, MA - February 12-14, 2010 - New England SF conference - Boskone is a regional Science Fiction convention focusing on literature, art, music, and gaming (with just a dash of whimsy). Join us as we explore the worlds of the human imagination.
ConDor XVII - San Diego, CA - Feb 26-28, 2010 - San Diego's Longest-Running SF Con. Eclectic Program, Kids' Program, Art Show, Dealers Room, Anime, Masquerade, Gaming, Filk, Concerts, more
Potlatch 19 - Seattle WA - March 5-7, 2010 - Non-profit, literary event for the readers and writers of speculative fiction; proceeds benefit Clarion West
World Horror Convention - Brighton, England - March 25-28, 2010 - We will present a rich and varied programme, covering all aspects of the horror writing and publishing business, film-making and illustration.
RavenCon - Richmond, VA - April 9-11, 2010 - Science Fiction & Fantasy return to Richmond with RavenCon 2010, a weekend celebrating the genres of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. (And as we're playing the Edgar Allan Poe angle, we're Mystery friendly, too!)
Odyssey Con X - Madison WI - April 16-18 2010 - Odyssey Con is a general interest Science Fiction and Fantasy convention. We feature literary guests, panel discussions, demonstrations, film reviews, art work, musical acts, and much more.
Australia and New Zealand
Au Contraire - Wellington, New Zealand - Aug 27-29, 2010 - The 31st NZ NatCon - if you're attending AussieCon 4, why not visit NZ on the way?
WorldCon - World Science Fiction Convention - time and locations vary. www.wsfs.org/
**ON LINE RIGHT NOW!!!** Minicon - Virtual - 30 Aug 09 - What's a virtual mini-con? It's an online convention, a gathering of friends and fans that follow a program to spend an hour chatting with a special guest. Best of all, it's completely free!
Conflux - Canberra, Australia - Oct 2 -5 2009 - lots of stuff for writers, stuff for fans and artists, the historical banquet, the online Minicon etc)
Continuum - Melbourne, Australia - 14-16 August, 2009 AND again 26-28th Febuary, 2010 - A terrific and friendly general interest con. Lots of emphasis on books, but from a fan persepctive. There's one in February ( earlier than usual because Melbourne's also hosting the next Worldcon) - Continuum invites you to join us as we slip though the cracks between worlds to an otherplace where no star sets on Her Majesty's Empire - a state of mind circumscribed by fog and fob-watches, coal and corsets, steam and suffragettes; a place where magnetism meets mesmerism and typhoid vies with top-hats - come with us and explore the Galaxies by Gaslight.
Swancon - Perth, Australia - 1-5 April 2010 - Western Australian SF and Fantasy Con
FEmmecon - Perth's feminist convention.
Note: I can't find a web site for this con.
What else?
What are some of the major conventions you know about? SF/F cons, writing cons, anime/manga cons, comic cons...
Norwescon - Seattle, WA, USA - Apr 1-4, 2010 (Easter weekend) - Norwescon is one of the largest regional Science Fiction conventions in the United States. While maintaining a primarily literary focus, Norwescon is large enough to provide a venue for many of the other aspects of Science Fiction and the interests of its fans such as anime, costuming, art, and much, much more.
http://www.norwescon.org/default.htm
ValhallCon - Bellingham, WA - Sep 4 - 7, 2009 (Labor Day Weekend) - ValhallaCon, where heroic Viking(Con)s go when they die. ValhallaCon is the successor to VikingCon, the Bellingham SF/F convention. It is a science, SF and literature oriented Con.
www.valhallacon.com/
Orycon 31 - Portland OR - November 27-29, 2009 - OryCon is a general interest SF convention -- self-styled as Oregon's premier science fiction convention.
DragonCon - Atlanta, GA, USA - Sep 4 - 7, 2009 (Labor Day Weekend) - Dragon*Con is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the US.
http://www.dragoncon.org/index.php
Albacon - Albany, NY, USA - Oct 9-11, 2009 - Albacon is a weekend gathering of fans and creators of Science Fiction or Fantasy, including literature, movies, games, and other mediums.
http://www.albacon.org/index.php
Scottish Albacon http://www.albacon.org.uk/
Pi-Con - Pioneer Valley, MA - Aug 21-23, 2009 - Pi-Con is a convergence of geekery. Fantasy literature, larping, webcomicists, bloggers, costumers, artists, authors, performers, and both scientists and science fiction buffs all under one roof for one weekend.
ConStruct -Ann Arbor MI - Aug 21-23, 2009 - A sort of build your own con.
Context 22 - Columbus, OH - Aug 28-30, 2009 . - Context is a friendly convention focused on speculative fiction literature and related games, comics and films. If you enjoy manga, anime, science fiction, fantasy, or horror, you'll find plenty to entertain you at this convention.
North American Discworld Convention 2009 - Tempe, Arizona - Sep 4-7 2009 - The North American Discworld Convention is a fan-run convention designed to celebrate Terry Pratchett's long-running, bestselling, hilarious, insightful (etc.,etc. - we can keep going all day) series of satirical fantasy novels.
KillerCon - Las Vegas, NV - Sep 17-20, 2009 - Horror, thriller, and paranormal romance collides in this inaugural multi-genre writer’s convention.
Fantasycon 2009 - Nottingham, UK - Sep 18-20 2009
FenCon VI - Addison TX - Sep 18-20 2009 - FenCon is a literary science fiction and fantasy convention with quite a lot of filk programming, some science programming, an outstanding collection of guests, an art show, a charity auction, a short story contest, a writers workshop, and members like you. FenCon is a production of the Dallas Future Society.
