The upcoming San Diego Comic-Con got me to thinking about what other venues there are for our readers and what is really available out there – I’ve taken a look around and came up with a short list. This article is for all of you who might not be able to make it to San Diego.
With that said, let’s get on with it.
In case you haven’t heard, the 40th 2009 San Diego Comic-Con is coming up. It’s just a little event that takes place every year. Somehow, like a little snowball starting on its downhill journey, it has built momentum and size on the way down to become what it is today.
It’s gained enough momentum through the years to have outgrown its moniker of a convention for comics and has become TV-Movie-Web-MovieStar-Comic-Con. (I’m sure I left out a few labels.)
Don’t worry, the convention in San Diego has a massive exhibit hall and close to half of it is taken up by comic distributors.
Thunderbird 2
They also have toy distributors on the floor for those really hard to find items that you’ve forgotten about until you see them in all their glory on display at SDCC. Once you see the toys, your wallet then gets incredibly thinned out or gets a worn out spot as you keep taking it out and looking at what you have that you can spend. Then putting it back. Then pulling it out… it’s torment, but it’s the best kind of torment.
Space 1999
If you need a break from spending and window shopping, you can always just walk the hall and catch the enthusiastic fans who take the time to create some incredible costumes. I am envious of the time they have, but we show our appreciation by asking them for a moment so we can take their pictures for posting on our picture websites, or editorial entertainment websites.
Continue reading to see a list of alternative conventions…
When you get done with the floor, the purveyor of all that is “geek” can choose to check out the panels that the studios have put together to preview their newest and upcoming attractions. Or they can choose to help market old favorites like Farscape and the like.
Katee Sackhoff and Tricia Helfer on BSG panel
Needless to say and from what I can tell, SDCC is the cream of the crop or right there at the top with a few other organizations. This year, all tickets sold out weeks ago so I’m anticipating a huge crowd no matter what hour of the day I’m at the convention.
But enough about Comic-Con. I’ll bet there are some of you out there that would like to go to something like this but can’t afford to transit to San Diego.
No problem.
There are actually lots of options out there for the wanna-be attendee. True, they may not have the studios or star power that may show up to market their wares to the general public, but nonetheless, there are events out there that bring together the fans to have some fun.
The main organizers are Comic-Con, which puts on numerous venues like Wondercon or APE (Alternative Press Expo) in San Francisco.
The New York Comic-Con is put on by Reed Exhibitions and their next event will occur on October 8-10, 2010 to be held at the Javits Center.
Dragon-Con puts on a few conventions. The next one coming up is in Atlanta, Georgia on September 4-7 2009. Some lined up guests are Dirk Benedict, Joe Flannigan, Claudia Black, Patrick Stewart, Leonard Nimoy and many other notable names.
Creation Entertainment has been putting on conventions for fans for 38 years. Some of the shows they focus on are Star Trek, Stargate, Xena, BSG, Farscape, Smallville, Supernatural, Gossip Girl and a bunch of other fan favorites. They have a Stargate convention coming up in Chicago on August 21-23. Supernatural in Vancouver, BC on August 28-30. They also have a lot of Twilight conventions. There’s one coming up in Atlanta on July 10, Minneapolis on July 17th, Phoenix AZ on August 14th, and so forth.
Redemption conventions focus on Babylon 5 and Blakes 7 venues. Their next event will be on February 25th, 2011.
I’ve also been to smaller events and even if they don’t draw the star power, they still manage to snag some personality appearances and they do what they can for you. Other notable events are put on by The Baltimore Science Fiction Society, New Mexico Fantasy Con, and even the Starfury organization.
There’s opportunity for all and even if you think it’s not big enough to warrant, you might want to give it a try and see what fun you can muster out of it.
Small Representation of Convention Listings
Below, I’ve compiled a small list of convention websites. I’d be willing to bet I’ve missed a whole bunch of organizations. Feel free to add your favorite or most accessible convention to the comments section of Screen Rant to help build our list.
| Arisia Science Fiction Convention | Annual Boston convention |
| ArmadilloCon | Annual Austin convention |
| Balticon 33 | Baltimore Science Fiction Society |
| Bubonicon | New Mexico fantasy con |
| Capricon | Motivating people to read and write speculative fiction |
| CoastCon | Mississippi |
| Comic-Con | Wonder-Con, Comic-Con, THE Con |
| CONduit | Science fiction and fantasy in its many forms |
| CONvergence | Diversity of Science Fiction and Fantasy |
| Creation Entertainment | Star Trek and sci-fi |
| Dragon*Con | Covers the gamut of the genre |
| I-CON | Multi-track convention |
| Los Angeles Comic Book & Sci Fi Con | Monthly comics and science fiction convention. |
| MarsCon | Fan-run science fiction convention |
| MidSouthCon | Memphis |
| Minicon | Fan-run science-fiction convention |
| OSFCI | Oregon |
| Philcon | Philadelphia Science Fiction Society |
| Redemption | For fans of Babylon 5 and Blakes 7 |
| Starfury 2001 | A UK Convention site |
| StellarCon | North Carolina |
| Toronto Trek | Toronto, Canada |
| Vulkon Ent | Activities for fans of all ages |
As always, comments are welcome from our Screen Rant readers.
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I can add one to the list: RavenCon, which held here in Richmond, Virginia. It’s relatively young.
http://www.ravencon.com/
i’ve always wanted to go to these places…. or E3. sigh…. maybe nextyear.
Orlando, FL has one too, but it’s kind of small, I don’t even know the name of it, lol. Been to it once, not too bad, pretty fun.
