MarsCon in Williamsburg, 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."
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. 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.
'MarsCon 2016: Sweet '16 Celebrating Women in Science Fiction" will be held January 15-17 2016, in Williamsburg, Virginia. Our Guest of Honor this year is Ellen Kushner. The convention will once again be supporting the Heritage Humane Society the event's designated charity with an auction on Saturday evening. MarsCon raised $4305 for Heritage Humane in 2015. Pre-registration is now open.
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. Other notable guests included writer and publisher Toni Weisskopf, artist and author Ron Miller, game designer Steve Long, and members of the 501st Legion.
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.
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. Convention attendance was estimated at 983 members with at least $2500 raised for the Heritage Humane Society, the event's designated charity.
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". Over 1,000 attendees joined.
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.
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.
