ICon festival facts for kids
The ICon Festival (in Hebrew: פסטיבל אייקון) is a super cool event in Israel. It's a big gathering for fans of science fiction and fantasy. This festival happens every year in Tel Aviv during the Sukkot holiday, usually in September or October.
ICon first started in the autumn of 1998. It usually lasts for three days. The name "ICon" is a short way of saying "Israeli Convention." The "IC" part looks like the first letter of the festival's name in Hebrew, which is why it's capitalized that way.
Contents
What Happens at ICon?
ICon is packed with exciting activities for everyone!
Talks and Workshops
You can listen to many interesting talks about different topics. These include books, science, TV shows, movies, and even specific fan groups. There are also workshops where you can learn about writing stories or creating art.
Games and Cosplay
If you love games, you'll find lots of role-playing games to join. Many people at ICon dress up as their favorite characters. This is called cosplay. There's even a special event where cosplayers show off their amazing costumes!
Creative Shows
The festival often features a special film, play, or musical. These are usually created by talented Israeli science fiction fans. For example, in 2013, ICon had over 270 different events!
Dealers' Court
Instead of a regular shop room, ICon has a "dealers' court." This is an open area where you can find cool stuff to buy. It's set up in the festival lobby and outside.
Battle Ring Fun
One of the most exciting parts is the battle ring! Here, people dressed in costumes can have friendly battles. They use soft, pretend weapons, making it a safe and fun experience. This is part of LARP, which stands for Live Action Role-Playing.
Geffen Award Ceremony
Since 1999, the ICon Festival has hosted the annual Geffen Award ceremony. This award celebrates the best science fiction and fantasy books. It honors both Hebrew books and translated books.
Where the Festival Happens
The main place for ICon is the Eshkol Pais building. This building has rooms for talks and a cozy "café" area to relax. There's also a big room for tabletop games. Part of the dealers' court is here too, including a second-hand booth. At this booth, visitors can sell their used items.
Sometimes, nearby places like the Eeroni Aleph school are used for role-playing games. This school also lets visitors from out of town sleep inside during the night. Other venues, like the ZOA house, might be used when the festival is very busy.
Special Guests
ICon has welcomed many famous people over the years. These guests include well-known authors like Orson Scott Card, Neil Gaiman, and Brandon Sanderson. Sometimes, actors like Chase Masterson also visit the festival.
Festival Themes
Each ICon Festival has a special main theme. This theme guides many of the talks and activities. Past themes have included ideas like identity, discovery, rejuvenation, "beyond the mirror," and cities.
Run by Volunteers
The ICon Festival is completely run by volunteers! This means that everyone who organizes and helps at the festival gives their time for free. The groups that put on ICon are all nonprofit organizations. In 2013, over 250 volunteers helped make ICon a success.
Who Organizes ICon?
Over the years, ICon has been organized by groups like the Israeli Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy and the Israeli Roleplaying Association. Other groups, such as the Starbase 972 Star Trek fan club, have also helped.
Since 2010, the festival has actually split into two different events. One is still called "ICon" and is organized by the Israeli Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy. It takes place at the Eshkol Pais in Tel Aviv. The other festival is called "Utopia" (it used to be "Icon TLV") and is held at the Cinematheque in Tel Aviv.
