Historicon is the largest gaming convention in North America devoted to historical miniature wargaming. It is sponsored by the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, a nonprofit guiding organization. The New York Times has described Historicon as the "mother of all wargaming conventions."
Typically, Historicon is a four-day convention held in late July each year. For many years it was held in historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Currently it is being held in equally historic Fredericksburg, Virginia. Thousands of miniature gamers and military history enthusiasts gather to play in hundreds of tabletop games, tournaments, and demonstrations. The convention is accompanied by a large flea market of used gaming items and accessories, a large dealer hall offering new merchandise, a series of seminars and training sessions, painting competitions, and similar events. The majority of events are history-related, with the remainder being fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, or horror miniature games.
Each year, Historicon has a different theme and focal point (such as the American Civil War or World War II), and many games and supporting events are geared around the theme. Awards are presented to the Best Theme Event, as well as best games in specific time slots and other honors for particularly popular or impressive games.
Historicon was held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, at the Lancaster Host Resort, a hotel located on U.S. Route 30 in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish country for many years.
As of 2012, it was moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia at the Fredericksburg Expo Center, a convention center a mile from Interstate 95, the main highway on the East Coast of the United States. Fredericksburg is rich in history, with the battlefields of Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court House commemorated nearby at the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. The National Museum of the Marine Corps is also within easy driving distance.
Convention dates and themes
July 20–23, 2006 — "Africa's Independence – The Wars of Africa," 1905–2006.
July 26–29, 2007 — "The Wars of South Asia: Afghanistan, Burma, India and Pakistan, 1800–2007"
July 24–27, 2008 — "The World on Fire – The first world war: The Seven Years and French & Indian Wars, 1754–63"
July 16–19, 2009 — “Ride to the Sound of the Guns… -Napoleon’s 1809 Campaign and the Spanish Ulcer ”
July 8–11, 2010 — "Pike and Shotte: Seventeenth Century Warfare," 1600–1699
July 8–10, 2011 — "Brother Against Brother: The American Civil War," 1861–1865
July 19–22, 2012 — "Colonial Warfare, Imperialism and Gunboat Diplomacy, 1836-1937"
July 18–21, 2013 — "American Civil War, 1863 - the Year of Decision"
July 17–20, 2014 — "Big Wars, Little Soldiers - World Wars throughout time"
July 16–19, 2015 — "End of Empires"