Marcon (convention)

Marcon is a full-spectrum fantasy and science fiction convention based in Columbus, Ohio, and was on Easter weekend in 2013 but moved to Mother's Day weekend starting in 2014.[1] It is now operated by the Columbus-based Science Oriented Literature, Art, and Education Foundation, a non-profit educational corporation.[2] The name was originally short for "March Convention," with the convention mascot the "March Hare," affectionately named "Marconi". After the date of the convention moved away from March, the name was re-designated as "Multiple Alternative Realities Convention".

Not to be confused with MarsCon.
Marcon
StatusActive
GenreFantasy, Science fiction
Location(s)Columbus, Ohio
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated1966
Websitewww.marcon.org

Marcon offers a dozen tracks of programming in art, costuming, fan, filk, literary, media, and science, as well as events and displays including a masquerade, art show, dealers room, multiple 24-hour video tracks, 7,000 square feet (650 m2) of gaming space, and at least one dance. Marcon runs a children's track of programming that has included independent filmmakers helping the kids create their own movies (The Curse of Monster X, Return of the Red Shirts) and many hands-on art, costuming, and science programs. It is the oldest and largest science fiction convention in the state of Ohio.[3]

The organizing group, SOLAE, announced after the 2021 MARCon that the 57th MARCon in 2022 would be the last.[4] However, following Marcon 57, a number of groups put together proposals to continue the convention, and in August of 2022, SOLAE announced that Tony Gillian of Chillichote, Ohio, has revived the convention and will take over as the chairman for 2023.[5]

"Marcon Ballroom", a filk song by Anne Passovoy about an incident with hotel management failing to adjust to the needs of fandom, was awarded a Pegasus Award as "Best Classic Filk Song" in 2005.[6]

History

Marcon 59

Marcon 59 has been announced for May 24–26, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio, with the tagline "join the 8-bit adventure."

Marcon 2023

May 26–28, 2023, Columbus, Ohio.

After Marcon 57 in 2022, new management has taken over working with SOLAE, the registered charity organization that owns Marcon. The convention returned to Memorial Day weekend, with dates May 26–28, 2023.[7] Guests for Marcon 2023 were:

  • David Weber, Author Guest of Honor
  • Jordan Breeding, Content Creator Guest
  • Chaz Kemp, Artist Guest of Honor
  • Carolyn Kay

Other guests remain to be announced.[7]

Marcon 57

May 6–8, 2022, Worthington, Ohio.

It was announced after MARCon 56 in 2021 that the 57th MARCon in 2022 would be the last.[8] Guests of Honor for Marcon 2022 were:[9]

Marcon 56

September 3–5, 2021, in Crowne Plaza Columbus North in Worthington, Ohio, with

  • Author Guest of Honor Carrie Vaughn
  • Artist Guest of Honor Sara Felix
  • Science Guest of Honor Wolfgang Rumpf
  • filk Guests of Honor The Blibbering Humdingers.[10]

Marcon 55

Marcon 55 had been scheduled for May 8–10, 2020, in Worthington, Ohio, but it was postponed and then cancelled mid-March 2020[11] by order of the Governor of Ohio, who cancelled all public gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then held as a virtual convention in May 2020, chaired by Kim Williams.

Marcon 54

May 10–12, 2019, Crowne Plaza Columbus North in Worthington, Ohio.[12]

Marcon 53

May 11–13, 2018, Hyatt Regency Columbus

  • Legendary Artist Guest of Honor: Larry Elmore
  • Legendary Filk Guest of Honor: Juanita Coulson
  • Fan Guest of Honor: Todd Cameron Hamilton
  • Author Guest of Honor: F. Paul Wilson
  • Young Adult Author Guest of Honor: Cinda Williams Chima
  • Media Guest of Honor: Gary Graham
  • Music Guest of Honor: Dandelion Wine
  • Artist Guest of Honor: David Lee Pancake
  • Cosplay Guest of Honor: Alexa Heart
  • Cosplay Guest of Honor: Mogchelle Cosplay
  • Guest of Honor: Charles Xavier Conley
  • Miniatures Guest of Honor: Shoshie Bauer
  • Featured Author: Walter Jon Williams
  • Featured Author: Eric Flint
  • Featured Author: Walter Hunt
  • Featured Artist: Andy Hopp
  • Featured Cosplayer: Nerd Girl Cosplay
  • Featured Cosplayer: Brit Bliss[13]

