DemiCon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids DemiCon |
|
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Multi-genre |
| Venue | Holiday Inn Northwest, 4800 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, Iowa 50322 |
| Location(s) | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Coordinates | 41°38′56″N 93°42′00″W / 41.6489°N 93.6999°W |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1990 |
| Organized by | Des Moines Science Fiction and Fantasy Society, Inc. |
| Filing status | 501(c)(3), Nonprofit |
| Website | DemiCon |
DemiCon is a super fun yearly event in Des Moines, Iowa. It's a big gathering for fans of science fiction, fantasy, and gaming. People who love these things come together to celebrate and have a great time! DemiCon has been happening every year since 1990.
The event is run by volunteers from the Des Moines Science Fiction and Fantasy Society, Inc. (DMSFFS). This group is a non-profit organization. They help promote reading, science, and art. They especially focus on the exciting worlds of science fiction and fantasy.
Contents
How DemiCon Started
DemiCon began in 1990. It was started by fans who loved science fiction and fantasy. They learned a lot from famous writers like Joe Haldeman. These fans had formed a group called the Des Moines Science Fiction Society in 1989. One of their first goals was to create a convention.
The name "DemiCon" is a short way of saying "Des Moines Convention." It's a clever name for a cool event!
Fun Activities at DemiCon
DemiCon has grown a lot over the years. It now offers a huge variety of activities. Some things are always part of the fun every year.
Here are some of the regular activities you can enjoy at DemiCon:
- Opening and Closing Ceremonies: These are special events to start and end the convention. They often include performances.
- Gaming: You can play all kinds of games! This includes board games, card games, and video games.
- Masquerade & Cosplay: This is a costume contest where people dress up as their favorite characters. It's a big show with a stage!
- Hall Costume Contests: These are more casual costume contests. You can show off your cool outfit as you walk around.
- Art Show: See amazing artwork inspired by science fiction and fantasy.
- Dealers' Room: This is a place where you can buy cool stuff. You might find books, comics, art, and more.
- Panels: You can listen to talks and ask questions to special guests. These guests are often authors, artists, or experts.
- ConSuite: This is a special room where attendees can relax. They can grab a snack and chat with other fans.
- Room Parties: Some attendees host themed parties in their hotel rooms.
- Presentations: Enjoy shows by musical guests or other professional guests.
Besides these regular activities, DemiCon has many other exciting programs. These programs cover a wide range of topics. They are designed for all ages, from kids to adults.
Here are more activities you might find at DemiCon:
- Music Room: Listen to "filking," which is folk music about science fiction and fantasy.
- Gaming Competitions: Join tournaments for board games or electronic games and win prizes.
- Live Action Role Playing (LARP): Act out a story as your character in a real-life game.
- Fhannish Film Festival: Watch fan-made movies.
- Venue D: This is an open-mic stage where anyone can perform.
- Discussions: Talk about your favorite books, TV shows, movies, and media.
- Science and Future Panels: Learn about new ideas in science and technology.
- Steampunk and Alternate History: Explore cool ideas about what the past or future could be like.
- Anime and Cosplay: Enjoy programs about Japanese animation and dressing up as characters.
- Kids' and Teen Programming: Special activities just for younger fans.
- Hobby Demonstrations: Learn how to make costumes or props.
- Iowa's Writers Forum: Meet and learn from local writers.
- Live Theater: Watch exciting performances.
- Video Room: Relax and watch movies or TV shows.
- Scavenger Hunt: Go on a fun search around the convention.
Where DemiCon Happens
DemiCon has always been held in the Des Moines area. It has moved to different hotels over the years.
From 1990 to 1996, and again in 1998, DemiCon was at the Howard Johnson. This hotel is now the Holiday Inn Northwest. After moving to a few other places, DemiCon returned to the Holiday Inn Northwest in 2010. This hotel is planned to be the home of DemiCon until at least 2024.
Special Guests and Themes
Each year, DemiCon has a special theme. They also invite amazing guests! These "Guests of Honor" are usually famous authors, artists, or fans. They come to share their work and talk with attendees.
