CoastCon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CoastCon |
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| Status | Active |
| Genre | Multi-genre |
| Venue | Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center |
| Location(s) | Biloxi, Mississippi |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1977 |
| Attendance | 1600+ |
| Filing status | Non-profit |
| Website | http://www.coastcon.org |
CoastCon is a really big and old convention in Mississippi for fans of science fiction, fantasy, and gaming. It's the main event put on by CoastCon, Inc., which is a non-profit group that helps people learn about and enjoy these topics.
This group has a team of ten volunteers who work to create fun events. For over 40 years, they've helped people in the Southern United States enjoy reading, learning, and playing games related to science fiction and fantasy. The annual CoastCon convention, CoastCon 42, happened from March 7-10, 2019. It was held at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.
What Happens at CoastCon?
CoastCon is packed with exciting things to do for three whole days! You can explore the biggest vendor's room in Mississippi, filled with cool items related to science fiction and fantasy. There's also an art show where you can see amazing artwork, and even an auction where you might find unique treasures.
One of the most popular events is the Saturday costume contest, where people dress up as their favorite characters. After that, there's a fun dance party in the evening! Throughout the convention, you can join over 72 hours of panels, workshops, and demonstrations. These cover many different topics, like:
- Writing and art
- Anime and gaming
- Science fiction and Fantasy books
- Comic books and costuming
- Hard science and online media
- Fandom (being a big fan of something)
- Movies and television shows
- Table-top, card, and miniatures gaming
- Robotics and filk music (folk music about science fiction and fantasy)
Special Guests
Every year, CoastCon invites special guests to the convention. These guests are often stars or famous people from the world of fandom. They might be actors, authors, artists, or game designers.
Some of the past guests at CoastCon have included:
- Actress Nicki Clyne
- Author David Drake
- Author David Weber
- Artist John Picacio
- Actress Virginia Hey
- Actress Gigi Edgley
- Actor Peter Mayhew
- Game designer Mike Mearls
- Author Michael Moorcock
- Actor Peter Jurasik
- Actor/producer James Cawley
- Author Deborah LeBlanc
- Author Sharon Green
- Actress Noel Neill
- Game designer Dave Arneson
Helping Others
CoastCon's parent organization chooses a special charity to support each year. They pick a charity that fits with the goals of the convention. For example, in 2016, CoastCon Inc. chose the Pink Heart Funds as its main charity.
- Quality Inn CoastCon's host hotel http://www.qualityinn.com/hotel-biloxi-mississippi-MS200