Marcon 52

May 10–12, 2017, Hyatt Regency Columbus

Guests of Honor:

  • Jacqueline Carey,
  • Kristen Simmons,
  • Charles Urbach,
  • Talis Kimberley,
  • Alexa Heart,
  • Phil and Kaja Foglio,
  • Jason Hardy,
  • Jason Marsden

Marcon 51

May 6–8, 2016, Hyatt Regency Columbus

  • Seanan McGuire – Author Guest of Honor
  • Mogchelle Cosplay – Cosplay Guest of Honor
  • S. J. Tucker – Music Guest of Honor

Marcon 50

May 8–10, 2015, Hyatt Regency, Columbus, Ohio

For Marcon 50 there was no official Guest of Honor. Instead, many past GoHs returned for the 50th anniversary. The con also hosted the Libertarian Futurist Prometheus Award ceremony.[14]

Marcon 49

May 9–11, 2014, Hyatt Regency in Columbus OH. The theme was "Technical Difficulties".

Guests of Honor:

  • Author Guest of Honor: Glen Cook
  • Music Guests of Honor: Heather Dale and Ben Deschamps
  • Filk/Kids Science Guest: Tim Griffin

Marcon 49 also featured a 1632 series "Minicon", with Author Guest of Honor Eric Flint.

Marcon 48

March 29–31, 2013, Hyatt Regency Columbus.[15]

Marcon 47

April 6–8, 2012[16]

  • Tamora Pierce – Author Guest of Honor
  • Sarah Clemens – Artist Guest of Honor
  • Paula Guran – Editor Guest of Honor
  • Dr. Bradley Lepper – Science Guest of Honor
  • Erica Neely – Filk Guest of Honor
  • Manu Intiraymi – Media Guest of Honor

Marcon 46

May 27–29, 2011[16]

  • F. Paul Wilson – Author Guest of Honor
  • Eric Flint – Author Guest of Honor
  • Harry Turtledove – Theme Guest of Honor
  • John Palencar – Artist Guest of Honor
  • Leslie Fish – Filk Guest of Honor
  • Brent Keith – Gaming Guest of Honor
  • The Extraordinary Contraptions – Special SteamPunk Music Guest
  • Marc G. Millis – Special Science Guest

Marcon 45

May 28–30, 2010[16]

  • Wen Spencer – Author Guest of Honor
  • Billy Tackett – Artist Guest of Honor
  • Seanan McGuire – Filk Guest of Honor
  • Central Ohio Paranormal Society – Special Theme Guest
  • Twilight Creations – Gaming Guest of Honor
  • Richard Hatch – Media Guest of Honor
  • Casey Daniels, Shane Moore, Donnie Dunagan – Special Guests

Marcon 44

May 22–24, 2009[16]

  • Simon R. Green – Author Guest of Honor
  • Jordin Kare – Science Guest of Honor
  • Patricia McCracken – Artist Guest of Honor
  • Chris Conway – Filk Guest of Honor
  • David H. Lawrence XVII – Media Guest of Honor
  • Samuel Travis Clemmons – Full Spectrum Featured Guest
  • Arnold Blumberg – Featured Guest

Marcon 43

May 23–25, 2008[16]

  • Alexander James Adams – Filk Guest of Honor
  • Steven Brust – Toastmaster
  • Rebecca Forstadt – Anime Guest of Honor
  • Kevin Standlee – Fan Guest of Honor
  • Sister Sola/Casandra – Costuming Guest of Honor
  • Ray van Tilburg – Artist Guest of Honor
  • Toni Weisskopf – Editor Guest of Honor
  • Hank Reinhardt – Science Guest of Honor: Mr. Reinhardt died before the convention. The con-com decided to honor him by keeping him as the Science Guest of Honor.
  • Robert Asprin – Author Guest of Honor: Mr. Asprin died the day before the convention.
  • Jody Lynn Nye – Author Guest of Honor: Due to Mr. Asprin's death Ms. Nye was unable to attend.
  • Wizards of the Coast – Gaming Guest of Honor
  • Marc Singer – Media Guest of Honor
  • Leah Cairns – Media Guest of Honor

