Science Fiction Conventions

Science fiction conventions (a generic term used for science fiction/fantasy/horror conventions) range from intimate 100-person (or fewer!) get-togethers to huge, expensive productions such as WorldCon and Dragon*Con, which attract thousands of members. There is something for everyone, and there are many, many conventions all over the world. Examples of some events you might find at a typical science fiction convention include: panel discussions, dealer room (a.k.a. vendors), art show, art auction, charity auction, costuming competition (a.k.a. masquerade), con suite (a.k.a. hospitality suite), & gaming.

Below is a list of many local (DC-area) conventions and other conventions that may be of interest to GLBT folk (e.g. Gaylaxicons), as well as Worldcons *, NASFiCs **, & World Fantasy Conventions. If you know of a DC-area convention, or another convention you think would be of interest to Lambda Sci-Fi and friends, or if you find any errors on this page, please contact us. The conventions are listed in date order.

* Worldcon is the World Science Fiction Convention
** NASCFiC is the North American Science Fiction Convention, held whenever Worldcon is held outide North America

2009 Conventions

• Game Con: April 17-18, 2009. Clarion Hotel, Aberdeen, MD. Guests: C.J. Henderson, Eric Ruth, et al. Membership: $20 (more at the door).
  
  
• RavenCon: April 24-26, 2009. Crown Plaza West, Richmond, VA. Author Guest of Honor: Jack McDevitt; Artist Guest of Honor: Alan F. Beck; Fan Guest of Honor: TBA. Membership: $35 until 4-17-2009; $40 at the door; $15 young adult (12-17); children free (11 & under); day rates available. 10% discount with Military ID & Student/College ID. The con of opportunity.
  
  
• Costume-Con 27--Vampires, Villains & Vixens: May 1-4, 2009. Crowne Plaza Baltimore North, Timonium, MD. Membership: $90 until 04-01-2009; $100 after & at the door. Dedicated to the art and craft of costumes and costuming of all types.
  
  
• Balticon: May 22-25, 2009. Marriott Hunt Valley Inn, Baltimore, MD. Author Guest of Honor: Charles Stross; Artist Guest of Honor: Kurt Miller; Music/Filk Guest of Honor: Mary Crowell; Special Guest of Honor: Scott Sigler; Ghost of Honor: Edgar Allan Poe; 2008 Compton Crook Award Winner: Mark L. Van Name; 2009 Compton Crook Award Winner: TBA. Membership: $53 ($26 child) through 04-30-2009; $60 ($30 child) after; children under 6 free (with paying adult); group rates available (buy 10, get 11th free). Everything Science Fiction and Fantasy in one huge package.
  
  
• Shore Leave: July 10-12, 2009. Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, MD. Guests: Actors, writers, & scientists. Membership: $70 in advance; $75 at the door; $15 children (5-12); children under 5 free (with paying adult).
  
  
• Otakon: July 17-19, 2009. Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD. Guests: Voice actors & web comic creators. Membership: $55 before 06-17-2009; $65 after & at the door (pre-registration ends 07-02-2009). Celebrate anime, manga, and all facets of Asian pop culture!
  
  
• Anticipation (The World Science Fiction Convention): August 6-10, 2009. Palais des congres de Montreal, Montreal, Canada. Guest of Honor: Neil Gaiman; Invitee d'honneur: Elisabeth Vonarburg; Artist Guest of Honor: Ralph Bakshi; Editor Guest of Honor: David Hartwell; Publisher Guest of Honor: Tom Doherty; Fan Guest of Honor: Taral Wayne; Master of Ceremonies: Julie Czerneda. Membership: $215; $50 supporting; $55 child. WorldCon membership rates vary based on voting and presupporting; please check web site for details.
  
  
• SPX Expo (Small Press Expo): October ?-?, 2009. Marriott Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center, MD. Admission Tickets: $15; $8 for one day; only at the door (not sold in advance). SPX brings together over 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers, distributors, and each other.
  
