BabelCon facts for kids

BabelCon was a cool event for fans of science fiction and many other genres, held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was like a big gathering where people who loved sci-fi, fantasy, and gaming could meet up. The convention usually lasted three days and included lots of fun activities. You could attend talks, watch demonstrations, and even meet authors, artists, and actors from your favorite shows and movies! BabelCon was named after a famous meeting place in the classic TV show Star Trek episode "Journey to Babel".

How BabelCon Started

BabelCon began in 2006. It was first a project of a local group called Star One Delta (SOD), which focused on science fiction and gaming. The people who organized BabelCon were inspired to create it after another big convention in New Orleans, called Crescent City Con, ended in 2005. Also, after Hurricane Katrina, it was hard to start new events in New Orleans.

In 2008, BabelCon became its own separate organization. A new non-profit group, the Science & Engineering Education Foundation (SEEF), was created to help run the convention.

BabelCon Events Over the Years

BabelCon 2006

The very first BabelCon happened on Saturday, August 5, 2006. It was a one-day event held in Port Allen, Louisiana. A special guest was Bob May, an actor from the TV show Lost in Space.

BabelCon 2007

BabelCon 2 took place on Saturday, August 4, 2007, also in Port Allen, Louisiana. This one-day event had lots of activities like gaming, a fantasy art show, and science discussions. Famous Star Trek actors Lee Meriwether and Robert O'Reilly were among the guests.

BabelCon 2008

BabelCon 3 was held on July 19–20, 2008. This time, it was a two-day event in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Guests included actors Richard Hatch, Suzie Plakson, J. G. Hertzler, and Bob May. About 1000 fans came to this convention.

BabelCon 2009

BabelCon 4 happened from July 17–19, 2009. It was a three-day event in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Guests included Rekha Sharma and Tiffany Grant. The organizers noted that fewer people attended this year compared to past events.

BabelCon 2010 (Mini-Con)

BabelCon 4.5 was held from March 19–21, 2010. It was originally planned as a bigger event but was changed to a "mini-con." This smaller event focused more on interesting talks and discussions rather than celebrity guests. It aimed for a "cozy" atmosphere. The main guest was Sal Lizard, the president of Starfleet International.

Why BabelCon Ended

The next BabelCon event was planned for March 25–27, 2011, but it was put on hold. There was a disagreement among the people managing the convention in late 2010. Because of this, many of the original staff decided to start their own new event. This new event was called the Louisiana Science Fiction and Costuming Festival, and it first took place on the same dates, March 25–27, 2011.

In April 2012, new managers tried to bring BabelCon back. However, due to money problems and another change in leadership, BabelCon was eventually cancelled for good. The organization that ran it was closed down.