Programming is mainly located on the second floor in the following spaces:
Main Stage (Ballrooms III/IV)
Ballroom is the place for big events such as Opening & Closing Ceremonies, Masquerade contest, concerts, stage performances and musical jams!
The Cantina (Exec Boardroom)
The Cantina will host exciting and interesting panels, guest speakers, dance demos, simulated combat, and karaoke in the evenings – SO much happening in the Cantina! (no droids served)
Masquerade Lounge (I Blue Heron Colony)
Costume related panels, demos and discussions. Masquerade Lounge will also serve as the Green Room during the Masquerade Costume Contest on Saturday night.
Free Mars (II – Cardinal Perch)
Free Mars will feature fun and fascinating programming, including talks about our favorite sci-fi/fantasy movies and t.v. series, hard sciences discussions, trivia contests, and as many other fannish topics as we can fit into the space.
Re(a)d Mars (III – Eagle’s Next)
Re(a)d Mars will focus mainly on literary discussions and readings, and will also be home to our free Book Exchange.
Creative Planet (V – Mallard Point)
This room will feature constructive and creative crafting activities for all ages. Ideal for anyone who enjoys hands-on activities.
AV/Anime (VI – Owl Overlook)
The AV Room is thrilled to team up again in with GPS and MarsCon’s Anime/YA! Throughout the convention weekend, you’ll find a variety of films and anime being shown, including the highly anticipated return of Distant Calling Pictures and feature films from the Mihmiverse.
MarsCon 2026 Program Schedule - updated March 05, 2026 15:41 CST
10:00am Friday | The Bridge opens - 1st floor, Meadows |
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| This is the place to go for any problems during MarsCon weekend. It is a communications hub with the ability to help in most situations—lost child, last minute programming schedule change, AV needs, problem attendee, hotel issue, weapons peace bonding, after hours registration, volunteers dispatch, or drop off for food shelf and charity auction donations. This is the place to go. Located at the bottom of the grand staircase by the main entrance. | Everyone | |
12:00pm Friday | Registration opens - 2nd floor booth |
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| Pick up badges & programs, purchase swag, and start checking out the spaces, volunteer to help out if able. After-hours, you may register at the Bridge (1st floor, near Hotel front desk). Food Drive: MarsCon will be accepting food donations for VEAP, the Twin Cities' largest food pantry, during the convention. If you are registering at the door for MarsCon 2026, you can get $5 off your registration by donating 5 cans of food, limited to one discount per person. (Please note, the $5 discount cannot be applied to Day Passes.) If you are a party host and would like to help out, we encourage you to collect donations and bring them to the donation area at the Bridge by Sunday. If you are attending and would like to donate, please drop off your donation at Registration, the Bridge, or a participating party room. Thank you for your donations and generosity! | Everyone | |
01:00pm Friday | Art Show opens! - 1st floor |
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| Art Show (Riverside) | Artists from across the known universe have come to MarsCon to display their masterpieces! Bid on a masterpiece! Open for Bidding, Art Market, and Quick Sales. Remember to revisit the Art Show throughout the convention to check and see if you got the winning bid. Art Show will also be hosting a silent auction for our designated charity this year, VEAP (the Twin Cities' largest food pantry). | Everyone |
03:00pm Friday | Book Exchange - 2nd floor |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | Do you have a book you've read and want to share? Bring it to the book exchange! Bring a book or get a book. There are no limits on books and we only ask that you enjoy your read. Book Exchange will be found in the Re(a)d Mars — for novels, miscellaneous literature, and other SF/Fantasy/Speculative Fiction. Please bring one or more books you would like to donate, and feel free to take a book for reading later. Any unclaimed books will be donated to the Charity Auction which takes place on Sunday morning in the Cantina (Exec Boardroom, across from Registration) | Everyone |
03:00pm Friday | Prop-A-Torium 20 opens - 2nd floor |
