It's that time again - time to look ahead. Many of us love cons, love the bustle, love seeing our confriends, love the chance to experience art and activities and interaction with our favorite creators and performers.
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| One should always be in one's best when in public... (image via greyloch) |
Febuary
8th - 10th - Shevacon - Roanoke, VA - $40 for the weekend
It’s the 21st year of Shevacon, and they’ve decided nothing says twenty-one like the paranormal. There’s a focus (both in programming and guests) and ghost hunting and the supernatural this year, in addition to their usual juicy fare of gaming and panels, writers and artists, all tucked into the embracing arms of the Shenandoah valley. They’ve also got a lot of fundraisers going this year, so be sure to check out the site before you head down.
15th - 17th - Wicked Faire - Somerset, NJ - $60 for the weekend to start and going up
Wicked Faire is one of those hard to describe events, the ones that seem to accumulate what can only be called a karass as the years go by. This year is The Revenge of the Renaissance Faire, and they aren’t kidding. The sheer number of performers, acts, concerts, costumes, and events is dizzying, and the whole event falls somewhere between con, faire, and performance art. Throw in the return of the Goblin Market this year and things get even more wonderfully weird. If you can’t go and still want to participate, the goblins at the market could always use your help. You just need to tell them a secret...
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| A flaming sword! I just had to give them my memory of ...umm... huh. I can't remember. (image via R'lyeh Imaging) |
15th - 17th - Katsucon - National Harbor, MD - $70 for the weekend
If you’re from around here you already know it - Katsucon, the con for fans of Japanese animation and pop culture is coming as the weather turns colder. In National Harbor this year, what seems to be the new destination for all large cons in the immediate area, Katsu is back with their mindblowing combination of industry guests and presentations, panels, games, costuming, balls, concerts, and gaming.
15th - 17th - Farpoint - Timonium, MD - $80 for the weekend
Farpoint is billed as a fandom con - an excuse for geeks of all stripes to get together, get to know each other, and to have a good time. And they are, though I’ve come to think of them as that and a geek media con. The programming and guests seem angled towards scifi and fantasy as it can be found online, on TV, on the big screen and the printed page. If geekdom in mass media interests you then definitely take a closer look.
20th - 24th - PrezCon - Charlottesville, VA - $80 for all five days
Calling this a boardgame con wouldn’t really be honest, nor would calling it a tabletop gaming con. It’s all those things and more, with strategy and historical gaming as well. They are running more than 90 game tournaments during the con, more than 40 game demos, 24 hour open gaming, and several regional and national championships. The game library is nothing short of jaw dropping, and the vendor room is chock full of the publishers themselves.
21st - 24th - Dreamation - Morristown, NJ - $60 for the weekend
If you’re a gamer this is one of the big ones for the Spring. More than 700 events are running through this weekend, ranging from tabletop RPGs to video game contests to poker championships, not to mention the wargaming, CCG rounds, live shows. One of the attractions of Dreamation is that a slew of small press game authors show up to run their creations and spread their disease teach others how to play. Yes, yes, it’s New Jersey. It’s an easy drive up 95 and I can get there faster than I can to cons in western Maryland and southern Virginia.
If you’re from around here you already know it - Katsucon, the con for fans of Japanese animation and pop culture is coming as the weather turns colder. In National Harbor this year, what seems to be the new destination for all large cons in the immediate area, Katsu is back with their mindblowing combination of industry guests and presentations, panels, games, costuming, balls, concerts, and gaming.
15th - 17th - Farpoint - Timonium, MD - $80 for the weekend
Farpoint is billed as a fandom con - an excuse for geeks of all stripes to get together, get to know each other, and to have a good time. And they are, though I’ve come to think of them as that and a geek media con. The programming and guests seem angled towards scifi and fantasy as it can be found online, on TV, on the big screen and the printed page. If geekdom in mass media interests you then definitely take a closer look.
20th - 24th - PrezCon - Charlottesville, VA - $80 for all five days
Calling this a boardgame con wouldn’t really be honest, nor would calling it a tabletop gaming con. It’s all those things and more, with strategy and historical gaming as well. They are running more than 90 game tournaments during the con, more than 40 game demos, 24 hour open gaming, and several regional and national championships. The game library is nothing short of jaw dropping, and the vendor room is chock full of the publishers themselves.
21st - 24th - Dreamation - Morristown, NJ - $60 for the weekend
If you’re a gamer this is one of the big ones for the Spring. More than 700 events are running through this weekend, ranging from tabletop RPGs to video game contests to poker championships, not to mention the wargaming, CCG rounds, live shows. One of the attractions of Dreamation is that a slew of small press game authors show up to run their creations and spread their disease teach others how to play. Yes, yes, it’s New Jersey. It’s an easy drive up 95 and I can get there faster than I can to cons in western Maryland and southern Virginia.
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| I've lost more friends this way... (image via jameskm03) |
22nd - 24th - MystiCon - Roanoke, VA - $45 for the weekend
Another of what I like to call the Valley Cons (ShevaCon, MystiCon, and Madicon all are in the Valley and all take place within a month of each other), MystiCon is hitting its stride with year three. Focused firmly on the SciFi and Horror fandoms, they’re pulling in some globally known guests this year. As always gaming holds a special place, but there’s a strong inclusion of live music and costuming. Get out of the city for a weekend, head south.
Another of what I like to call the Valley Cons (ShevaCon, MystiCon, and Madicon all are in the Valley and all take place within a month of each other), MystiCon is hitting its stride with year three. Focused firmly on the SciFi and Horror fandoms, they’re pulling in some globally known guests this year. As always gaming holds a special place, but there’s a strong inclusion of live music and costuming. Get out of the city for a weekend, head south.
