MarsCon (Williamsburg, Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MarsCon |
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MarsCon logo
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| Status | Active |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Location(s) | Williamsburg, Virginia |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1990 |
| Website | marscon.net |
MarsCon is a fun science fiction convention held every year in Williamsburg, Virginia. It started in 1990 and is a place where people who love science fiction, fantasy, and related topics can meet up. It's known for being a friendly and relaxed event. Many people say it's the biggest and longest-running science fiction and fantasy convention in the Tidewater area of Virginia.
History of MarsCon
MarsCon began because of an older convention called Sci-Con, which was a popular science fiction event in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In 1990, the people who organized Sci-Con decided to hold a smaller, more relaxed gathering just for their members. They called it a "relaxicon."
After that first year, this new convention got a new name: MarsCon! It was named after a funny, long-running joke about trying to host the big World Science Fiction Convention on the planet Mars in the year 2095.
MarsCon is all about having a good time and making friends. It offers many cool activities. You can join in on panel discussions and workshops, where experts talk about different topics. There's also lots of gaming, including role-playing games and card games. You can watch anime in the video room, explore the dealers room for cool stuff, or check out the art show. They even have an annual tea party and an auction that raises money for charity!
MarsCon Events
Upcoming Conventions
- MarsCon 2022: (theme: Myths and Legends) will happen from January 14 to 16, 2022. It will be at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia. Special guests include Peter V. Brett, a well-known author, and Kaysha Siemens, an artist. The MarsCon event planned for 2021 was canceled because of concerns about the Coronavirus.
Past Conventions
MarsCon has been held every year since 1990, bringing together fans for fun and friendship. Many past conventions have had exciting themes and special guests. They also often raise money for good causes, like the Heritage Humane Society.
Here are some examples of past MarsCon events:
- MarsCon 2009 had a cool "steampunk" theme. Famous author John Ringo was a special guest that year.
- MarsCon 2011 welcomed popular author Jim Butcher and artist Ursula Vernon. About 983 people attended, and over $2500 was raised for charity.
- MarsCon 2012 had a fun theme: "It's the end of the MarsCon as we know it." This was a playful nod to predictions about the year 2012.
- MarsCon 2013 was called "Rebirth." More than 1,000 people came to this convention.
- MarsCon 2014: A Twisted Fairy Tale featured authors Jim C. Hines and Carrie Ryan. The convention raised over $5,000 for the Heritage Humane Society.
- MarsCon 2015: 25 Shades of MarsCon celebrated the convention's 25th anniversary! Many favorite guests from past years returned. They raised $4305 for the Heritage Humane Society.
- MarsCon 2016: Sweet '16 Celebrating Women in Science Fiction honored women in the science fiction world. Author Ellen Kushner was a special guest.
- MarsCon 2017: Year of the Dragon had a magical dragon theme. Guests included writer Todd J. McCaffrey and artist Ruth Thompson.
- MarsCon 2018: Werewolves of MarsCon explored werewolf stories. Author Carrie Vaughn and the musical group The Blibbering Humdingers were among the guests.
- MarsCon 2019: Land of the Faerie was all about fairies. Special guests included authors Seanan McGuire and Catherynne M. Valente.
- MarsCon 2020: Rogues and Rebels featured authors Scott Lynch and David Weber. Over 1,452 people attended, and the charity auction raised more than $4039 for the Heritage Humane Society.
