The Convention Fans Blog

Here’s a snapshot of the various fan and geek conventions happening April 2011. I’ve doubtless left many off, so sing out on those. And remember, when it comes to looking for conventions near you the internet is your research buddy.

April 1-3

3CON

• When: April 1-3, 2011
• Where: Fort Wayne, Indiana
• What: The Three Rivers Game Convention.

Anime Detour

• When: April 1-3, 2011
• Where: Bloomington, Minnesota
• What: Minnesota’s very own convention dedicated to Anime, Manga, and Japanese culture.

Canadian Collectible Toy Expo

• When: April 3, 2011
• Where: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
• What: Collectible toy con featuring The 501st Canadian Garrison in full Star Wars costume.

ChimeraCon

• When: April 1-3, 2011
• Where: San Antonio, Texas
• What: Festival for Gamers, Sci-Fi enthusiasts and Anime fans.

Cinema Wasteland Movie and Memorabilia Expo

• When: April 2-3, 2011
• Where: Strongsville, Ohio
• What: Celebrating the Drive-In Era of horror and science fiction movies.

Den Con

• When: April 2-3, 2011
• Where: Granville, Ohio
• What: Free gaming and anime convention held at Denison University.

EvilleCon

• When: April 1-3, 2011
• Where: Evansville, Indiana
• What: Evansville, Indiana’s first anime-oriented convention.

FilKONtario

• When: April 1-3, 2011
• Where: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
• What: Filk convention. 2011 song contest theme is “Coming of Age”.

Gem City Comic Con

• When: April 3, 2011
• Where: Dayton, Ohio
• What: One day comic convention.

Havoc

• When: April 1-3, 2011
• Where: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
• What: Premiere miniatures gaming convention in the Northeast.

Karoshi-Con

• When: April 2, 2011
• Where: DeKalb, Illinois
• What: One day anime convention held in Holmes Student Center of Northern Illinois University.

Philadelphia Comic-Con

• When: April 3, 2011
• Where: Essington, Pennsylvania
• What: Philly’s longest-running comic convention.

Roanoke Valley Comicon

• When: April 2, 2011
• Where: Salem, Virginia
• What: Comic convention.

synDCon

• When: April 1-3, 2011
• Where: Rockville, Maryland
• What: Gaming convention.

WillyCon

• When: April 1-3, 2011
• Where: Wayne, Nebraska
• What: Held by the Wayne State College Science Fiction and Fantasy Club; open to everyone all interested are encouraged to attend.

WonderCon

• When: April 1-3, 2011
• Where: San Francisco, California
• What: One of the country’s best comics and popular arts conventions. Produced by the organizers of the San Diego Comic-Con.

April 8-10

ActionFest

• When: April 7-10, 2011
• Where: Ashenville, North Carolina
• What: Film festival devoted to action films and their unsung heroes.

Ad Astra

• When: April 8-10, 2011
• Where: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• What: Science fiction and fantasy convention.

Castle Point Anime Convention

• When: April 10, 2011
• Where: Hoboken, New Jersey
• What: Anime con held by the Stevens Anime Club.

EconoCon

• When: April 9-10, 2011
• Where: Plymouth, New Hampshire
• What: Gaming convention held by the PSU Gaming Club.

FreeCon

• When: April 8-9, 2011
• Where: Tallahassee, Florida
• What: Tallahassee’s only videogame and anime convention.

Furry Connection North

• When: April 8-10, 2011
• Where: Novi, Michigan
• What: Furry convention known for the sponsor’s lounge and their dances.

GameCon Spokane

• When: April 8-10, 2011
• Where: Spokane Valley, Washington
• What: RPG and miniatures gameing convention.

MEPACON

• When: April 8-10, 2011
• Where: Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania
• What: Mid-Eastern Pennsylvania Gaming Convention.

Monsterpalooza

• When: April 8-10, 2011
• Where: Burbank, California
• What: Horror convention dedicated to the art of monster.

