MarsCon (Bloomington, Minnesota)

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Not to be confused with MarsCon (Williamsburg, Virginia).
MarsCon
Genre Science fiction
Location(s) Bloomington, Minnesota
Country United States
Inaugurated 1999
Website
marscon.org

MarsCon is a science fiction convention held in Bloomington, Minnesota. It was first held in February 1999 with the goal of appealing to a diverse audience of fans in Minnesota and the vicinity. It is a mid-sized convention with a wide variety of events including panel discussions, guest of honor presentations, music of many kinds, art show, film room (including anime), science room, dealers room, charity auction, and a masquerade.[1] Past guests have included actors, authors, artists, scientists, musicians, producers, and even the occasional pooka. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune describes MarsCon as "for the sci-fi serious nerds".[2]

Since 2003, MarsCon Minnesota has also included a strong presence of the "Dementia" (comedy/novelty/filk) music genre, making the convention one of the largest events in the country to showcase such music.

Conventions

Past

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! (Alternate Subversive Theme: M’00)

Where: Radisson South Hotel
When: May 12-14, 2000
Guests of Honor: Mark Allen Shepherd, Lisa Getto, Margaret Weis, Don Perrin, Denise Boie, Jack Borkowski, Donald R. Schmitt, Chesley Bonestell (Posthumous)

MarsCon 2001: A Space Oddity

Where: Radisson South Hotel
When: May 11-13, 2001
Guests of Honor: Jane Yolen, Bill Blair, Carl Talliaferro, Christopher Jones, Michael Liebmann, David Arneson, Stanley Kubrick (Posthumous)

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, Harvey (See Harvey (play))

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 (writer), Julie Caitlin Brown, Lev Mailer, John Garner (artist), David Mendez, Douglas Adams (Posthumous)

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”, Dawn Devine Brown “Davina (costumer)”, Luke Sienkowski “The Great Luke Ski”, David E Romm

MarsCon 2005: Galactic Pirates and Mercenaries

Where: Airport Marriott
When: March 4-6, 2005
Guests of Honor: Richard Herd, Jeremy Bulloch, Stephanie Gannaway-Osborn, Timothy Zahn, Todd Coss, The Great Luke Ski, Ron Ross, 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, Beth Hansen, Walter H. Hunt, Paul Lawrence (producer), Tom Smith (filker), Hugh Gregory

MarsCon 2007

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

MarsCon 2009: Invasion!

Where: Holiday Inn Select
When: March 6-8, 2009[2]
Guests of Honor: Musetta Vander, Scott Rosema, Suzanne Hiza-Rezema, Jeanne Cavelos, Wally Pleasant[3]

MarsCon 2010: Dark Lords and Femme Fatales

Where: Holiday Inn Select
When: March 5-7, 2010[1]
Guests of Honor: John Garner, Loretta McKibben, Nick Atoms, Gwynyth Walsh

MarsCon 2011: Days of Magic!

Where: Holiday Inn Select
When: March 4-6, 2011[4]
Guests of Honor: Lois McMaster Bujold, Joe Rheault, Megan Rheault, 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, 3 Appletree Square, Bloomington, MN 55425
When: March 1-3, 2013
Guests of Honor: actress Claudia Christian, author Harry Turtledove, science author Gerald Nordley, artist Sarah Clemens, comic artist W.C. Carani, fan/costuming The Thrift Brothers, and music Flat 29.

Upcoming

MarsCon 2014: Time is the Key

Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bloomington / Minneapolis South @ 7800 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, MN 55439
When: March 7-9, 2014
Guests of Honor: actor Michael Cerveris, author Esther Friesner, artist Mickie Erickson, costumer Rae Lundquist, fan group IKV RakeHell, prop masters Dave Duca and Michael Glielmi, scientist Bridget Landry.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Peloquin, Jahna (March 4, 2010). "Weekend events: MarsCon 2010 and Oscar parties". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Retrieved April 13, 2011. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Events". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. November 5, 2009. 
  3. ↑ "MarsCon in Bloomington, Minneasota Feb 29-Mar 2" (Press release). Isthmus. January 7, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2011. 
  4. ↑ "Item World". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. May 11, 2001. 

External links

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