- MarsCon (Bloomington, Minnesota)
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Not to be confused with MarsCon (Williamsburg, Virginia).
MarsCon Genre Science fiction Location Bloomington, Minnesota Country United States First held 1999 Official website marscon.org MarsCon is a science fiction convention held in Bloomington, Minnesota. It was first held in February 1999 with the goal of appealing to a diverse audience of fans in Minnesota and the vicinity. It is a mid-sized convention with a wide variety of events including panel discussions, guest of honor presentations, music of many kinds, art show, film room (including anime), science room, dealers room, charity auction, and a masquerade.[1] Past guests have included actors, authors, artists, scientists, musicians, producers, and even the occasional pooka. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune describes MarsCon as "for the sci-fi serious nerds".[2]
Since 2003, MarsCon Minnesota has also included a strong presence of the "Dementia" (comedy/novelty/filk) music genre, making the convention one of the largest events in the country to showcase such music.
Contents
Conventions
Past
MarsCon 1999: Celebrating 60 Years of Fandom
- Where: Radisson South Hotel
- When: February 26-28, 1999
- Guests of Honor: Carl David, Jeff Grubb, Kate Novak
MarsCon 2000: Don’t Panic! (Alternate Subversive Theme: M’00)
- Where: Radisson South Hotel
- When: May 12-14, 2000
- Guests of Honor: Mark Allen Shepherd, Lisa Getto, Margaret Weis, Don Perrin, Denise Boie, Jack Borkowski, Donald R. Schmitt, Chesley Bonestell (Posthumous)
MarsCon 2001: A Space Oddity
- Where: Radisson South Hotel
- When: May 11-13, 2001
- Guests of Honor: Jane Yolen, Bill Blair, Carl Talliaferro, Christopher Jones, Michael Liebmann, David Arneson, Stanley Kubrick (Posthumous)
MarsCon 2002: The Magic of Fantasy
- Where: Airport Hilton
- When: March 1-3, 2002
- Guests of Honor: Lyda Morehouse, Peter Woodward, John Levene, Robin Wood, Harvey (See Harvey (play))
MarsCon 2003: No One Here is Exactly What He Appears
- Where: Holiday Inn Select
- When: February 28-March 2, 2003
- Guests of Honor: Sharon Lee, Steve Miller (writer), Julie Caitlin Brown, Lev Mailer, John Garner (artist), David Mendez, Douglas Adams (Posthumous)
MarsCon 2004: Let’s Play Doctor!
- Where: Airport Hilton
- When: March 5-7, 2004
- Guests of Honor: John M. Ford, Richard Biggs, Barry Hansen “Dr. Demento”, Dawn Devine Brown “Davina (costumer)”, Luke Sienkowski “The Great Luke Ski”, David E Romm
MarsCon 2005: Galactic Pirates and Mercenaries
- Where: Airport Marriott
- When: March 4-6, 2005
- Guests of Honor: Richard Herd, Jeremy Bulloch, Stephanie Gannaway-Osborn, Timothy Zahn, Todd Coss, The Great Luke Ski, Ron Ross, Herbert Jefferson, Jr.
MarsCon 2006: Things That Go Bump in the Night
- Where: Holiday Inn Select
- When: March 3-5, 2006
- Guests of Honor: Gigi Edgley, Dean Haglund, Beth Hansen, Walter H. Hunt, Paul Lawrence (producer), Tom Smith (filker), Hugh Gregory
MarsCon 2007
- Where: Holiday Inn Select
- When: March 2-4, 2007
- Guests of Honor: Don S. Davis, Patricia Tallman, Todd Lockwood, Eric Larson, Eleanor Arnason, Ookla the Mok
MarsCon 2008: Press Start To Continue
- Where: Holiday Inn Select
- When: February 29-March 2, 2008
- Guests of Honor: Bill Blair, Jeff Easley, Naomi Kritzer, C. Robert Cargill, Hot Waffles
MarsCon 2009: Invasion!
- Where: Holiday Inn Select
- When: March 6-8, 2009[2]
- Guests of Honor: Musetta Vander, Scott Rosema, Suzanne Hiza-Rezema, Jeanne Cavelos, Wally Pleasant[3]
MarsCon 2010: Dark Lords and Femme Fatales
- Where: Holiday Inn Select
- When: March 5-7, 2010[1]
- Guests of Honor: John Garner, Loretta McKibben, Nick Atoms, Gwynyth Walsh
MarsCon 2011: Days of Magic!
- Where: Holiday Inn Select
- When: March 4-6, 2011[4]
- Guests of Honor: Lois McMaster Bujold, Joe Rheault, Megan Rheault, Bjo Trimble, John Trimble, Worm Quartet
Upcoming
MarsCon 2012: Rockin' the Apocalypse
- Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel and Suites
- When: March 9-12, 2012
- Guests of Honor: artist Lukas Effinger, author Catherine Asaro, author Rob Callahan
References
- ^ a b Peloquin, Jahna (March 4, 2010). "Weekend events: MarsCon 2010 and Oscar parties". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. http://www.vita.mn/story.php?id=86346247. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
- ^ a b "Events". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. November 5, 2009.
- ^ "MarsCon in Bloomington, Minneasota Feb 29-Mar 2" (Press release). Isthmus. January 7, 2008. http://www.thedailypage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=36772. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
- ^ "Item World". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. May 11, 2001.
External links
Categories:- American science fiction conventions
- Conventions in Minnesota
- Recurring events established in 1999
- Bloomington, Minnesota
- Visitor attractions in Hennepin County, Minnesota
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