Odyssey Con

• When: April 8-10, 2011
• Where: Madison, Wisconsin
• What: General interest Science Fiction and Fantasy convention.

PretzCON

• When: April 8-10, 2011
• Where: Bellevue, Nebraska
• What: Gaming convention.

RavenCon

• When: April 8-10, 2011
• Where: Richmond, Virginia
• What: Celebrating science fiction, fantasy and horror (and, as they’re playing the Edgar Allan Poe angle, they’re mystery friendly).

The Official Star Trek Convention

• When: April 9-10, 2011
• Where: Phoenix, Arizona
• What: This is a traveling production by Creation Entertainmen; it’ll be in Chicago in September.

UBCon

• When: April 8-10, 2011
• Where: Buffalo, New York
• What: Gaming and anime convention.

April 15-17

Albany Comic Con

• When: April 17, 2011
• Where: Albany, New York
• What: One day comic convention

Ambercon

• When: April 14-17, 2011
• Where: Detroit, Michigan
• What: Gaming convention.

Anime St. Louis

• When: April 15-17, 2011
• Where: Collinsville, Illinois
• What: Anime convention.

CODCON

• When: April 15-17, 2011
• Where: Glen Ellyn, Illinois
• What: Gaming convention and fundraiser to the College of DuPage Sci-fi/Fantasy Club.

ConStellation

• When: April 15-17, 2011
• Where: Lincoln, Nebraska
• What: Science fiction, fantasy, anime, and gaming convention.

CoreCon

• When: April 15-17, 2011
• Where: Moorhead, Minnisota
• What: Science fiction, fantasy, horror and anime convention.

CyPhaCon

• When: April 16-17, 2011
• Where: Lake Charles, Louisiana
• What: Southwest Louisiana’s premier anime and gaming convention.

Decepti-Kon

• When: April 16-17, 2011
• Where: Sacramento, California
• What: Celebrating the fustion of Japanese and American animation.

The Great Allentown Comic Con

• When: April 16, 2011
• Where: Allentown, Pennsylvania
• What: Comic and pop culture convention.

I-Con

• When: April 15-17, 2011
• Where: Ronkonkoma, New York
• What: The NorthEast’s largest convnetion of science fiction, fact and fantasy.

JordanCon

• When: April 15-17, 2011
• Where: Atlanta, Georgia
• What: Fantasy literature convention founded in honor of the late author, Robert Jordan.

Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention

• When: April 17, 2011
• Where: Los Angeles, California
• What: Science fiction and comic convention.

No Brand Con

• When: April 15-17, 2011
• Where: Eau Claire, Wisconsin
• What: Wisonsin’s premier anime convention.

Marmalade Dog

• When: April 15-17, 2011
• Where: Kalamazoo, Michigan
• What: Gaming convention held by the Western Michigan Gamers Guild.

Motor City Nightmares

• When: April 15-17, 2011
• Where: Novi, Michigan
• What: Detroit’s ONLY horror / independent film convention.

Official Stargate SG-1 Con Vancouver

• When: April 14-17, 2011
• Where: Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada
• What: Stargate con held in Canada, produced by Creation Entertainment.

Oklahoma Steampunk Exposition

• When: April 15-17, 2011
• Where: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• What: Steampunk convention. 2011 theme is “Carnivale”.

The Pittsburgh Comicon

• When: April 15-17, 2011
• Where: Windber, Pennsillvania
• What: Comic convention presented by Comics World.

StarFest

• When: April 15-17, 2011
• Where: Denver, Colorado
• What: Science fiction/fantasy convention.

Stumptown Comics Fest

• When: April 16-17, 2011
• Where: Portland, Oregon
• What: Comic convention.

Windy City Pulp and Paper Convention

• When: April 15-17, 2011
• Where: Lombard, Illinois
• What: Pulps, paperbacks, original art, movie memorabilia, old time radio, science fiction, popular culture, and more.

April 22-24

Anime Boston

• When: April 22-24
• Where: Boston, Massachusets
• What: New England’s largest celebratio nof Japanese ainmation, comics, and pop culture.

