Event Title: Rock Band
Description: Get your friends together to play Rock Band at Marscon. Custom Rock Band running on PC with more songs than you could ever need. Play guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and up to 3 singers.
Suggested by: Nick Thell 2/7/26
Event Title: Craziest Japanese Commercials
Description: The world pasta aliens, Nicholas Cage, pop idols, long long long stories are shared in the funniest commercials from Japan. Come see a curated hour of the best, strange, and hilarious!
Suggested by: Viga (Victoria Gadson) 1/17/26
Event Title:Charge more: 16 secrets for creative success
Description: Let’s talk about your career: How do you mix creativity with business success? What’s the difference between a skilled creator and a profitable one? Come hear from a successful creator with more than 30 years of business success. Ideas for artists, writers, musicians, performers, actors, puppeteers, crafters, magicians, entrepreneurs, inventors and etc.
How do you market, budget and contract? And what do you charge??? W When do you know to start, who to fire and when to quit?
Come and explore many ways to be a happy, successful creative person
(From the forthcoming book)
Suggested by: David Walbridge 12/8/25
Event Title: Introduction to PNGtuber models
Description: Ever thought about becoming a Vtuber, but don’t know where to start? Does the cost and process of creating a live2D model seem intimidating? There is an entry level starting point, called PNGtubers. We’ll go over the various tools that support this type of Vtuber model, as well as how to configure your model in your art program of choice.
Suggested by: Erik Schaal 12/7/25
Event Title: Godzilla: The Rise, Power Scaling, Plot Armor and Decline
Description: As a long-time casual fan, I’m both pleased, yet annoyed at Goji’s sudden popularity, and would like to have round table discussion with others to discuss the past, present and possible future of our favorite kaiju.
Suggested by: Jay Sterling 11/30/25
Event Title: Indigenous Representation Today
Description: While we’ve discussed this issue in the past and we’ll review some of our favourites. We’ll also have a retrospective look into the last decade or so, especially within sci-fi, fantasy, and a little bit of horror, of trends of representations of Indigenous people in popular media.
Suggested by: Jei Herald-Zamora 11/24/25
Event Title: Technofantasy and Protosteampunk on the Silver Screen
Description: Panel discussion (Matt Coe and Michael Merriam have already agreed to be on this) about steampunk before there was “steampunk.” From “the Wild, Wild West” to “The Assassination Bureau” to countless early takes on Verne and Wells and more, steampunk style in technology and fashion has been with us for quite some time. Join us for a fun discussion!
Suggested by: Catherine Lundoff 11/17/25
Event Title: Glorious B Movies – Anderson and Jovovich
Description: Director Paul Anderson and actor Milla Jovovich have gifted the genre with such completely over the top films as the steampunk “Three Musketeers,” the hard-to-classify “Monster Hunter” and “In the Lost Lands” and of course the highly memorable Resident Evil franchise. Matt Coe, Michael Merriam and I have been wanting to discuss these at length for a while now and we’d love to bring everyone else along for the ride.
Suggested by: Catherine Lundoff 11/17/25
Event Title: The New Manchurian Candidate Technoloogy
Description: Past and new mind control technology will be discussed via a power point presentation.
Suggested by: Joe Swenson 11/16/25
Event Title: “Captain handsome vs the mind reading cows of planet ranch dressing!” Author reading
Description: A New space opera – with old tropes! Do you miss simple space stories? Flawed superheroes? Saber battles in space? Long, expository dialogue? Paper thin evil villains intent on taking over the galaxy? Well, you’re in luck! Join us for this lively author reading!
Suggested by: David Otto Walbridge 11/13/25
Event Title: The Lies We Tell; Authors Edition
Description: Listen, we lie. All the time. We, as writers, have to . Science is So uncooperative
We need ftl travel to get to any stars. A cell phone ruins nearly all horror films, we generally have no idea what we’re doing. We’re going to spill the tea and tell you all the things we have to skip over to get the story told.
Suggested by: David Otto Walbridge 11/13/25
Event Title: Write More Badly
Description: Perfectionism ruins stories — and arcane grammar rules inhibit all writers. Maybe we should just give in to bad writing, accept tropes and encourage messy creativity. Come learn how to free yourself..and your stories.
Suggested by: David Otto Walbridge 11/13/25
Event Title: Comedy Writing
Description: What makes something funny? How do you tell a joke? What makes a character funny? How do you add humor to stories, speeches and everyday life? Come and find out from a professional funny person, who’s written jokes, plays and books…
Suggested by: David Otto Walbridge 11/13/25
Event Title:Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who: Classic vs Contemporary
Description: Phasers, lightsabers, and sonic screwdrivers collide! Fans and experts debate whether and where the modern iterations of classic franchises surpass their originals, and where the OG reigns supreme. Expect friendly arguments, passionate defenses, and maybe even a cross-fandom peace treaty.
