Multigenre Fan Convention Pyrkon (pol. Festiwal Fantastyki Pyrkon) (commonly known as Pyrkon) is a Polish fan convention held annually in Poznań on the first weekend after the spring equinox and dedicated to an integration of Science fiction fandom and a promotion of science-fiction/fantasy literature, comics, film, television, video games, RPG, LARP, board games, collectible card games and miniature wargaming.
Pyrkon has been held by the Second Age Science Fiction Club (Klub Fantastyki "Druga Era") every year since 2000, except 2005 when they held Polcon. (In 2011 they organised both Pyrkon and Polcon.) Pyrkon has been a non-profit convention from its beginning, and all organizers, lecturers and gofers are volunteers.
Initially Pyrkon was held at the Dębiec district of Poznań in the following places:
Elementary School nr 21 in Poznań [2000-2010];
Gymnasium nr 42 in Poznań [2008-2010];
Cezamet Hotel [2008-2010];
High and Technical Schools Complex nr 19 in Poznań [2010.
Due to the increasing number of visitors, in 2011 the convention moved to the present location, the Poznań International Fair and the Liceum Ogólnokształcące nr 2 in Poznań (Liceum Ogólnokształcące nr 2 w Poznaniu).
On 6 March 1999, Second Age organised "Science Fiction Day" in the "Sun" District House of Culture in the Przyjaźni (Polish for friendship) district in Poznań. It was the direct predecessor of Pyrkon.
The tradition of holding Pyrkon on the first weekend after the spring equinox started in 2006. Usually it is also the weekend when Daylight saving time begins – participants are informed in a convention guide book and on posters of the need to adjust their timepieces.
According to one theory, the name "Pyrkon" comes from the 10th Book of Pausanias' "Guide to Ancient Greece", where he quotes "Eumolpia", a hexameter poem attributed to Musaios, a son of Antiophemos, which states that Delphic Sibyl belonged to Poseidon and Gaia (Earth) in common, and that Gaia gave her oracles herself, but Poseidon used Pyrkon as his mouthpiece in giving responses.
According to the other theory, the name "Pyrkon" is derived from pyra ("potato" in Poznań's dialect) and the suffix -kon, which is added to names of all Polish fan conventions.
Main Attractions
Pyrkon's goals are realized in:
meetings and discussion panels with science fiction and fantasy authors;
meetings with books and games publishers;
thematic lectures related to all spheres of science fiction;
popular science lectures, especially about physics, history, linguistics and cultural studies;
RPG sessions and LARP-s;
lending board games (Games Room);
lending old video games;
board games, collectible card games and miniature wargaming tournaments;
demonstrations and premieres of board games, collectible card games, miniature wargaming and video games;
thematic competitions with prizes.
On Pyrkon also take place:
concerts;
fighting shows;
fireshows;
dancing shows and lessons;
karaoke and DDR contests;
Pyrkon Dance.
Attractions (lectures, discussion panels, meetings with guests, contests, concerts etc.) on Pyrkon are divided into thematic sections. Most attractions are held in Polish, since 2013 however Pyrkon has an English language section, intended for English speaking attendees.
Pyrkon 2013 had 14 program sections, which are listed below:
English Section – all kinds of attractions held entirely in English language, intended for attendees with no knowledge of the Polish language;
Film Section – lectures about films and film-making, amateur film shows, lessons of creating YouTube content;
Computer Games Section – computer games contests and tournaments, lectures about game design, creating Let's Plays;
Literature Section – lectures and discussion panels about science-fiction and fantasy literature and meetings with authors;
Science Section – popular science lectures;
RPG Section – lessons on making good role-play sessions, presentations of new RPG systems, meetings with role-playing games creators;
LARP Section – LARP games, contest for best LARP on Pyrkon, presentations of LARP systems, lectures about making LARP costumes, improving larping skills;
Comics Section – lessons of comics drawing, meetings with comic book artists, lectures about comics;
Manga & Anime Section – lessons of manga style drawing, lectures about Japanese comics, animation and culture in general;
Contest Section – competitions about every part of pop culture;
Board Games Section – Games Room – presentations of new board games, games' rules lessons, lending board games;
Beginners' Section – short introductory lectures about every aspect of Fandom for beginners who have never visited any convention, played a board game, seen science-fiction film etc.
Kids' Section – science-fiction and fantasy related attractions for children younger than 10 years old;
Exhibitions, Shows, Workshops – dance lessons and shows, concerts, lego exhibitions etc.
contest of the "The Convention Guide-Book" Web Portal (Informator Konwentowy): "The Best Fan Convention of the Season":Pyrkon 2006 – 2nd place (Winter 2005/2006 edition);
Pyrkon 2007 – 1st place (Winter 2006/2007 edition).
contest of "The Convention Guide-Book" Web Portal: "The Best Fan Convention of the Year":Pyrkon 2008 – 1st place.
contest of "The Convention Guide-Book" Web Portal: "Fan's Choice":Pyrkon 2006 – 2nd place (Winter 2005/2006 edition);
Pyrkon 2007 – 1st place (Winter 2006/2007 edition);
Pyrkon 2008 – 1st place (Year 2008 edition).
plebiscite of "The Cathedral" Web Portal (Katedra): "Science Fiction" in category "The best fan convention or other SF mass event", in year 2012 simply "Event":
Pyrkon 2007 – 1st place;
Pyrkon 2008 – 3rd place;
Pyrkon 2009 – 3rd place;
Pyrkon 2010 – 1st place;
Pyrkon 2011 – 1st place;
Pyrkon 2012 – 1st place.