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| Prop-A-Torium (VII - White Pelican Bay) | Located in White Pelican Bay, at the far end of the hall The Prop-A-Torium has an extraordinary display of some of the most unusual and fabulous handmade and collected props. From popular movies, television shows, and other media events over the past 60 years! Not only that, the room is staffed by the people who made and collected them! It's great to see the impressive skill and care that went into some of these magnificent pieces. Enjoy props related to Indiana Jones, Wizarding World, Star Trek, Star Wars, Stargate, Middle Earth Saga, James Bond, Marvel Cinematic Universe, and so much more from movies and television shows. We have Fan-Made Props, "Officially Licensed" Props, and a few actual screen-used props; even those high-end collectibles we all covet from Sideshow, Master Replicas, Warner Brothers, and more! If you like swords or lightsabers, bullwhips, or blasters, come by the Prop-A-Torium! Photos will be allowed in the Prop-A-Torium, but please ask us if you can touch or take videos of the props you see. | Everyone |
03:00pm Friday | Dealers Room & Makers Market open - 2nd floor |
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| Ballroom I/II - Buy something fun! There are new Dealers & some older Dealers with new merchandise. Many are offering "Con Theme" oriented merch at Great Prices: jewelry, tote bags, plushies, costumes, accessories, articulated dragons, figurines, books, toys & more. Many local authors that like to talk. Some Dealers are in the hall/foyer area. All hours are posted by the Dealer Room door, in the program book & pocket program… SUPPORT YOUR CON BY SUPPORTING OUR DEALERS | Everyone | |
04:00pm Friday | Setup, Sound Check & Rehearsal |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Getting ready for Opening Ceremonies, etc… | Chairs, ConCom |
04:00pm Friday | Traditional Japanese Wigs, Not Just for Geisha |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | A talk about different styles and uses of Japanese wigs, construction and upkeep | Elizabeth Sloan |
04:00pm Friday | Trailer Park 2026: Movies & Shows |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | Check out trailers for the movies and TV shows coming out this year. Be on your top game when conversing with other folks here at MarsCon! Be ready for that panel! Plan what you are going to see next weekend? Don't miss THE TRAILER PARK! Titles TBA. | Everyone |
04:00pm Friday | Bookmarks and Buttons - AA |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Make a bookmark or a button, or both! Both is good! This will run three times and will be for all ages every time. | Cindy, Brittany |
04:00pm Friday | Film viewing |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | Please visit the room for a complete schedule. | AV/Anime Crew |
04:00pm Friday | Science Room opens - 1st floor |
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| Science Room (Woodlands) | Located in Woodlands, between the Front Desk & Restaurant Come see how we are transforming science fiction into science fact! Visit the Science Room to view and interact with science exhibits. | Everyone |
04:30pm Friday | Introduction to PNGtuber models |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | 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. | Erik Schaal |
04:45pm Friday | Self Defense Workshop |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | This introductory workshop, led by instructors from the School of Shaolin Kung Fu. Offers a practical overview of traditional self-defense techniques rooted in centuries of Shaolin martial arts. The session focuses on efficient, real-world applications designed for all ages and skill levels. | Christopher Neumiller, Jordyn Kohn, Joshua Benoit, Susan Pederson, Mike Partridge, William Lee, School of Shaolin Kung Fu |
05:00pm Friday | Regency Tiara Workshop 18+ |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | This is only open to 6 people. You will finish the workshop with a tiara you have made, all ready for your next Regency Ball. Any number of people are free to attend and watch, however only six may actually make a tiara. All materials will be supplied. Due to the nature of the materials (thin wire) this is an 18+ activity. | Elizabeth Sloan |
05:00pm Friday | Star Wars: Inspiring the Rebellion |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | 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. | Brian LaBounty, Christine LaBounty, Kevin Berg, A L Raden |
05:00pm Friday | Yarn Dogs AA |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | In this realm of SciFi of yesteryear, come and make this cute pet your Grandmother would be proud of. This craft is a bit messy, and for the smaller attendee, adult assistance will be necessary. But this cute little pup is open to all who want to make one. | Jen |
05:45pm Friday | Anime viewing |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | Please visit the room for a complete schedule. | AV/Anime Crew |
06:00pm Friday | My Life in Hollywood |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Debbie David is known for her work on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), Catchfire (1990) and Star Trek: Voyager (1995). | Debbie David (MarsCon '99 Guest of Honor) |
