CrossingsCon
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Name: | CrossingsCon |
| Dates: | 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, (tentatively in planning for 2025) |
| Frequency: | yearly, sporadically some years. |
| Location: | New Jersey, New York, Los Angeles, Montreal |
| Type: | Fan run, book, sci-fi/fantasy, single fandom |
| Focus: | Young Wizards |
| Organization: | Emfozzing Enterprises |
| Founder: | Emfozzing Enterprises |
| Founding Date: | 2016 |
| URL: | CrossingsCon Website |
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CrossingsCon is a fan run convention focused on the fandom for the Young Wizards book series by Diane Duane and associated fanworks.
Name
The name "CrossingsCon" comes partly from a reference to the book series. The books are a blend of fantasy and sci-fi or soft sci-fi and so include sci-fi elements or alien cultures. The Crossings is a major galactic transportation hub for aliens in the book - so the group of fans initially planning and brainstorming the con decided to call it CrossingsCon to suggest its basic idea as a meeting place for fans (of the books) from all over the world.
Locations and History
The first convention was held on June 24-26 of 2016, and since then has generally been Friday-Sunday at some point in the summer. This first convention was held roughly in the New York City area in Newark, New Jersey - with most of the book's action taking place in the New York City area, but choosing Newark over more central locations in NYC due to cost issues and budgeting. It involved optional walking tours of New York City at the end of the convention. It was funded both by an initial fundraiser on Kickstarter, and through ticket sales. The second convention in 2017 was held in the greater Los Angeles area, both due to the idea of a new theme, since the second book in the series was very ocean focused, and as an opportunity for different groups of people to have the convention be held close to them, to spread the convenience around. There was an optional tour of the Long Beach dock and pier area and the local aquarium after the convention. It was also funded from a combination of previous funding and selling tickets. There were about 125 guests at the first convention, and the conventions have fluctuated between 75-150 guests.
After 2017, convention activities took place either in Montreal, Canada or in the New York City area, there were several hiatuses both for planning and also especially due to the issues around the Covid 19 illness. There were only conventions in 2019 and 2021. A future CrossingsCon convention is planned for 2025 in Philadelphia.
Guests of honor or special guests have included Diane Duane and Seanan McGuire through video conferencing software, and in person, Mark Oshiro (who had run a read-along of the series at his blog, Markdoesstuff, and had become a bit of a well known or famous fan), Megan Whalen Turner, C. B. Lee, and Cat Valente.
Activities have included cosplay and cosplay events, panels, and fan music.