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. It is now operated by the Columbus-based Science Oriented Literature, Art, and Education Foundation, a non-profit educational corporation. The name is derived from "Multiple Alternative Realities Convention".
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 sci-fi convention in the state of Ohio.
"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.
May 6–8, 2016
Seanan McGuire - Author Guest of Honor
Mogchelle Cosplay - Cosplay Guest of Honor
S. J. Tucker - Guest Singer
March 29–31, 2013 .
Joe Haldeman – Author Guest of Honor
Heather Kreiter – Artist Guest of Honor
Gay Haldeman – Fan Guest of Honor
Jeff Dee – Gaming Guest of Honor
Toyboat – Filk Guest of Honor
Brian Keene – Special Guest
F. Paul Wilson – Special Guest
April 6–8, 2012
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
May 27–29, 2011
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
May 28–30, 2010
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
May 22–24, 2009
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 [1]
Arnold Blumberg – Featured Guest
May 23–25, 2008
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
May 25–27, 2007
Keith R.A. DeCandido – Author Guest of Honor
Laura Reynolds – Artist Guest of Honor
Timothy Zahn – Toastmaster
Kevin Sorbo – Media Guest of Honor
Nancy Janda – Fan Guest of Honor
Three Weird Sisters – Filk Guests of Honor
Pierre and Sandy Pettinger – Costuming Guests of Honor
Looney Labs – Gaming Guests of Honor
May 26–28, 2006 – approximately 2100 attendees
Guests:
Author Guest: George R. R. Martin
Artist Guest: Jody Lee
Editor Guest: David G. Hartwell
Media Guest: Eugene Roddenberry Jr.
Costuming Guest: Chris Kramer
Fan Guest: B. J. Mitias
Filk Guest: Dave & Judith Hayman
Steve Lee
Gaming Guest: Pieramyd Productions, Ltd.
Electronic Gaming Guest: EB Games
Toastmaster: Bill Roper
May 27–29, 2005 approximately 2100 attendees
Tom Smith – Filk Guest of Honor
Barry and Sally Childs-Helton – Featured Filker
Richard Hatch - Media Guest of Honor
May 28–30, 2004 – approximately 2000 attendees
Laurell K. Hamilton – Author Guest of Honor
Cecilia Tan – Adult Fiction Guest of Honor
Julie Zetterberg – Costuming Guest of Honor
Cynthia McQuillin and Dr. Jane Robinson – Filk Guests of Honor
May 23–25, 2003 – approximately 1800 attendees
J. Gregory Keyes – Author Guest of Honor
Richard Biggs – Media Guest of Honor
Eugene Roddenberry Jr. – Media Guest of Honor
Kenny Baker – Media Guest of Honor
Bill and Brenda Sutton – Filk Guests of Honor
Judith and Dave Hayman – Featured Filkers
May 24–26, 2002 – approximately 2000 attendees
Catherine Asaro – Science Guest of Honor
Zander Nyrond – Filk Guest of Honor
May 25–27, 2001 – approximately 3600 attendees
Hosted 2001 Prometheus Award presentations and LFSCon
Bob and Ann Passavoy – Filk Guests of Honor
Karen Anderson – Featured Filker
2000 – Approximately 2400 attendees
Steve MacDonald – Filk Guest of Honor
1999 – Approximately 2800 attendees
Syntax – Filk Guest of Honor
1998 – Approximately 2200 attendees
Ookla the Mok (band) – Filk Guest of Honor
May 9–11, 1997 – approximately 2800 attendees
Harry Turtledove – Author Guest of Honor
Juanita Coulson – Filk Guest of Honor
1996
Joey Shoji – Filk Guest of Honor
1995
Kathy Mar – Filk Guest of Honor
Many of the cast of Babylon 5 and J. Michael Straczynski
1994
Philip Jose Farmer – Science Fiction Guest of Honor
Barbara Hambly – Fantasy Guest of Honor
Boris Vallejo – Artist Guest of Honor
Forry J Ackerman – Media Guest of Honor
Dr. Jane Robinson – Filk Guest of Honor