06:00pm Friday | LEGO wearables |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | John Teisberg | |
06:00pm Friday | Tabletop Games without Wizards of the Coast |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | 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? | Brian LaBounty, Ozgur Sahin |
06:00pm Friday | Idiocracy 20th Anniversary |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | 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. | T. Aaron Cisco, Scott Wenker, Samantha Hedden, Jason Munneke |
06:00pm Friday | Paper Card Wallet All Ages |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Wanting a simple but fun way to take your game cards with you without taking your entire deck? This craft is for you. Fun paper craft for all ages | |
07:00pm Friday | Opening Ceremonies & Radio Show |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Thank you for joining us for the 28th annual MarsCon Sci Fi/Fantasy/Gaming Convention! We will open MarsCon with a live radio show, then welcome and introduce our wonderful Guests of Honor, and learn important stuff that will help you get the most out of MarsCon 2026. | Chairs, ConCom, Guests of Honor: Actor Robert O'Reilly, Artist A L Raden, Author Emma Bull, Author Steven Brust, Comedy Music Artist "Insane" Ian Bonds, Filmmaker Christopher Mihm and Featured Guests: Paranormal Investigator/Writer Adrian Lee, Artist Heather Morris |
07:00pm Friday | Bead Lizards AA |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | You've done them every year, and when we don't have them, you tell us to make sure to have them next time, so here they are. The familiar beaded friend you make every year to put on your bag, backpack, or wherever it is you put these. A craft right out of the 1900s. Takes me back, *sigh* | |
07:00pm Friday | Prop-A-Torium Closes |
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| Prop-A-Torium (VII - White Pelican Bay) | Thank you for visiting! Come back tomorrow! | All |
07:00pm Friday | Art Show Closes |
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| Art Show (Riverside) | There is an art, it says, or rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. … Clearly, it is this second part, the missing, which presents the difficulties. Please come again tomorrow and place another bid on that piece you love. Support local artists! | Artists & Fans of Art |
07:00pm Friday | Science Room Closes |
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| Science Room (Woodlands) | "The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you." - Neil deGrasse Tyson | All |
07:00pm Friday | Dealers Room & Makers Market Close |
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| Visit before closing time for your last minute purchases, and come back tomorrow! Supporting Dealers supports the convention. | Everyone | |
07:45pm Friday | Film viewing |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | Please visit the room for a complete schedule. | |
08:00pm Friday | Musical Interlude |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Good vibes, great music. Join Emma and Steven for some music, magic and madness. | Emma Bull, Steven Brust |
08:00pm Friday | Actor Guest of Honor Robert O'Reilly: Life on Set |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | For over 10 years Robert spent 4 hours a day getting into make-up for The Iconic role of GOWRON, The Head of The Klingon Empire in two of Star Treks most prestigious shows: Star Trek, The Next Generation, and Star Trek, Deep Space 9. All Robert ever wanted was to be a working character actor, his wish came true-more than true. 'GOWRON" branched out as a cultural phenomenon; adding Hallmark Cards -tree ornaments, commercials, board games, card games, Klingon Playmate Dolls which went world-wide, even Klingon Coffee "RAKTAJINO". His film appearances are numerous and include The Mask starring Jim Carey, Candyman 3, Good Luck, Moonbase, and Steel Frontier. Robert has worked on well over one-hundred television shows such as: NYPD Blue, MacGyver, Max Headroom, The Flash, The Phoenix, Simon and Simon, Cop Rock, Cheers, George Carlen's Comedy Hour and multiple seasons or shows of: Murder She Wrote, T.J. Hooker, In The Heat Of The Night, Dark Justice, Fall Guy, David Hasselhoffs, Knight Rider, Dallas, Equalizer, and Falcon Crest and the award winning T.V. show Hill Street Blues. Bobs' preference of genre has always been "Westerns ", and T.V. shows in the genre include: Doctor Quinn Medicine Women, Father Murphy, Paradise, The Adventures of Briscoe County Junior and Walker, Texas Ranger. He has also appeared in The Mini-series Movies Made for Television: the western "Desperado: Badlands Justice", World War III, From Here to Eternity, and By Dawn's Early Light. There have also been "Pilots", Darkroom with Billy Crystal and Brian Dennehy, Tom Swift and Linda Craig Mystery Hour and George Clooneys', Sunset Beat. This was early Clooney, with shoulder length hair and driving a motorcycle. | Robert O'Reilly |