Suggested by: T. Aaron Cisco 11/11/25
Event Title: The Dystopian Future is Now: Sci-Fi Predictions that Came True
Description: From surveillance states to corporate overlords, for decades, sci-fi writers tried to warn us… and we didn’t listen. This panel explores the eerie accuracy of speculative fiction, where yesterday’s cautionary tales have become today’s headlines.
Suggested by: T. Aaron Cisco 11/11/25
Event Title: Logan’s Run 50th Anniversary
Description: Way before Fallout, The Hunger Games, or The Matrix, there was Logan’s Run. Half a century on, we revisit this technicolor dystopia of pleasure, control, and expiration dates. How has it aged, and what does it still tell us about freedom, youth, and utopia gone wrong?
Suggested by: T. Aaron Cisco 11/11/25
Event Title: Aliens 40th Anniversary
Description: “Get away from her, you—” well, you know the rest. Four decades later, Aliens remains a masterclass in tension, teamwork, and terror. Join us as we unpack Ripley’s heroism, Cameron’s creature design, and why this sequel redefined sci-fi/horror forever.
Suggested by: T. Aaron Cisco 11/11/25
Event Title: Idiocracy 20th Anniversary
Description: Twenty years later, was it prophecy or parody? Mike Judge’s Idiocracy imagined a world where corporate greed and anti-intellectualism ruled…and somehow, it feels more like a documentary every year. Let’s talk satire, science, and society’s slow march toward the absurd.
Suggested by: T. Aaron Cisco 11/11/25
Event Title: 30 Years of The Craft
Description: “We are the weirdos, mister.” Celebrate 30 years of the cult classic that gave us teen witches, rebellion, and ‘90s angst with a dash of dark magic. Join us as we explore its feminist legacy, gothic style, and why The Craft still casts a spell on fans today.
Suggested by: T. Aaron Cisco 11/11/25
Event Title: The Manosphere is Evil: How to Be a Good (Geek) Guy
Description: Nice guys don’t finish last…if the guys are actually nice. From toxic fandoms to “alpha male” influencers, the geek world isn’t immune to the dark side of masculinity. This panel explores how male-identifying fans, creators, and allies can help dismantle that culture — and build better, braver, more inclusive fandom spaces.
Suggested by: T. Aaron Cisco 11/11/25
Event Title: Book Wasn’t Just Better, It Was WAAAAY Better
Description: Some movies should have stayed on the page. From the laughably bad to the unforgivably altered, we’ll dissect Hollywood’s biggest misfires in adapting beloved sci-fi, horror, and fantasy works. Bring your popcorn and your pain — this one’s going to hurt.
Suggested by: T. Aaron Cisco 11/11/25
Event Title: Korean Sword Practice
Description: If you enjoyed our Korean Sword demo, come and learn some of the basic single sword technics that we used. Get some hands on instruction with our instructor and advanced students.
Suggested by: Steve Erickson 11/1/25
Event Title: Korean Sword Demo
Description: Join White Tiger Martial Arts as we demostrate Korean Sword technics. This will include showing forms (using one and two swords), cutting targets and sparing.
Suggested by: Steve Erickson 11/1/25
Event Title: Long Lost Common Ground in Science Fiction & Fantasy
Description: It is tricky finding a common frame of reference in this age where we have so many options. What is the one show we all watch, the authors or comics we all read? Some fans can’t stream, and some stream everything they can. How can we all get together for discourse and community when entertainment is so specifically tailored to each individual? Weird Al once stated, “I long for the days of the monoculture,” while explaining why he doesn’t focus as much on parodies anymore. This applies equally well to SF and most other fandoms. Can we find common ground?
Suggested by: CLaBee 9/14/25
Event Title: What’s Your Favorite Superpower?
Description: Compare notes with other fans, bring examples from popular fiction, enjoy the discussion.
Suggested by: CLaBee 9/14/25
Event Title: Fanship 101: Origin Stories
Description: What novel, short story, film, series, artwork, anime, comic or other experience drew you toward science fiction/fantasy? Discuss your origin story and hear how others have made their journey to fandom.
Suggested by: CLaBee 9/14/25
Event Title: Classic British Sci-Fi
Description: A deep dive into iconic series such as Doctor Who, The Prisoner, Blake’s 7, Red Dwarf, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, as well as other notable titles from the 1960s and 1970s like Quatermass and the Pit, UFO, Space: 1999, and The Tomorrow People.