David Ivey – Costuming Guest of Honor
Barry B. Longyear – Toastmaster
1993
Michael Longcor – Filk Guest of Honor
Tom Smith – Toastmaster
Denny O'Neil – Comic Book Guest of Honor
Mike Resnick – Author Guest of Honor
Julius Schwartz – Super Guest of Honor
Ray Van Tiberg – Artist Guest of Honor
Animal X – Special Contuming Guest
Jane Yolen – Author Guest of Honor
May 22–25, 1992
Roger Zelazny – Author Guest of Honor
Orson Scott Card – Author Guest of Honor
Bill and Brenda Sutton – Toastmasters
Lois McMaster Bujold – Special Featured Guest of Honor
Randy Asplund-Faith – Artist Guest of Honor
Sue & Steve Francis – Fan Guests of Honor
Richard Tucholka – Gaming Guest of Honor
1991
C. J. Cherryh – Author Guest of Honor
Juanita Coulson – Filk Guest of Honor
Lois McMaster Bujold – Author Guest of Honor
Rowena Morrill – Artist Guest of Honor
"Moonwulf" Michael Longcor – Toastmaster
Richard Spelman – Fan Guest of Honor
1990
George R. R. Martin – Author Guest of Honor
Melinda Snodgrass – Author Guest of Honor
Gahan Wilson – Artist Guest of Honor
Murray Porath – Filk Guest of Honor
Chris Claremont – Special Comic Book Guest of Honor
Edward Bryant – Featured Guest
John J. Miller – Featured Guest
Stephen Leigh – Featured Guest
Walter Jon Williams – Featured Guest
Howard Waldrop – Featured Guest
Walton Simons – Featured Guest
Lois McMaster Bujold – Featured Guest
1989 – 1244 attendees
Hal Clement – Guest of Honor
Todd Cameron Hamilton – Artist Guest of Honor
Barry and Sally Childs-Helton – Filking Guests of Honor
Steve Jackson – Gaming Guest of Honor
1988 – 1050 attendees
David Brin – Guest of Honor
Michael Whelan – Artist Guest of Honor
Bill Sutton – Toastmaster
Kevin Siembieda – Gaming Guest of Honor
1987 – 960 attendees
Michael P. Kube-McDowell – Guest of Honor
David Mattingly – Artist Guest of Honor
Juanita Coulson – Toastmaster
Kevin Siembieda – Gaming Guest of Honor
Tom Savini – Media Guest of Honor
Bill Roper – Fan Guest of Honor
1986 – 1056 attendees
Roger Zelazny – Guest of Honor
Kelly Freas – Artist Guest of Honor
Andrew J. Offutt – Toastmaster
Bill Maraschiello – Con Musician
1985 – 723 attendees
Larry Niven – Guest of Honor
Carl Lundgren -Artist Guest of Honor
Bill Maraschiello – Con Musician
1984 – 592 attendees
C. J. Cherryh – Guest of Honor
Todd Cameron Hamilton – Artist Guest of Honor
1983 – 440 attendees
James P. Hogan – Guest of Honor
1982 – 379 attendees
Hal Clement – Guest of Honor
Juanita Coulson – Toastmaster
Buck Coulson – Fan Guest of Honor
1981 – 426 attendees
Andrew J. Offutt – Guest of Honor
1980 – 383 attendees
L. Sprague de Camp – Guest of Honor
Catherine Crook de Camp – Toastmaster
1979 – 372 attendees
Katherine Kurtz – Guest of Honor
Wilson (Bob) Tucker – Toastmaster
1978 – 264 attendees
A. Bertram Chandler – Guest of Honor
1977 – 222 attendees
Alan Dean Foster – Guest of Honor
1976 – 212 attendees
Joe Haldeman – Guest of Honor
1975 – Approximately 185 attendees
James E. Gunn – Guest of Honor
1974 – Approximately 170 attendees
Hal Clement – Guest of Honor
Andrew J. Offutt – Toastmaster
1973 – Approximately 100 attendees
Anne McCaffrey – Guest of Honor
1972 – Approximately 150 attendees
Roger Zelazny – Guest of Honor
1971 – Approximately 120 attendees
Lester del Rey – Guest of Honor
1970 – Approximately 105 attendees
Gordon R. Dickson – Guest of Honor
1969 – Approximately 100 attendees
Terry Carr – Guest of Honor
1968 (First time in Columbus) – Approximately 85 attendees
Frederik Pohl – Guest of Honor
1967 (Toledo) – Approximately 60 attendees
1966 (Toledo) – Approximately 20 attendees
Roger Zelazny – Unofficial Guest of Honor