08:00pm Friday | Old School Prop-Making |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | Do you need to make that one cool prop for your costume, but you don't have a 3D printer? Have a look at how you can build it with what you have at home and not go broke. | Gerald Dagel |
08:00pm Friday | MN MUFON Historic UAP viewings |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | Tom Maher MN MUFON state director has some historic UAP viewings. | Tom Maher, MN MUFON |
08:00pm Friday | The Lies We Tell; Authors Edition |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | 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. | David Otto Walbridge, C.M. Alongi, T. Aaron Cisco |
08:00pm Friday | Paracord Keychain 14+ |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Remember the lanyards you made at summer camp? Make a cross with your lanyard, fold each end over to make a box then pass the opposite ends through and tighten. Yeah, like that, but short, paracord, and a keychain! A craft to make your old uncle proud. | Jen |
09:00pm Friday | CMT Group Photo & Video Shoot |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | All performers (& fans) | |
09:00pm Friday | Posthumous Prop GOH Kenneth Strickfaden |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | Kenneth Strickfaden created many props that you didn't know that you knew. He created the high voltage gear (and sound effects from them) that has been used in over 100 films and TV shows including Frankenstein (1931), the Flash Gordon serials (beginning in 1936), The Munsters (1964 - 1966), Young Frankenstein (1974), and also the rock group KISS in 1975. Not content with movies, he was also an accomplished photographer, mechanic, race car driver, speedboat builder and racer, and gave over 1,500 lectures and demonstrations all over the country. | Bob Poate, Todd Hansen |
09:00pm Friday | Star Trek, Star Wars Doctor Who: Classic vs Contemporary |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | 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. | T. Aaron Cisco, A L Raden, Diana Tonn |
09:00pm Friday | Technofantasy and Protosteampunk on the Silver Screen |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | Panel discussion 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! | Catherine Lundoff, Matt Coe, Michael Merriam |
09:00pm Friday | Room closed |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Room closes at 9pm. Go enjoy Con Suite, Parties, or relax and get ready for a full day tomorrow! | |
09:15pm Friday | ThatLuckyPanda |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Lukas Café aka ThatLuckyPanda (he/they) is a transmasc musician and cover artist hailing from The Void (Ohio). His continuing mission is to spread chaos and joy throughout the universe by the only means necessary; memes and rock 'n roll. Lukas is best known for their covers of popular songs by noted comedy artists such as Ninja Sex Party, Starbomb, and Insane Ian, as well as non-comedic covers from Ghost and Shadow Academy. His YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@thatluckypanda_) is home to his music, as well as his fan edits of GameGrumps' Ten Minute Power Hour. Their most recent musical endeavors include joining comedy synth rock band Power Keg as its lead vocalist in December 2024. For more information on ThatLuckyPanda please visit the artist's web site at: http://thatluckypanda.bandcamp.com | ThatLuckyPanda |
09:30pm Friday | Friday Night Karaoke |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Sing and sing along. | MusicBox Entertainment & Singers |
09:45pm Friday | The Monster of Phantom Lake (2006) (Rated: NR) (Film, 96 min) |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | A faithful "re-imagining" of 1950's Cold War era, B-grade, drive-in horror movies, The Monster of Phantom Lake follows proud scientist Professor Jackson, his graduate student, and five swell teenagers as they discover the terrifying effects of "Atomic Waste" in the form of a horribly mutated "shell-shocked" World War II soldier / lake-algae monster! | Christopher R. Mihm |
10:00pm Friday | Dino-Mike |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | For decades, Dino-Mike has been recording and performing his unique brand of music all over the Southern California area as well as select venues around the country. Mike currently has four full length albums under his belt. You will also find Mike's hilarious music videos on his YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/dinomike13). You can buy Mike's CD's and other merchandise on his BandCamp page (ttps://dino-mike.bandcamp.com) Mike has performed his over-the-top live shows at such famous venues as "The Hollywood Knitting Factory", "The Cat Club", "The Historic Colony Theatre", "MarsCon", "DiPiazza's", "El Cid" and "San Diego Comic-Con International". For more information on Dino-Mike please visit the artist's web site at: https://www.facebook.com/dinomike13 | Dino-Mike |