Horror Realm - (formerly known as Zombie Fest) - Pittsburgh PA - Sep 18-20 2009 - Horror Realm™ (the convention arm of the popular Zombie Fest) returns to Pittsburgh in 2009 as a three-day convention geared toward fans of zombies and the horror genre. We have changed our name and format to distinguish the event as a full fledged horror convention vs. a fan festival.
Foolscap 11 - Redmond, Washington - Sept. 25-27, 2009 - Foolscap is a small convention devoted primarily to the discussion of written science fiction and fantasy.
Archon 33 - Collinsville IL - October 2-4, 2009 -
VCON 34 - Vancouver, BC, Canada - October 2-4, 2009VCON is the longest running science fiction and fantasy convention in Western Canada having started in 1971. Traditionally focused on literary and artistic SF&F, our convention now supports a full palette of SF&F fandom that includes tabletop gaming, comics, media, costuming and more.
Gaylaxicon 2009 - Minneapolis, MN - Oct 9-11 2009 The annual GLBT science fiction, fantasy and horror convention. - Gaylaxicon is a fantastic and fabulous event that gives all of us who appreciate LGBT characters and themes in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and comics an opportunity to socialize and share ideas.
ConClave 34 - Romulus, MI - Oct 9-11, 2009 - Art show, dealers' room, literary, science, masquerade, filking, writer's
workshop, gaming, etc.
Capclave - Rockville, Maryland - Oct 16-18, 2009A production of the Washington (DC) Science Fiction Association. A literary science fiction convention with panels, autographing, readings, filking, gaming, a hospitality suite and a full set of workshops including writing, reviewing, contracts, publicity, and how to get an agent.
Geek.Kon - Madison WI - Oct 23-25, 2009Madison convention celebrating all things geeky (sci-fi, fantasy, anime, gaming, etc.)
Steamcon - Seattle WA - October 23-25, 2009) A steamposium with panels, demonstrations, vendors room, art exhibition, cabarets, dances, games and more
World Fantasy Convention - San Jose, CA - Oct 29 - Nov 1 '09 -
IDWCon 09 - Ennistymon, Co Clare, Ireland - Nov 6-9, 2009The First Irish Discworld Convention. Talks, interviews, dealers room, games, music and sing-a-longs, fun (and lots of it!).
IlluXCon 2 - Altoona, PA - Nov 12-15, 2009 - Exhibition of fantastic illustration.
TusCon 36 - Tucson, AZ - Nov 13-15, 2009 -
Life, the Universe, and Everything XXVIII - BYU ?? - February 11-13, 2010 - The Marion K. "Doc" Smith Symposium on Science Fiction and Fantasy
Boskone 47 - Boston, MA - February 12-14, 2010 - New England SF conference - Boskone is a regional Science Fiction convention focusing on literature, art, music, and gaming (with just a dash of whimsy). Join us as we explore the worlds of the human imagination.
ConDor XVII - San Diego, CA - Feb 26-28, 2010 - San Diego's Longest-Running SF Con. Eclectic Program, Kids' Program, Art Show, Dealers Room, Anime, Masquerade, Gaming, Filk, Concerts, more
Potlatch 19 - Seattle WA - March 5-7, 2010 - Non-profit, literary event for the readers and writers of speculative fiction; proceeds benefit Clarion West
World Horror Convention - Brighton, England - March 25-28, 2010 - We will present a rich and varied programme, covering all aspects of the horror writing and publishing business, film-making and illustration.
RavenCon - Richmond, VA - April 9-11, 2010 - Science Fiction & Fantasy return to Richmond with RavenCon 2010, a weekend celebrating the genres of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. (And as we're playing the Edgar Allan Poe angle, we're Mystery friendly, too!)
Odyssey Con X - Madison WI - April 16-18 2010 - Odyssey Con is a general interest Science Fiction and Fantasy convention. We feature literary guests, panel discussions, demonstrations, film reviews, art work, musical acts, and much more.
Australia and New Zealand
Au Contraire - Wellington, New Zealand - Aug 27-29, 2010 - The 31st NZ NatCon - if you're attending AussieCon 4, why not visit NZ on the way?
WorldCon - World Science Fiction Convention - time and locations vary. www.wsfs.org/
**ON LINE RIGHT NOW!!!** Minicon - Virtual - 30 Aug 09 - What's a virtual mini-con? It's an online convention, a gathering of friends and fans that follow a program to spend an hour chatting with a special guest. Best of all, it's completely free!
Conflux - Canberra, Australia - Oct 2 -5 2009 - lots of stuff for writers, stuff for fans and artists, the historical banquet, the online Minicon etc)
Continuum - Melbourne, Australia - 14-16 August, 2009 AND again 26-28th Febuary, 2010 - A terrific and friendly general interest con. Lots of emphasis on books, but from a fan persepctive. There's one in February ( earlier than usual because Melbourne's also hosting the next Worldcon) - Continuum invites you to join us as we slip though the cracks between worlds to an otherplace where no star sets on Her Majesty's Empire - a state of mind circumscribed by fog and fob-watches, coal and corsets, steam and suffragettes; a place where magnetism meets mesmerism and typhoid vies with top-hats - come with us and explore the Galaxies by Gaslight.
Swancon - Perth, Australia - 1-5 April 2010 - Western Australian SF and Fantasy Con
FEmmecon - Perth's feminist convention.
Note: I can't find a web site for this con.
What else?