  
• Gaylaxicon 2009: October 9-11, 2009. Doubletree Hotel Minneapolis--Park Place, Minneapolis, MN. Guests of Honor: Margaret Weis, Andy Mangels, Lawrence Schimel, & Terrance "Spider Baby" Griep. Membership: $70 until 08-10-2009; $80 at the door; $35 supporting; registering online requires additional fees ($.99 - $1.75). Gaylaxicon is the only science fiction convention focused on the GLBT community.
  
  
• CapClave: October 16-18, 2009. Hilton, Rockville, MD. Author Guest of Honor: Harry Turtledove; Editor Guest of Honor: Sheila Williams. Membership: $45 through 06-30-2009; $55 through 09-30-2009; $60 through 10-11-2009; $??? at the door. Where reading is not extinct! Small, relaxed literary convention usually focusing on short fiction.
  
  
• World Fantasy Convention: October 29-November 1, 2009. Fairmont Hotel, San Josˇ, CA. Guests of Honor: Garth Nix; others TBA. Membership: $125; $35 supporting; $??? for the Awards Banquet. Annual gathering (almost a reunion) of professionals, collectors, and others interested in the field of Light and Dark Fantasy art and literature.
  
  
• JohnCon: November ?-?, 2009. Johns Hopkins University campus, Baltimore, MD. Annual gaming convention at Johns Hopkins University. Membership: $9 through 09-31-2009; $12 at the door. A gaming convention held on the Johns Hopkins University campus, running 50 hours straight (4 PM Friday - 6 PM Sunday).
  
  
• Euro Quest: November 12-15, 2009. Holiday Inn (formerly Days Hotel), Timonium, MD. Membership: $40 ($15 one-day) through 11-01-2009; $50 ($20 one-day) at the door; free for children 12 & under (open gaming only, with a paying adult); BPA members & GCOM Supporting members get a $10 discount off pre-registration for the whole weekend. A unique blend of tournaments and open gaming.
  
  
• Anime USA: November 20-22, 2009. Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arglinton, VA. Guests: Musical acts, voice actors, artists, & webcomic creators. Membership: Currently $35 (??? at the door); Silver $18 more (limited to 300; pre-reg only; include con t-shirt & pin); Sponsor $100 (limited to 50; pre-reg only; Silver benefits plus first entry for cosplay & other shows in main events, 30 minute early access to the Dealer Room, meet & greet with guests Friday night, & names listed in program book as official sponsors of Anime USA). Focuses on anime, manga, etc.
  
  
• Darkover Grand Council Meeting: November 27-29, 2009. Crowne Plaza Baltimore, Timonium, MD. Guests of Honor: Emma Bull & Will Shetterly; Artist Guest of Honor: TBA; Special Guest: Katherine Kurtz; Musical Guests of Honor: Clam Chowder. Membership: $45 until 11-1-2009; $50 after that & at the door. Darkover now has a Game Room; contact gaming@darkovercon.org for more information. This is a very GLBT-friendly convention!
  
  

2010 Conventions

• Farpoint: February ?-?, 2010. Crowne Plaza Hotel, Timonium, MD. Guests: TBA. For fans of all genres of imaginative fiction - Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, SuperHeroes - in all the media formats in which they might appear - Cinematic Movies, Television, Direct to DVD, Books on Tape, Podcasts, Web Video - you name it, we want to celebrate it!
  
  
• Katsucon: February 12-14, 2010. Gaylord National, National Harbor, MD. Guests: TBA. Focuses on anime, manga, etc.
  
  
• Aussiecon 4 (The World Science Fiction Convention): September 2-6, 2010. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Guests of Honor: Kim Stanley Robinson (author), Robin Johnson (fan), & Shaun Tan (artist). Membership: $175 attending; $32 child (ages 5-16 as of 09-02-2010; must be accompanied by attending adult); children under 5 free; $50 supporting. WorldCon membership rates vary based on voting and presupporting; please check web site for details.