10:00pm Friday | How to Do Drag |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | Drag demo | Megan the Maneater |
10:00pm Friday | The History and Impact of the Film Ghostbusters on My Life |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | British paranormal investigator, author, and TV host, Adrian Lee, presents a fun and informative talk about the original 1984 Ghostbusters film, with anecdotes, stories, and unseen history. This entertaining and amusing show includes Lee's struggles to build his own ECTO 1 Ghostbusters car and his experiences with Dan Ackroyd. Lee has an MA in Film Studies. | Adrian Lee |
10:00pm Friday | World Building 101: A Writers Workshop |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | Building a world that actually needs heroes. | C.M. Alongi, Emma Bull, Steven Brust, Will Shetterly |
10:45pm Friday | Holy Bongwater |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Holy Bongwater is the musical project of adorable couple Jace McLain (of Nuclear Bubble Wrap) and Julia Larson. They do psychedelic comedy and parody music. Their EP "Mock The Vote" is a series of parodies made about each main candidate during the 2016 presidential election: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Jill Stein, Gary Johnson, and Bernie Sanders. Although the election was intense and stressful, this little parody EP hopefully serves as a nice little time capsule that showcases how a lot of people felt at the time. Many of their songs can be heard at the Funny Music Project, aka The FuMP dot com. FFI: https://holybongwater.bandcamp.com/ or check out https://www.facebook.com/holybongwaterband | Holy Bongwater |
11:00pm Friday | 30 Years of The Craft |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | "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. | T. Aaron Cisco, Scott Wenker, Samantha Hedden, Diana Tonn |
11:00pm Friday | From Movie Serials To Modern Movies & TV |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | From Flash Gordon (1936), Buck Rogers (1939), The Shadow (1940), Mysterious Doctor Satan (1940), The Drums of Fu Manchu (1940), King Of The Rocketmen (1949) to Doctor Who (1963), Jason Of Star Command (1978), Buck Rogers (1979), Flash Gordon (1980), Indiana Jones (1981), The Rocketeer (1991), The Shadow (1994), Star Trek: Voyager (1995), The Phantom (1996), Sky Captain And the World Of Tomorrow (2004), and probably most of our movie and TV diet. How did low budget weekly adventure films ending in cliffhangers create the movies and shows we now love? | Bob Poate, Todd Hansen |
11:30pm Friday | MeowMeme |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | MeowMeme is the comedy music alter ego of Alexann, daughter of comedy musician Carrie Dahlby, and has attended the MarsCon Comedy Music Track every year following her birth year. She has performed during the FuMP Jukebox and at the Comedy Music Smackdown in years past, and the past 2 years she and her new persona performed a 15 minute comedy music concert of her own to kick off our Sunday concert block. This year, now that she is a TEENAGER(!!!) we are having her round off our Friday night block! Will she stay PG-13 or go beyond?! Come and see her set to find out! https://www.thefump.com/music/song/woodland-creatures | MeowMeme |
11:30pm Friday | Rock Band |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | 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. | Nick Thell |
11:30pm Friday | Q&A with Filmmaker Christopher R. Mihm |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | Join the director for stories, trivia, and behind-the-scenes insight into his retro-monster universe. | Christopher R. Mihm |
12:30am Saturday | Ad Reel |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | Please visit the room for a complete schedule. | AV/Anime Crew |
10:00am Saturday | Scenes From A Hat : Improv |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Improv comedy from a local long running improv troupe, TV, online, and stage show. SFAH has been making audiences laugh since 2017. We've performed at MarsCon in the past. | Scenes From A Hat |
10:00am Saturday | Sculpting Class: Knotty Trolls |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Materials will be provided for the first 10 class participants so you may create your own Knotty Troll to keep. Spectators welcome! | Heather Morris |
10:00am Saturday | Entry Level Star Wars Costumes |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | Want to make a Star Wars costume, whether for fun or to join an official club, but don't know where to start? Is the complexity or cost holding you back? Join members of the 501st Legion, Rebel Legion and Mando Mercs as we discuss costumes that are not only easy to put together, but also on your wallet! | Jill, The 501st Legion |
