A Guide to 2008's Summer Fests and Cons
by Faith McKay
Summer of 2008 is full of festivals and conventions all around the world. Below I have compiled basic information, ordered by date, on a number of these conventions. Remember that you can always look for these, and more events on the Fantasy Is Love Calendar. A helpful hint: there is a search button at the bottom of the page where you can type in "event" and pull up all of the upcoming events on the calendar.
The Fairy Folk Festival
Sunday 27th of april
Deal, Kent, UK
www.magicalfestivals.co.uk
This is a fairy festival celebrating the world of the fae. The website currently lists 7 guests including singers, belly dancers, and natural healers.
Faerie Festival at Spoutwood Farm
May 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 2008
Glen Rock, PA, USA
www.fairiefestival.net
This is a faerie festival with over 70 arts and crafts vendors, celtic musicians and dancers, participatory maypole dancing accompanied by bagpipes and other music, fairie craft activities and more.
Emerald City ComiCon
May 10th & 11th
Seattle, WA, USA
www.emeraldcitycomicon.com
This is a Comic themed convention with lots to offer Buffy fans, including Julie Benz (who played Darla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel)
Mobicon
May 16th-18th, 2008
Mobile, AL
www.mobicon.org
This is a convention for fans of fantasy, science fiction, horror, comic book, anime, and gaming. This is there eleventh annual event, and has lots to offer the fantasy fan.
Baycon 2008
May 23-26
Santa Clara, CA
http://baycon.org
Adventures in Space- A Pirates Tale. This is a pirate themed convention!
Maryland Faerie Festival
June 7th and 8th, 2008
Upper Marlboro, MD
marylandfaeriefestival.org
The Maryland Faerie Festival has vendors and entertainment for both children and adults, with live music, belly dancing, great food, and a bonfire.
3 Wishes Faery Fest
20-22 June
Cornwall, UK
www.3wishesfaeryfest.co.uk
This festival has too much for me to really attempt a short summary. It’s family friendly, a celebration of all that is faery, dress up for the midsummer masquerade, check out the great faery shops, listen to performers including the Daughters if Gaia, Priscilla Hernandez, and more.
LionCon
June 20-22, 2008
La Mirada, CA
www.lioncon.org
This is a Narnia convention that is both adult and child friendly. Some highlights from the convention include a narnia museum, fanart gallery, trivia contest, masquerade and costume contest.
Fourth Street Fantasy Convention
June 20 - 22, 2008
Minneapolis, Minnesota
www.4thstreetfantasy.com
This is a fantasy convention that went on for many years, stopped, and is now back! This year their guest of honor is Elizabeth Bear.
Faery Fest
June 21st & 22nd, 2008
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
www.faeryfest.com
This is a faery festival with be music and theatre all day long everyday.
Cloudcroft Renaissance Fantasy Faire
June 28th-Sunday, June29th, 2008
Cloudcroft, New Mexico
skylinecyberworld.com/Specialevent.htm
This is an adult and child friendly festival full of performers and vendors. At this time, not a lot is known about their plans for this years festival, but last year’s highlights include Joseph Corsentino of Time Of the Faeries, bell dancers, and more.
InConJunction
July 4 - 6, 2008
Indianapolis, IN
www.inconjunction.org
This is a scifi and fantasy convention with a video room, anime room, doctor who room, art show, and gaming activities.
Portus 2008
July 10-13
Dallas TX
www.portus2008.org
This is a Harry Potter Symposium with panels, presentations, workshops, and roundtables. The Wizard Rockumentary will be shown at this event!
The Labyrinth of Jareth Fantasy Masquerade Ball
July 11th & 12th 2008
Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA
www.labyrinthmasquerade.com
This is a magnificent Fantasy ball where costumes are mandatory. Nine amazing guests are currently confirmed, with more to come.
Faerie Worlds Festival
August 1-3 2008
Eugene, OR
faerieworlds.com
This is an amazing festival with world renowned fantasy artists, musicians, an amazing arts and crafts vending village and much, much more. This year the festival has a themed weekend plan with a day for Good Faeries, a day for Bad Faeries, and a children’s day where kids get in free! This years guests of honor are Amy Brown and Jessica Galbreth.
Terminus 2008
August 7-11
Chicago, Illinois
www.terminus2008.org
This is a Harry Potter Conference with “academic presentations and lectures, educational workshops, a Quidditch tournament, a bon voyage ball, and certainly, lively discussion about Harry Potter” The Wizard Rockumentary will be shown at this event! One of my favorite things listed at this convention is offered by Tamora Pierce, a lecture called “Potter Future: The Changing Face of Fantasy Literature”
Dragon*Con
August 29 - September 1, 2008
Atlanta, GA.
www.dragoncon.org
This is the 22nd annual Dragon*Con. There are currently 170 guests and bands confirmed including Margaret Weis, Laurell K. Hamilton, Anne McCaffrey, and James Marsters.
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