Eastercon
| Science Fiction Convention | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Eastercon |
| Dates: | 1948-present |
| Frequency: | annual |
| Location: | various locations in the UK |
| Type: | Fan run |
| Focus: | science fiction |
| Organization: | British Science Fiction Association |
| Founder: | British Science Fiction Association |
| Founding Date: | 15 May 1948 |
| URL: | Eastercon wiki |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Eastercon is the UK’s longest running science fiction convention. Eastercon takes it's name from the Easter bank holiday weekend on which it's held annually. Early conventions were not held at Easter, but are still considered Eastercons. It is a rotating convention, and the organizing Committee and location of the con generally change every year.
Eastercon is the annual British National Science Fiction Convention. It has been held over the Easter weekend every year since 1955. Eastercon attracts 800-1,200 fans of Science Fiction, Fantasy and similar genres. Programme events usually include panels, workshops, talks, quizzes, competitions, an Art Show, and a Dealers Room selling books and other items. Events range from hard science through writing workshops to the fun and silly. People are encouraged to take part.
The British Science Fiction Association Awards, voted on by BSFA members, are presented at Eastercon.
There are several mentions of the con in Star Trek and other media fanzines. For example "HOW TO INFILTRATE A SCIENCE FICTION CON, or My Personal Guide to the Wimpy Bars of Coventry", printed in STAG #23. This is a humorous guide for ST fans attending a SF con and was likely written following Eastercon '77 in Coventry.
Conventions
- Confabulation in London 1995
- Concentric, the 2020 Eastercon, was cancelled due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
- ConFusion, the 2021 Eastercon, was run as a virtual event also due to COVID-19 restrictions. The organizers used platforms which had not previously been used for SF conventions, such as Gather.Town, and attracted widespread criticism for various technical and organizational failures. Subsequent Eastercons have switched to a hybrid format - including both live and virtual events.
Further Reading
- The Anime Nostalgia Facility UK: Elydore, Archived version
- Fancyclopaedia article on ConFusion and its problems