10:00am Saturday | The History of Science Fiction (Is Female) |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | Discussion of the evolution of Sci Fi--Early authors, creators and works. How it started, where it's been, where it's headed.The history of Sci Fi is female. | Whitestar Phoenix, mod., Emma Bull, Kathryn Sullivan, Catherine Lundoff |
10:00am Saturday | Bookmarks and Buttons - AA |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Make a bookmark or a button, or both! Both is good! This will run three times and will be for all ages every time. | Cindy, Brittany |
10:00am Saturday | Anime viewing |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | Please visit the room for a complete schedule. | AV/Anime Crew |
10:00am Saturday | Prop-A-Torium 20 opens - 2nd floor |
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| Prop-A-Torium (VII - White Pelican Bay) | Located in White Pelican Bay, at the far end of the hall The Prop-A-Torium has an extraordinary display of some of the most unusual and fabulous handmade and collected props staffed by the people who made and collected them! Swing by and enjoy the view. | Everyone |
10:00am Saturday | Art Show opens! - 1st floor |
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| Art Show (Riverside) | Come one, come all and bid on a masterpiece! Open for Bidding, Art Market, and Quick Sales | Everyone |
10:00am Saturday | Science Room opens! - 1st floor |
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| Science Room (Woodlands) | Located in Woodlands on the 1st floor, between the Front Desk & Restaurant Come see how we are transforming science fiction into science fact! Visit the Science Room to view and interact with science exhibits. | Everyone |
10:00am Saturday | Blood Drive |
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| This year is the 21st Annual American Red Cross blood drive at MarsCon, and it happens during the 60th anniversary year for Star Trek! The USS Nokomis is inviting everyone to come save up to three lives with one donation on Saturday the 7th between 10am and 4pm. MarsCon donors have touched over 2,100 lives with their donations over the last 20 years, and this year we'll touch even more! Please help during this extreme winter blood shortage! Come to donate to get most coveted, hardest to get, absolute coolest ribbon at the Con! Plus, we have a special gift for all donors and drawings for special 60th anniversary prizes! Three ways to sign up: Register online at redcrossblood.org using sponsor code MarsCon or surf to: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=MarsCon, visit us in our Party Room on Friday night and choose a time, or come to the registration table on Saturday to sign up with USS Nokomis crew members. | USS Nokomis & American Red Cross | |
10:00am Saturday | Dealers Room & Makers Market open - 2nd floor |
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| Ballroom I/II - Buy something fun! There are new Dealers & some older Dealers with new merchandise. Many are offering "Con Theme" oriented merch at Great Prices: jewelry, tote bags, plushies, costumes, accessories, articulated dragons, figurines, books, toys & more. Many local authors that like to talk. Some Dealers are in the hall/foyer area. All hours are posted by the Dealer Room door, in the program book & pocket program… SUPPORT YOUR CON BY SUPPORTING OUR DEALERS | Everyone | |
11:00am Saturday | Masquerade Orientation |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | This will be 15 minutes of Masquerade orientation for those who are entered in the contest. | Kevin Doheny, Masquerade Director |
11:00am Saturday | Universal Studios Parks Around the World |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | 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! | Tony Artym, Joseph Opsahl |
11:00am Saturday | Sword & Shadow: Writing Combat, Craft, and Intrigue |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | Fantasy worlds may be full of magic, but the most memorable stories often ground themselves in authentic detail. This panel explores how authors—especially those writing historical fantasy—can bring realism to their work when crafting scenes such as sword fights, blacksmithing, military tactics, or spy craft. Led by an expert with hands-on knowledge in these fields, the session will highlight practical techniques for translating real-world skills into compelling, believable narrative moments. Attendees will leave with tools to enrich their writing with authenticity, while still leaving room for imagination and wonder. | Faith MacGregor, C.M. Alongi |
11:00am Saturday | Journals and Pens - all ages |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Decorate a small blank book for your notes or sketches, whatever it is you put in a book. Make it yours. And then decorate a pen, lots of beads to choose from. | Jen, Brittany |