Marcon 42

May 25–27, 2007

Marcon 41

May 26–28, 2006 – approximately 2100 attendees[17]

Guests:

Marcon 40

May 27–29, 2005 – approximately 2100 attendees

Marcon 39

May 28–30, 2004 – approximately 2000 attendees

Marcon 38

May 23–25, 2003 – approximately 1800 attendees

Marcon 37

May 24–26, 2002 – approximately 2000 attendees

  • Catherine Asaro – Science Guest of Honor
  • Zander Nyrond – Filk Guest of Honor

Marcon 36

May 25–27, 2001 – approximately 3600 attendees

Marcon 35

May 26–28, 2000, Hyatt Regency Hotel and Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio – Approximately 2400 attendees

Guest of Honor:

Marcon 34

Hyatt Regency, Columbus, Ohio, May 7–9 1999[18] – Approximately 2800 attendees

  • David Drake – Guest of Honor
  • Erin McKee – Artist Guest of Honor
  • Steve Saffel – Editor Guest of Honor
  • Syntax – Filk Guest of Honor

Marcon 33

1998 – Approximately 2200 attendees

Marcon 32

May 9–11, 1997 – approximately 2800 attendees

Marcon 31

May 3-5, 1996, Hyatt Regency, Columbus

Marcon 30

May 5-7, 1995. Theme was "Dreams and Memories".

Marcon 29

1994

Marcon 28

1993

Marcon 27

May 22–25, 1992

Marcon 26

1991

Marcon XXV

1990

Marcon XXIV

1989 – 1244 attendees

Marcon XXIII

1988 – 1050 attendees

Marcon XXII

1987 – 960 attendees

Marcon XXI

1986 – 1056 attendees

Marcon XX

1985 – 723 attendees

Marcon XIX

1984 – 592 attendees

  • C. J. Cherryh – Guest of Honor
  • Todd Cameron Hamilton – Artist Guest of Honor

Marcon XVIII

1983 – 440 attendees

Marcon XVII

1982 – 379 attendees

Marcon XVI

1981 – 426 attendees

Marcon XV

1980 – 383 attendees

Marcon XIV

1979 – 372 attendees

Marcon XIII

1978 – 264 attendees

Marcon XII

1977 – 222 attendees

Marcon XI

1976 – 212 attendees

Marcon X

1975 – Approximately 185 attendees

Marcon IX

1974 – Approximately 170 attendees

Marcon VIII

1973 – Approximately 100 attendees

Marcon VII

1972 – Approximately 150 attendees

Marcon VI

1971 – Approximately 120 attendees

Marcon V

1970 – Approximately 105 attendees

Marcon IV

1969 – Approximately 100 attendees

Marcon III

1968 (First time in Columbus) – Approximately 85 attendees

Marcon II

1967 (Toledo) – Approximately 60 attendees

Marcon I

1966 (Toledo) – Approximately 20 attendees

References
  1. About Marcon Archived 2010-08-14 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved January 21, 2013
  2. SOLAE website Archived 2010-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Grossberg, Michael (May 26, 2010). "Sci-fi convention to explore horror". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  4. Statement on MARCon official Facebook page
  5. [https://www.facebook.com/MARConOH/photos/a.1180682928623263/5723295841028593/ Statement on MARCon official Facebook page, #2
  6. Marcon Ballroom page at ovff.org
  7. Marcon web page. Retrieved 23 Jan. 2023.
  8. Statement on MARCon official Facebook page
  9. announced on the Marcon Facebook group, March 16, 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  10. "MARCON DATES: SEPTEMBER 3-5, 2021". www.marcon.org. Archived from the original on 2021-09-27.
  11. Kim Williams, Marcon 55 Chair, Marcon 55 web page (archived version as of April 20, 2020). Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  12. Marcon 54, Fancyclopedia, 16 May 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  13. "Marcon – Multiple Alternative Realities Convention". www.marcon.org. Archived from the original on 2018-05-08. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  14. ""Ellison Wins Prometheus Hall of Fame Award", Locus Magazine, April 21, 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  15. "Marcon Official website". Marcon. Archived from the original on 2013-03-17. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  16. "Marcon Official website". Marcon. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  17. Is Marcon getting smaller? Retrieved December 17, 2006 Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  18. "Locus Online: Archived Convention Listings 1999 page 1".
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