MarsCon (Bloomington, Minnesota) facts for kids

MarsCon is a super fun event for fans of science fiction! It's like a big party held every year in Bloomington, Minnesota, in the United States. It first started in February 1999. The main goal was to create a cool gathering for all kinds of fans in Minnesota and nearby areas.

MarsCon is a medium-sized convention, but it has tons of different activities! You can find:

• Panel discussions where experts talk about sci-fi topics
• Presentations from special guests like actors, authors, and scientists
• All sorts of music, including comedy and novelty songs
• An art show with amazing creations
• A film room where you can watch movies and anime
• A science room for cool discoveries
• A dealers room to buy awesome stuff
• A charity auction to help good causes
• A masquerade where people dress up in amazing costumes

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune newspaper even called MarsCon "for the sci-fi serious nerds," which means it's a great place for anyone who loves science fiction!

Since 2003, MarsCon Minnesota has also become a big place for "Dementia" music. This is a special type of comedy, novelty, and filk music. It makes MarsCon one of the biggest events in the country to feature this kind of fun music!

MarsCon Through the Years

MarsCon has been happening every year since 1999, bringing together fans for exciting weekends. Each year has a unique theme and special guests from the world of science fiction, fantasy, and beyond!

Past Conventions

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!

• Where: Radisson South Hotel
• When: May 12-14, 2000
• Guests of Honor: Mark Allen Shepherd, Margaret Weis, Don Perrin, and others.

MarsCon 2001: A Space Oddity

• Where: Radisson South Hotel
• When: May 11-13, 2001
• Guests of Honor: Jane Yolen, Bill Blair, David Arneson, and more.

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.

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 (science fiction writer), Julie Caitlin Brown, and others.

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”, The Great Luke Ski.

MarsCon 2005: Galactic Pirates and Mercenaries

• Where: Airport Marriott
• When: March 4-6, 2005
• Guests of Honor: Richard Herd, Jeremy Bulloch, Timothy Zahn, 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, Walter H. Hunt, Tom Smith (filker).

MarsCon 2007

• Where: Holiday Inn Select
• When: March 2-4, 2007
• Guests of Honor: Don S. Davis, Patricia Tallman, Todd Lockwood, 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, Hot Waffles.

MarsCon 2009: Invasion!

• Where: Holiday Inn Select
• When: March 6-8, 2009
• Guests of Honor: Musetta Vander, Scott Rosema, Jeanne Cavelos, Wally Pleasant.

MarsCon 2010: Dark Lords and Femme Fatales

• Where: Holiday Inn Select
• When: March 5-7, 2010
• Guests of Honor: John Garner, Loretta McKibben, Gwynyth Walsh.

MarsCon 2011: Days of Magic!

• Where: Holiday Inn Select
• When: March 4-6, 2011
• Guests of Honor: Lois McMaster Bujold, Bjo Trimble, John Trimble, Worm Quartet.

MarsCon 2012: Rockin' the Apocalypse

• Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel and Suites
• When: March 9-12, 2012
• Guests of Honor: Lukas Effinger, Catherine Asaro, Rob Callahan, Consortium of Genius.

MarsCon 2013: Ctrl/Alt/Del... Thriving into the future

• Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel and Suites, Bloomington, MN
• When: March 1-3, 2013
• Guests of Honor: actress Claudia Christian, author Harry Turtledove, artist Sarah Clemens, and music Flat 29.

MarsCon 2014: Time is the Key

• Where: DoubleTree by Hilton, Bloomington-Minneapolis South
• When: March 7-9, 2014
• Guests of Honor: J. G. Hertzler, Esther Friesner, Henry Phillips, and the Klingons of IKV RakeHell.

MarsCon 2015: Heroes & Wizerds & Fae OHhh MYyy!!

• Where: Airport Hilton
• When: March 6-8, 2015
• Guests of Honor: Spice Williams-Crosby, Antoinette Bower, Lyda Morehouse, Rob Paravonian.

MarsCon 2016: Parallel Dimensions

• Where: Hilton Minneapolis/St Paul Airport/Mall of America, Bloomington, MN
• When: March 4-6, 2016
• Guests of Honor: actor William Morgan Sheppard, artist Christine Mitzuk, author Ruth Berman, musician Luke Ski.

MarsCon 2017: Dragons In Space

• Where: Hilton Minneapolis/St Paul Airport/Mall of America, Bloomington, MN
• When: March 3-5, 2017
• Guests of Honor: actor Jeffrey Combs, artist Ralph Ryan, authors Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, comedian Judy Tenuta.

MarsCon 2018: Robots, Rayguns, & Rockets: The 3 R's of Sci-Fi

• Where: Hilton Minneapolis/St Paul Airport/Mall of America, Bloomington, MN
• When: March 2-4, 2018
• Guests of Honor: actor Roger Cross, artist Steve Thomas, author MaryJanice Davidson, musician Brent brentalfloss Black.

Upcoming Conventions

MarsCon 2019: “Legends In Our Own Mind”

• Where: Hilton Minneapolis/St Paul Airport/Mall of America, Bloomington, MN
• When: March 1-3, 2019
• Guests of Honor: actors Bill Blair & J. G. Hertzler, author A. Merc Rustad, artist Luke Ski.