11:15am Saturday | How NOT to Look Like a Deer in Headlights |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | Advice on how to be relaxed on stage and have a good presentation for the judges, and also look good for the audience. | Rae Lundquist, Elizabeth Sloan |
11:30am Saturday | Korean Sword Demo |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | 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. | Steve Erickson, White Tiger Martial Arts |
11:30am Saturday | An Actor's Life: Robert O'Reilly |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Award winning Theatre Director, Actor, Poet, and Short Story Writer; Bob's career encompasses stage, film, and television. On stage he has crossed the fields from Shakespeare where he appeared in King Lear and Hamlet to Sam Shepards' True West. Thru-out his many years on stage, he has appeared in the original production of "The Grapes of Wrath," and the original productions of The Martian Chronicles," "Fahrenheit 451," And the revival of "Dandelion Wine." All written by the writer and close friend Ray Bradbury. | Robert O'Reilly |
11:45am Saturday | Guitar Pick Necklaces and Rag Tie Hairties |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | These crafts are pick up and take away, great for fiddling with while you rest and can't sleep, or something you can play with on the car ride home. So, come by the room, check us out, and take a craft for later. | |
12:00pm Saturday | Furries |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | Andy Freeman | |
12:00pm Saturday | Logan's Run 50th Anniversary |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | 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? | T. Aaron Cisco, Kathryn Sullivan, Jim Soos |
12:00pm Saturday | Indie Author Buffet |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | A round-robin reading where local authors will take turns reading from their works. | Ozgur K. Sahin & more authors |
12:00pm Saturday | Craziest Japanese Commercials |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | 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! | Viga |
12:45pm Saturday | Light Saber Combat Demo by The Saber Legion |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | The Saber Legion is committed to cultivating a safe, fun, inclusive global community of LED saber combat sport enthusiasts. FFI: www.thesaberlegion.org | The Saber Legion |
12:45pm Saturday | Korean Sword Practice |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | If you enjoyed our demo earlier, come and learn some of the basic single sword techniques that we used. Get some hands on instruction with our instructor and advanced students. | Steve Erickson, White Tiger Martial Arts |
01:00pm Saturday | The History of Kimono |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | A presentation on the history and wearing of the kimono. | Shizuka Durgins, Amy Saunders, Kimono Club |
01:00pm Saturday | Indigenous Representation Today |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | 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. | Jei Herald-Zamora |
01:00pm Saturday | Author Guest of Honor Interview: Emma Interviews Steven |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | A semi-serious-to-serious interview about process, writerly values, personal approaches to storytelling, stuff like that. | Emma Bull, Steven Brust |
01:00pm Saturday | First Aid Kit and Class 14+ |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Lara, our resident safety expert, will be here to teach us about first aid. Once you've heard the class, make your own kit to take home. Due to the contents of the kit, this craft is for 14+ only. | Lara, Jen, Brittany |
01:30pm Saturday | Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Filmmaking (But were afraid to ask) |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | It's our 8th year at MarsCon! Join local Minnesota indie filmmakers as they answer all your questions about creating your very own movie! Whether it is your first film or your tenth, you'll find a group of passionate artisans ready to share our experiences, successes and stumbles with you. | Nathan Block (moderator), Laura Runge-Hunt, Samantha Hinkemeyer,Trey Bell, Brian Sams, Nick Michael, Ryan Becken,Kari Layland |
01:45pm Saturday | Blue Lotus Belly Dance |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | The Blue Lotus dance company was established in 2004. They are a troupe of professional and semi-professional dancers based in Minneapolis and Rochester, MN. They perform together in community events, professional performances, and their own original stage productions. To learn more, find them on Instagram @bluelotusbellydancers and on Facebook at "The Blue Lotus Middle Eastern Dancers." | Blue Lotus Dancers |