Anime Punch!

• When: April 22-24
• Where: Columbus, Ohio
• What: Anime convention by and for fans.

ConGlomeration

• When: April 22-24
• Where: Louisville, Kentucky
• What: Multimedia science fiction/fantasy convention. 2011 theme is “Egg Hunts Will Never Be The Same”.

Frolicon

• When: April 21-24
• Where: Atlanta, Georgia
• What: Adult science fiction convention.

Hoshicon

• When: April 23
• Where: Charlotte, North Carolina
• What: Anime convention held in the Student Union at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s campus.

Longbeach Comic Expo

• When: April 23
• Where: Longbeach, California
• What: Mincon presented by the Longbeach Comic Con (which is in October).

LouisiANIME

• When: April 22-24
• Where: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• What: Anime convention.

Minicon

• When: April 22-24
• Where: Bloomington, Minnesota
• What: Science fiction convention.

MTAC

• When: April 22-24
• Where: Nashville, Tennesse
• What: Middle Tennessee Anime Convention.

Norwescon

• When: April 21-24
• Where: Sea Tac, Washington
• What: The Pacific Northwest’s premier science fiction/fantasy convention. Gives the Philip K. Dick Award.

Sakura-Con

• When: April 22-24
• Where: Seattle, Washington
• What: Oldest and most well attended anime convention in the Pacific Northwest.

April 29-May 1

Aeternitas

• When: April 28 – May 1
• Where: Laconia, New Hampshire
• What: Harry Potter convention that completley fills it’s host hotel.

Anaheim Comic Con

• When: April 29-30
• Where: Anaheim, California
• What: Comic convention produced by Wizard World.

BayouCon

• When: April 29-May 1
• Where: Lake Charles, Louisiana
• What: Louisiana’s premiere comic and pop culture convention.

Boston Comic Con

• When: April 30-May 1
• Where: Boston, Massachusets
• What: They’ll be at a new location this year; the Hynes Convention Center.

Canadian National Steampunk Exhibition

• When: April 29-May 1
• Where: Markham, Ontario, Canada
• What: Canada’s biggest steampunk convention.

Columbia Anime Con

• When: April 30-May 1
• Where: Columbia, South Carolina
• What: Anime, manga and comic book show.

Costume-Con

• When: April 29-May 1
• Where: Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey
• What: Costuming convention.

DemiCon

• When: April 29-May 1
• Where: Des Moine, Iowa
• What: Annual science fiction/fantasy convention. This year’s theme is “Here Be Dragons”.

EerieCon

• When: April 29-May 1
• Where: Niagara Falls, New York
• What: Celebrating fantasy, horror, and science fiction.

FOPCON

• When: April 30
• Where: Huber Heights, Ohio
• What: Gaming convention sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police.

Gamer’s Reunion

• When: April 29-May 1
• Where: Rochester, Minnisota
• What: Gaming convention.

Kawaii-Kon

• When: April 29-May 1
• Where: Honolulu, Hawaii
• What: Hawaii’s premier anime convention and conference.

Malice Domestic

• When: April 29-May 1
• Where: Bethesda, Maryland
• What: Literary con celebrating traditional mysteries. Gives the prestigious Agatha Award.

Penguicon

• When: April 29-May 1
• Where: Troy, Michigan
• What: The most unique combo-con out there; open source software and science fiction convention.

Pinball Wizards

• When: April 29-May 1
• Where: Allentown, Pennsylvania
• What: Pinball fan convention.

Shinboku-con

• When: April 29-May 1
• Where: Westlake, Ohio
• What: Anime and roleplaying convention.

Shock Stock

• When: April 29-May 1
• Where: London, Ontario, Canada
• What: Canada’s newest horror convention. Features VHS tape swap.

Texas Frightmare Weekend

• When: April 28-May 1
• Where: Dallas, Texas
• What: The Southwest’s premier horror convention.

World Horror Convention

• When: April 28-May 1
• Where: Austin, Texas
• What: Horror industry networking event and fan gathering.