Azkatraz

Convention
Name:	Azkatraz
Dates:	2009
Frequency:
Location:	San Francisco, CA
Type:	fan con
Focus:	Harry Potter
Organization:	HP Education Fanon, Inc.
Founder:
Founding Date:
URL:	Website
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Azkatraz was a fan-run Harry Potter symposium that was held in 2009.

It focused on themes of social justice in the Harry Potter series.

Minister of Magic: Gwendolyn Grace

Special Guests & Keynote Speakers: Elizabeth Bland, Robin Burgener, Leslie Combemale, John Granger, Lev Grossman, Susan Gunelius, Henry Jenkins, Chris Rankin, Andrew Slack

Part of a Series

See Harry Potter Symposiums.

About

There is a wayback link to some of the con information here. Sadly, the links are all dead.

About Azkatraz 2009

HPEF’s sixth event, AZKATRAZ, took place in San Francisco, California, from July 17 – 21, 2009. The primary hotel was the Parc 55 San Francisco Hotel, although some events and programming took taking place around and near San Francisco.

Azkatraz begna late in the night on July 16, 2009 with a showing of Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince, then continued with a spectacular pre-dawn LeakyMug podcast back at the Parc 55. Later on Friday, attendees had the option of casting off from the Embarcadero for Wrock Around the Rock, a wizard rock concert on a yacht that traveled around San Francisco Bay, under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz Island.

Formal programming began on Saturday morning with a pleneary session featuring Andrew Slack from the HP Alliance on the key themes of Azkatraz – the difference between what is right and what is easy. Formal programming continued throughout Saturday, Sunday and Monday, interspersed with a wizarding fashion show, a pajama party, showings of the first five Harry Potter films, a podcastpalooza, the Prison Break Ball, wrock music, Quidditch, art gallery showings, and informal “meetups” in the hotel and the surrounding area. Monday also included a one-of-a-kind “Master of Potter Administration” crash-course, held at the nearby Zeum, along with a film festival, claymation workshops, video studio rentals and live karaoke opportunities. Presenters at Zeum included Melissa Anelli, Lev Grossman, Corynne McSherry, Denise Paolucci, Mark Smith, Monique Trottier, Fred Von Lohmann, and other professionals whose business interests have been impacted by the popularity and reach of Harry Potter.