The table below shows the themes and guests from past DemiCons:
| Year | No. | Theme | Author Guest of Honor | Artist Guest of Honor | Fan Guest of Honor | Toastmaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 33 | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| 2021 | 32 | Super Manga Graphic Novels Comics Animation | Lettie Prell | Alison Johnstun; David Pancake | Orlando Winters; Dana Hinterleitner and Bruce Hinterleitner | Susan Leabhart; Mitch Thompson |
| 2020 | 31 | Legion of DemiCon | Lettie Prell | David Pancake | Dana Hinterleitner and Bruce Hinterleitner | Mitch Thompson |
| 2019 | 30 | It's About Time | Gail Carriger -- with Timeless GOHs Gay & Joe Haldeman | John Picacio | Becky Kinnamon & David Winterton | Susan Leabhart |
| 2018 | 29 | Down the Rabbit Hole | Christina Henry | Christine Mitzuk | Susan Leabhart | Mitch Thompson |
| 2017 | 28 | Heroes Shall Rise | Lars Pearson | Ron Wagner | Richard Harper | Susan Leabhart |
| 2016 | 27 | Zombies Always Ring Twice | Adam J. Whitlatch | Alan M. Clark | Gary and Erin Wickering | Tadao Tomomatsu |
| 2015 | 26 | The Magical World of DemiCon | Jim C. Hines | Megan Lara | Michelle Clark | Tadao Tomomatsu |
| 2014 | 25 | Hi-Yo, Silver! Celebrate Away! | Tee Morris | Lojo Russo | Kevin Roche and Andy Trembley | Susan Leabhart |
| 2013 | 24 | 24-Karat DemiCon: Celebrating the Golden Age of Science Fiction | David Weber | Scott Ross | Mitch and Mary Thompson | Dennis Lynch |
| 2012 | 23 | Full Moon Fantasy | Patricia Briggs | Allen Williams | Ange and Brian Anderson | Tadao Tomomatsu |
| 2011 | 22 | Here Be Dragons | Sarah Prineas | Sarah Clemens | John and Denise Garner | Tadao Tomomatsu and Toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin |
| 2010 | 21 | Everything is Better with Pirates | Karl Schroeder | Don Maitz | Gregg Parmentier | Tadao Tomomatsu and Toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin |
| 2009 | 20 | All My Cons Remembered | Joe Haldeman | Sara Butcher | Roger Tener | Tadao Tomomatsu and Toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin |
| 2008 | 19 | Back Where We Belong | Steven Barnes | Mitchell Davidson Bentley | Joe and Inger Myers | Tadao Tomomatsu and Toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin |
| 2007 | 18 | You Can Go Home Again...Just Use Your Imagination | Catherine Asaro | Theresa Mather | Steve Houle (aka Wookie) | Tadao Tomomatsu and Toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin |
| 2006 | 17 | Enter the Twilight Zone of Imagination | Frederik Pohl | Janet Chui | Ted Poovey and Darice Schirber-Poovey | Tadao Tomomatsu and Toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin |
| 2005 | 16 | Life, the Universe, and DemiCon | Brad Linaweaver | Mike Cole | Sheila Lenkman and Scott Corwin | Tadao Tomomatsu and Toastmaster Emeritus Rusty Hevelin |
| 2004 | 15 | DemiCon-A-Fan-alistic-XV-Fun-A-Liscious | Emma Bull and Will Shetterly | Alan Gutierrez | Rusty Hevelin | Tadao Tomomatsu |
| 2003 | 14 | Contemplating the FUTURE | Octavia E. Butler | Lubov | Lynda Sherman | Rusty Hevelin |
| 2002 | 13 | Con of the Living Dead | F. Paul Wilson | Alan M. Clark | Dennis Lynch | Rusty Hevelin |
| 2001 | 12 | DemiCon 2001: A Con Oddity | Harry Harrison | Sergey Poyarkov | Tadao Tomomatsu | Rusty Hevelin |
| 2000 | 11 | Y2K Compliance is Futile. This One Goes to Eleven. | Lois McMaster Bujold | Susan Van Camp | Alois and Wendy Tschampl | Rusty Hevelin |
| 1999 | 10 | Generation X: Too Old to be Neos...Too Young to be Nostalgic! | Spider Robinson and Jeanne Robinson | Néné Thomas | Bill Broughton | Rusty Hevelin |
| 1998 | 9 | Plan Nine from Des Moines | George Alec Effinger | William J. Hodgson | Marshall and Dee Willis | Rusty Hevelin |
| 1997 | 8 | Sorry, But We've Chosen Not to Become Evolved - Supporting Your Eternal Right to Entropy | Barbara Hambly | Mitchell Davidson Bentley | Charles Piehl | Rusty Hevelin |
| 1996 | 7 | God created the heavens and the earth in 6 days...DemiCon VII. We may have taken 6 years with DemiCon, but on the Seventh Con, We'll Party. | Algis Budrys | Keith Berdak | Otto and Ruth Sheller | Rusty Hevelin |
| 1995 | 6 | The Undiscovered Con | Roger Zelazny | Wilson Tucker | Rusty Hevelin | |
| 1994 | 5 | The Fifth of DemiCon: The Smoothest Convention Around | Glen Cook | David Lee Anderson | Pierre and Sandy Pettinger | Rusty Hevelin |
| 1993 | 4 | The Dawn of Fan | Mickey Zucker Reichert | Erin McKee | Mark Moore | Rusty Hevelin |
| 1992 | 3 | My God! - It's Full of Stars | Rob Chilson | David Cherry | Myrna Logan (The Dragon Lady) | Rusty Hevelin |
| 1991 | 2 | The Voyage Continues | Joe Haldeman | Lucy Synk | Gay Haldeman | Rusty Hevelin |
| 1990 | 1 | Witness the Birth | C. J. Cherryh | J.R. Daniels | Rusty Hevelin |