The annual Farscape convention will be held this year at the Hilton LAX.
Sweet stuff gang… keep the updates coming everyone!
There is a new covention inOrlando called the CreatureCon.
The Older Orlando con might be Oasis 20.
thats been there for awhile.
I live in L.A.
But thats the best I could find out about Orlando cons.
More on Creature Con.
Its being put together by an outfit called Repticon.
They organize cons in the Southeast .
790,
Do the stars come to the Farscape Convention?
Yeah big time Gary.
John Criton, Chiana, Dargo, Scorpius, etc. Plus tons of the supporting cast.
how lucky u guys :0
there not even SINGLE scifi-related convention here in Indonesia :p
Caroluz,
You are luckier then you know.
I did some research.
The 68th World Science Fiction Convention Will be held in Melbourne Australia In 2010 Sept 2-6
So, next year just hop on a plane to Australia and ENJOY!
Oh, there are so many conventions I could add to the list. I guess I’ll just hit my faves: ConQuesT (www.conquestkc.org)- Kansas City fan run convention, been going on for forty years now; DemiCon (www.demicon.org/21) – Des Moines convention, one of the best I’ve ever been to.
I am disappointed that when giving your recommendations, you mostly only suggested professionally run conventions and recommended very few fan run conventions. In my experience, fan run conventions may not have the finesse and size of a professionally run convention, but they more for make up for it with a better atmosphere and a bigger heart. Fan run conventions are the lifeblood of sf conventions, not professional conventions.
No mention of Wizard World which travels around?
For comics and anime fans in the Pacific Northwest there are a few good ones.
Sakura-Con: http://www.sakuracon.org/
Emerald City ComiCon: http://www.emeraldcitycomicon.com/
Myself, I’ve never been to Sakura but a few of my friends enjoy it (they’re more into anime then I am), but ECCC is pretty fun. Wil Wheaton was at the last show I went to and had some pretty cool stories from his time on ST-TNG.
Yes, my list was limited. I recognize that, but at some point, I just wanted to touch on the outline of the premise and I am sure our readers have a lot to suggest to add to this list.
Thanks gang!
Here you go gang, this link will provide you with some very cool info on conventions in the US.
There’s also a little trick about them. If you volunteer to work, you get in free. Just a suggestion. Enjoy
^
http://creationent.com
^
790
wished that i was born in US
Hey, that bottom picture is of the Steampunk Ghostbusters. They have awesome props, & they’re talking to Weta workshop prop guy Greg Broadmore of Dr. Grordbort’s Ray Gun fame. http://steampunkghostbusters.com
ThievingMagpie:
THANK YOU. Do you have any idea how daffy I was going wondering just who they were?
Did someone mention Icon on L.I. NY every year.
Pretty big, been around for like 20+ years I believe.
I don’t know why people call us geeks just because we go to these conventions, know what an anti-matter injector is, know what a Hysenberg Compensator is, the difference between a blackhole and a wormhole, feel that light speed is way too slow, and know who Daniel Jackson is.
I went to a Trel Convention in Las Vegas given by Creation Entertainment, and had a blast. I met the actress who played Judy from Lost in Space, the actor who played Tweekie, some of the actresses who played the green Orion slave girls (Megan Fox who?
) and the best part, I got to play Black Jack with Deanna Troi herself (Mirina Sirtis). My family kept talking about the casinos and the strip; my best part was the convention. I saw Capt. Janeway, Geordi, Q, Worf, Troi, Rom, Ens. Kim, and Leta Alexander; took a picture with Savek (Trek 3 and 4), Flash Gordon (1980), and the actor who played the alien Taask (DS9). I wish I could have stayed for the big hitters (Kirk, Spock, Sisko) but we had to leave.
I used the reference for “geeks” as a term others use. I don’t feel that way at all. We’re more, all knowing since we are exposed to leading edge science! (fiction)
Do you remember Vash, played by Jennifer Hetrick on Star Trek: Next Generation?
I was at a Star Trek convention and we both weren’t looking where we were going and SLAM! Her scripts went flying, my new Hallmark 1701-D ornament almost went flying… (priorities man!)
She was soooo miffed… but it was the best experience I had at a ST convention! … that I can talk about.
@Bruce
Did you just ask me if I remember Vash? How long have you known me? Oh, not that long; sorry.
Oh man, I would love to have been told off by Vash! Even better, Seven of Nine, or T’Pol! My geek-o-meter just went into overdrive.
I’ve had alot of fun at Conventions.
I’ve met lots of Star Trek, Farscape, BSG. and even the cast of 2001 a Space Odyessy.
One year I met Rom (Ds9) at Frys in Burbank. We both walked in at the same time. I asked him, “don’t you play Rom,” he was shocked that I recogised him without the makeup. He was going in to buy DvdR’s to burn his Rom stuff for the Las Vegas convention. (Prob when you saw him Kahless) totally cool guy.
A few years back I was buying a Farscape T-shirt at a Farscape Convention and walking up next to me was Wayne Pygram (Scorpius). He wasn’t wearing his makeup and didn’t look recognisable. We had a brief chat on the Peacekeeper Wars before he was mobbed by other fans that finally figured out who he was.
Conventions are always a funtime. I really love the people there.
Chicago has a comic-con Aug 6-9 put on by Wizard World. They’ve got the likes of Ray Park, Ernie Hudson, Kristanna Loken and Billy Dee Williams attending.
Here’s the link for more info. http://www.wizardworld.com/home-ch.html