Suggested by: CLaBee 9/14/25
Event Title: Tabletop Games without Wizards of the Coast (TTRPGs – WotC)
Description: Wizards of the Coast has made some controversial business decisions. We’re not going to get into the details of that, but we will discuss alternatives to Dungeons and Dragons. What’s good? What’s new? What’s fun?
Suggested by: CLaBee 9/14/25
Event Title: Star Wars: Before the Prequels
Description: Early authors, creators and works. How it started, where it’s been, where it’s headed.
Suggested by: CLaBee 9/14/25
Event Title: Evolution of Sci Fi: Through the Decades
Description: Early authors, creators and works. How it started, where it’s been, where it’s headed.
Suggested by: CLaBee 9/14/25
Event Title: Star Wars: Inspiring the Rebellion
Description: Discussion of the resistance during formation of the Galactic Empire and throughout its reign, from Anakin Skywalker’s Clone Wars-era militia cells to galaxy-wide, decentralized movements formed after the Empire’s rise. We will touch on the motivations of key players in the final days of the Republic like Padmé Amidala, Bail Organa, and Mon Mothma, and other notable figures who were crucial to the Rebellion, such as Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Luthen Rael, spymaster Ahsoka Tano, Saw Guerrera and Cassian Andor.
Suggested by: CLaBee 9/14/25
Event Title: Best Heroes vs. Worst Villains of All Time
Description: Bring examples of your personal favorites and discuss possible outcomes when the best of the best and worst of the worst are pitted against each other.
Suggested by: CLaBee 9/14/25
Event Title: MN MUFON Historic UAP viewings
Description: Tom Maher MN MUFON state director has some historic UAP viewings
Suggested by: Joe Swenson on 5/4/25
Event Title: Universal Studios Parks Around the World
Description: Join us as we explore the exciting world of Universal Studios theme parks across the globe! From the recently opened Epic Universe to thrilling attractions like Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas and the family-friendly Universal Kids Resort in Texas, we’ll cover it all. Plus, get a sneak peek at the upcoming Universal UK project, set to take the world by storm. Don’t miss out on this journey through Universal’s ever-expanding entertainment empire!
Moderators Tony Artym, Joseph Opsahl
Suggested by: Tony Artym on 3/28/2025
Event Title: Star Trek Universe: The Diamond Anniversary
Description: Join us as we celebrate 60 years of the second-oldest sci-fi series still going strong today! With nearly 1000 episodes spanning over 50 seasons and 14 films, we’ll cover it all. From the iconic moments that shaped the franchise to the latest exciting developments in the fandom, let’s dive into the legacy and evolution of Star Trek—from its humble beginnings to its ongoing influence on sci-fi and pop culture. Moderator Tony Artym.
Suggested by: Tony Artym on 3/28/2025
Event Title: The Dresden Files
Description: Join us for a deep dive into The Dresden Files, the thrilling urban fantasy series by Jim Butcher! We’ll discuss the adventures of Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, Chicago’s first (and only) Wizard P.I. With Twelve Months (Book 18) now out, we’ll explore the series’ past, major developments, and speculate on what Jim Butcher has in store for Harry’s future—including the highly anticipated Mirror Mirror. This discussion will include spoilers from across the series, including Twelve Months. Come share your theories, favorite moments, and predictions for what’s next in Dresden’s world!
Moderators Tony Artym, Tim Strong, Crystal Therese.
Suggested by: Tony Artym on 3/28/2025
Event Title: MarsCon Saved My Life!
Description: Join us as we share the incredible story of two individuals who crossed paths three years ago at Marscon. One was seeking a donation, while the other ended up saving his life. This powerful tale highlights the critical importance of organ, blood, and skin donations. Moderators Tony Artym, Julie Bonebrake.
Suggested by: Tony Artym on 3/28/2025
Event Title: Hentai Gameshow
Description: Join us for an adult (18+) game show where contestants compete for prizes. Volunteers from the audience compete and play adult-themed games. These fun naughty games are for aliens and humans alike. Come show us your bawdy side, or just be a voyeur! Prizes donated by Fantasy Gifts and MarsCon.
Suggested by: Kevin Doheny on 3/20/2025
Event Title: Hallway Costume Contest
Description: Our Hallway Costume Contest begins at the start of the con on Friday and goes until 4pm Saturday. The best part is you don’t have to sign up or do anything, other than wear your costume around con. We will have secret judges roaming the halls, and if you win, they will award you with a special button (bragging rights!), and your picture will be posted on our website and social media. There will be multiple winners during the weekend!
Suggested by: Kevin Doheny on 3/20/2025
Here are some great examples of Program (panel) Ideas that we’ve received in the past: