MarsCon (Virginia)

MarsCon in Virginia Beach, Virginia is a mid-sized regional science fiction convention founded in 1990. The convention provides a relaxed environment for people who enjoy science fiction to meet new friends and talk about their interests. The convention has been described as "the largest and longest-running science fiction/fantasy convention in the Tidewater area."[1]

Not to be confused with MarsCon (Bloomington, Minnesota).
MarsCon
MarsCon logo
StatusActive
GenreScience fiction
Location(s)Virginia Beach, Virginia
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated1990
Websitemarscon.net

History

The history of MarsCon begins with an earlier convention known as Sci-Con, a well established, general science fiction convention in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In 1990 the people who worked every year to bring Sci-Con together held a low key relaxicon or "relaxing convention" for its members.[2] After the first year, this new convention was re-christened MarsCon in honor of a long-standing fake bid to host the World Science Fiction Convention on the planet Mars in 2095.

With a focus on relaxation and camaraderie, MarsCon hosts a variety of convention activities including panel discussions and workshop activities, gaming (including role-playing games, and card games), a video room with anime, a dealers room, annual tea party, auction for charity, and an art show.[2]

Conventions

Upcoming
  • MarsCon 2024 will be held January 12–14, 2024, <location TBD>. Theme: Marso's Monster Mayhem. The Guests will include Larry Correia (Writer GOH), and Mera Rose (Costuming).

Past
  • MarsCon 1996 was held January 12–14, 1996, at the George Washington Inn in Williamsburg, VA.
  • MarsCon 1997 was held January 10–12, 1997, at the Ramada Inn Historic (formerly the George Washington Inn) in Williamsburg, VA.
  • MarsCon 2002 was held January 11–13, 2002, at the former Ramada Inn and Conference Center in Williamsburg, VA. $1800 was raised for the Heritage Humane Society. Additionally, the Con Suite Bean Jar also raised $87 for the Police and Firefighter's 9-11 fund.[3]
  • MarsCon 2003 was held January 24–26, 2003 at the Clarion Hotel (formerly the Ramada Inn), Williamsburg, VA.[4]
  • MarsCon 2004 was held January 23–25, 2004 at the Clarion Hotel, Williamsburg, VA.[5] The convention raised $1875 through the charity auction for the Heritage Humane Society.[6]
  • MarsCon 2005 was held January 21–23, 2005 at the Clarion Hotel, Williamsburg, VA. The US Military had booked rooms at the hotel and, due to a shift in scheduling, the hotel cut the 300 room block it had promised to the Con.[7] The convention raised over $2000 for the local Heritage Humane Society.[8]
  • MarsCon 2006 was held January 20–22, 2006, at the Holiday Inn Patriot in Williamsburg, VA.[9]
  • MarsCon 2007 was held January 19–21, 2007, at the Holiday Inn Patriot in Williamsburg, VA.[10]
  • MarsCon 2008 January 18–20, 2008, at the Holiday Inn Patriot in Williamsburg, VA.[11]
  • MarsCon 2009 was held January 16–18, 2009, at the Holiday Inn Patriot in Williamsburg. The convention's theme was "steampunk" and author John Ringo was the guest of honor.[1] Other notable guests included writer and publisher Toni Weisskopf, artist and author Ron Miller, game designer Steve Long, and members of the 501st Legion.[1][12]
  • MarsCon 2010 was held January 15–17, 2010, at the Holiday Inn Patriot in Williamsburg. The convention was the focus of the January 19, 2010, edition of The Adventures of Cynical Woman webcomic.[13]
  • MarsCon 2011 was held January 14–16, 2011, at the Holiday Inn Patriot in Williamsburg. Notable guests included author Jim Butcher, author Shannon Butcher, artist Ursula Vernon, cartoonist Rob Balder, writer Keith R. A. DeCandido, and author Andrew Fox.[2][14] Convention attendance was estimated at 983 members with at least $2500 raised for the Heritage Humane Society, the event's designated charity.[14]
  • MarsCon 2012 was held January 13–16, 2012, at the Holiday Inn Patriot in Williamsburg. The convention's theme is "It's the end of the MarsCon as we know it", playing off both the "Mayan apocalypse" predicted by some for 2012 and the R.E.M. song "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)".
  • MarsCon 2013 was held January 18—20, 2013, at the Crowne Plaza Williamsburg at Ft. Magruder, Williamsburg, Virginia. The convention's theme was "Rebirth".[15] Over 1,000 attendees joined.[16]
  • MarsCon 2014: A Twisted Fairy Tale was held January 17–19, 2014, at the Fort Magruder Hotel and conference Center. Notable guests included author Jim C. Hines and author Carrie Ryan. The convention raised more than $5,000 for the Heritage Humane Society, the event's designated charity.[17]
  • MarsCon 2015: 25 Shades of MarsCon will be held January 16–18, 2015, at the Fort Magruder Hotel and Conference Center. This is the 25th anniversary for MarsCon. Some of our favorite former guests (shades of conventions passed) will be returning, including David Weber, Katherine Kurtz, David B. Coe, and D.B. Jackson. The convention will once again be supporting our the Heritage Humane Society, the event's designated charity, with an auction on Saturday evening which raised $4305 for Heritage Humane.[18]
  • MarsCon 2016: Sweet '16 Celebrating Women in Science Fiction was held January 15–17, 2016, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Guest of Honor was Ellen Kushner. The convention once again supported the Heritage Humane Society, the event's designated charity, with an auction on Saturday evening.[19]
  • MarsCon 2017: Year of the Dragon was held January 13–15, 2017, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Guests of Honor were Todd J. McCaffrey (Writer), Ruth Thompson (Artist), Carla Brindle (Fan), Mari Mancusi (YA Writer), Mikey Mason (Musical)[20]
  • MarsCon 2018: Werewolves of MarsCon was held January 12–14, 2018, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Guests of Honor were Carrie Vaughn (Writer), Tim Shinn (Artist), Julie Wall (Fan), Maria V. Snyder (YA Writer), The Blibbering Humdingers (Musical), Tonya Woldridge (Gaming)[21]
  • MarsCon 2019: Land of the Faerie was held January 18-20th, 2019, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Guests of Honor this year were Seanan McGuire (Writer), Catherynne M. Valente (YA Writer), Meredith Dillman (Artist) and Valentine Wolfe (Musical).[22]
  • MarsCon 2020: Rogues and Rebels was held January 17–19, 2020, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Guests of Honor were Scott Lynch (Writer), David Weber (Special), Charles Urbach (Artist), Leslye Penelope (YA Writer), John Wick (Gaming) and Jonah Knight (Musical). Attendance - 1452. The convention, once again, supported the Heritage Humane Society with an auction (which raised $4039 with more coming in) on Saturday evening.[23]
  • MarsCon 2021, scheduled for January 15–17, 2021, was cancelled due to Coronavirus concerns.
  • MarsCon 2022: Myths & Legends was held March 18–20, 2022 (postponed from January 14–16, 2022), at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Guests of Honor were Peter V Brett (Writer), Phillip Pournelle (Special), Kaysha Siemens (Artist), David Weber (Special). Attendance - <pending>.
  • MarsCon 2023: Witches and Warlocks) was held on January 13–15, 2023, at the Holiday Inn Virginia Beach - Norfolk in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Guests of Honor were D. J. Butler (Writer), Chaz Kemp (Artist), Katie Cross (YA Author). Attendance - approx 900.

References
  1. "Fans - Not Geeks - Here for MarsCon 2009". Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. January 15, 2009. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  2. Khandelwal, Michael Jon (January 2011). "Sci-Fi Fantasy: In Williamsburg, the attendees of MarsCon 2011 come together to bring imagination to life". Hampton Roads Magazine. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  3. https://web.archive.org/web/20010517041442/http://www.marscon.net/. Archived from the original on 2001-05-17. Retrieved January 23, 2019. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20011211193547/http://www.marscon.net/. Archived from the original on 2001-12-11. Retrieved January 23, 2019. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20030729103236/http://www.marscon.net/. Archived from the original on 2003-07-29. Retrieved January 23, 2019. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20040206012523/http://www.marscon.net/. Archived from the original on 2004-02-06. Retrieved January 23, 2019. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. https://web.archive.org/web/20041130063009/http://marscon.net/. Archived from the original on 2004-11-30. Retrieved January 23, 2019. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. https://web.archive.org/web/20050206045706/http://marscon.net/. Archived from the original on 2005-02-06. Retrieved January 23, 2019. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20051126020919/http://marscon.net/. Archived from the original on 2005-11-26. Retrieved January 23, 2019. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. https://web.archive.org/web/20060104074416/http://www.marscon.net/. Archived from the original on 2006-01-04. Retrieved January 23, 2019. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. "MarsCon 2023 – January 13th – 15th, 2023 – Tidewater Virginia's Longest Running Convention!". Archived from the original on 2006-07-12. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  12. "W.Y.D.: What You'll Do, Jan. 16-18". Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. January 14, 2009. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  13. Madden, Helen E.H. (January 19, 2010). "ACW Episode 52 – My very adult weekend". The Adventures of Cynical Woman. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  14. "2011 Convention Information". MarsCon. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved April 13, 2011.
  15. marscon.net http://marscon.net. Retrieved October 23, 2012. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. www.marscon.net http://www.marscon.net/. Retrieved January 27, 2013. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. www.marscon.net http://www.marscon.net/. Retrieved January 24, 2014. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. www.marscon.net http://www.marscon.net/. Retrieved June 26, 2014. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. www.marscon.net http://www.marscon.net/. Retrieved January 20, 2015. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. https://www.facebook.com/events/marscon-2017/918289034966771/ Retrieved Jan 21, 2019.
  21. "MarsCon 2018 Guests – MarsCon 2023". www.marscon.net. Retrieved Jan 21, 2019.
  22. "MarsCon 2023 – January 13th – 15th, 2023 – Tidewater Virginia's Longest Running Convention!". Archived from the original on 2018-07-05. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  23. "MarsCon 2023 – January 13th – 15th, 2023 – Tidewater Virginia's Longest Running Convention!". www.marscon.net. Retrieved July 12, 2019.

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