An intimately sized con down in North Carolina, this one has stayed close to the academic roots that spawned it. I have a thing for smaller cons, I’ll admit, so the chance to hang out with a favored author over drinks or to snark with the Blibbering Humdingers over a drink would appeal to me. What’s really caught my eye this year is the inclusion of their SONAR program - the Symposium on Nerdy Academic Research. An academic conference that runs along with the con, for well-researched papers on topics that I care about? Yes, please.
8th - 10th - Madicon - Harrisonburg, VA - $20 for the weekend
The last of the Valley Cons, Madicon is an intimate sized con that caters to general geekdom. Slightly bigger than a mere relaxacon, Madicon has wargaming tournaments share the building with anime screenings, RPG sessions and boardgames, live music and the screams of the LARPers locked playing in the basement. They rarely get in the way of the discussion panels or author presentations, though. Bonus: the town is nearly abandoned for spring break, so there’s no fighting for parking, gaming, or dining space.
20th - 24th - Virginia Festival of the Book - Charlottesville, VA - Event dependant cost
A loosely connected series of events and presentations scattered around Charlottesville during the weekend, there are more than a few that hold appeal for us. From a discussion of emerging technologies and their impact on human rights to a shop talk on why paranormal romances have such a large market, it’s a good excuse to get out and talk books. An added bonus: most of the non-reception events are free.
22nd - 24th - Zenkaikon - Lancaster, PA - $60 for the weekend
For those who want a smaller con than AnimeUSA, Otakon, or Katsucon (or for those who can’t just get enough) there’s this steadily growing con of a few thousand attendees just north of us. Focused on Japanese animation, art, and pop culture, then con is ready to present you with panels and viewings, cosplay and guests, live music and AMV contests - it’s all the events you know, love, and had hoped for.
22nd - 24th - PAX East - Boston, MA - $35 per day (Saturday sold out)
This has swiftly become the 800-pound gorilla of the East Coast. PAX East and PAX Prime back in Seattle are now the largest two gaming-focused cons in the country. You likely already know about it, so I won’t rehash things. It’s already too late for a weekend pass, and Saturday is sold out, but you can still get your hands on Friday passes (better move fast) and Sunday passes. Remember, Boston is just a short train ride away, and memories are forever, as long as you aren’t a patient of Dr. Krieger.
29th - 31st - MTAC Devil’s Dozen - Nashville, TN - $45 for the weekend
The Middle Tennessee Anime Convention has hit its thirteenth year, and is focusing all its energy on the supernatural terror and evil to be found in anime and manga. They’ve been on a steady growth slope, and this year should crest 9,000 attendees. Get out there for the industry guests, the anime fan fun, the Lolita tea, the Risque Cosplay, the Beebop Bar Crawl, and (my personal favorite) the Ramen Eating contest.
And that should bring us through the close of the Spring con season. Did we miss anything? If you know of a con in the area we haven’t talked about then comment here or email us.
8th - 10th - Madicon - Harrisonburg, VA - $20 for the weekend
The last of the Valley Cons, Madicon is an intimate sized con that caters to general geekdom. Slightly bigger than a mere relaxacon, Madicon has wargaming tournaments share the building with anime screenings, RPG sessions and boardgames, live music and the screams of the LARPers locked playing in the basement. They rarely get in the way of the discussion panels or author presentations, though. Bonus: the town is nearly abandoned for spring break, so there’s no fighting for parking, gaming, or dining space.
20th - 24th - Virginia Festival of the Book - Charlottesville, VA - Event dependant cost
A loosely connected series of events and presentations scattered around Charlottesville during the weekend, there are more than a few that hold appeal for us. From a discussion of emerging technologies and their impact on human rights to a shop talk on why paranormal romances have such a large market, it’s a good excuse to get out and talk books. An added bonus: most of the non-reception events are free.
22nd - 24th - Zenkaikon - Lancaster, PA - $60 for the weekend
For those who want a smaller con than AnimeUSA, Otakon, or Katsucon (or for those who can’t just get enough) there’s this steadily growing con of a few thousand attendees just north of us. Focused on Japanese animation, art, and pop culture, then con is ready to present you with panels and viewings, cosplay and guests, live music and AMV contests - it’s all the events you know, love, and had hoped for.
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| And this is why they have attendance caps. (image via Schezar) |
22nd - 24th - PAX East - Boston, MA - $35 per day (Saturday sold out)
This has swiftly become the 800-pound gorilla of the East Coast. PAX East and PAX Prime back in Seattle are now the largest two gaming-focused cons in the country. You likely already know about it, so I won’t rehash things. It’s already too late for a weekend pass, and Saturday is sold out, but you can still get your hands on Friday passes (better move fast) and Sunday passes. Remember, Boston is just a short train ride away, and memories are forever, as long as you aren’t a patient of Dr. Krieger.
29th - 31st - MTAC Devil’s Dozen - Nashville, TN - $45 for the weekend
The Middle Tennessee Anime Convention has hit its thirteenth year, and is focusing all its energy on the supernatural terror and evil to be found in anime and manga. They’ve been on a steady growth slope, and this year should crest 9,000 attendees. Get out there for the industry guests, the anime fan fun, the Lolita tea, the Risque Cosplay, the Beebop Bar Crawl, and (my personal favorite) the Ramen Eating contest.
And that should bring us through the close of the Spring con season. Did we miss anything? If you know of a con in the area we haven’t talked about then comment here or email us.
There is also...
ReplyDeleteShmoocon, February 15-17th (http://www.shmoocon.org/), an infosec convention,
and,
FurTheMore, April 5-7th (http://www.furthemore.org/), a first-year furry convention up in Baltimore.
-Pres. James