02:00pm Saturday | Weapons That Don't Go BOOM! |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Learn about the history of how a variety of weapons were used. | Gizmo Peterson |
02:00pm Saturday | Creating…the Geisha |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | Live costume & makeup demo | Bill Hedrick, Rae Lundquist, Gillian, Elizabeth Sloan |
02:00pm Saturday | Esperanto! |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | Before Star Trek, William Shatner starred in Incubus which was filmed entirely in Esperanto, the most successful constructed international auxiliary language. Starting with Attack of the Moon Zombies, filmmaker and guest of honor Christopher Mihm has dubbed eight of his self-described "new old good bad" films into Esperanto: The Monster of Phantom Lake Attack of the Moon Zombies House of Ghosts The Giant Spider The Late Night Double Feature Danny Johnson Saves The World Demon with the Atomic Brain Queen of Snakes Learn about the language from local fans and Esperantists, and maybe pick up a phrase or two. | Art Johnson, Alexander Johnson, Christopher Mihm, Minnesota Esperanto Club |
02:00pm Saturday | The Dresden Files |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | 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! | Tony Artym, Crystal Therese, Tim Strong |
02:00pm Saturday | World Building Map Making |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Come make a fantasy map. ASMR beans, gems, popcorn, poured out and traced around to create the lands you want to see. Then, when the pour is swept off, fill in the lands with mountains, cities, forests, what ever you want to put on it. | Brittany |
02:45pm Saturday | Carrie Dahlby Concert |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Carrie Dahlby is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, now a Chicago area resident for over 20 years. In 2014 Carrie released her 3rd album "Sing All Funny Jokes", and frequently appears in songs by other members of the FuMP. Her song about the sweet bliss of being a parent who finally gets some time to watch the R-rated movies and geeky TV shows they love away from their kids, "Almost Parent Time", hit #5 on Dr. Demento's Funny 25 countdown of 2014. Carrie also joined the Ren Faire singing group "Court And Country", an a capella vocal ensemble with a focus on bringing a variety of historically researched medieval and renaissance choral music to popular audiences. She was the Music Guest Of Honor at CapriCon 2019 in Chicago. | Carrie Dahlby |
03:00pm Saturday | Space Exploration: Year in Review |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | Highlights will include CSS, ISS and Starship…Oh, myyy! | Ben Huset, Mike Urvand, MN Space Frontier Society |
03:00pm Saturday | Book Wasn't Just Better, It Was WAAAAY Better |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | 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. | T. Aaron Cisco, Kathryn Sullivan, C.M. Alongi, A L Raden, Michael Merriam |
03:00pm Saturday | Paracord Keychain AA |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Pick your color and join us to make a cool keychain person to hang from your bag or put your keys on. A cute craft your Grandpop would smile at. | Jen, Brittany |
03:30pm Saturday | Ross Childs |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | A Seriously Funny Chicago Based Triple Threat! Ross Childs is an Actor, Comedian, and Musician. He has been performing for over 15+ years and has amassed a following of over 500K + subscribers on his TikTok handle alone (@crabman732). Ross is Chicago-based and is represented by Dream Team Talent. His work has been featured in National, and local commercials. Ross has played at various comedy festivals nationwide. Having received his BA in Theater at Louisiana State University, Ross is open to working for both the film and the stage.Ross was chosen "Best of the Fest" in the 2023 Rubber City Comedy Fest for his musical comedy performances. His song "Air Fryer Blues" was nominated for the 2022 Logan Whitehurst Award for Best Original Comedy song. | Ross Childs |
03:45pm Saturday | Distant Calling Pictures Film Feature (Rated: NR | Film | 80 min) |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | An exclusive indie feature screening from Distant Calling Pictures. Expect heart, humor, and creative vision. | Distant Calling Pictures |
04:00pm Saturday | Marscon Saved My Life |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | 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. | Tony Artym, Julie Bonebrake |
04:00pm Saturday | Making a Mandalorian Costume |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | Jill, The 501st Legion | |
04:00pm Saturday | Get on the Radio: Amateur Radio for Pleasure & Public Service |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | When all other lines of communication are down, it is nice to know a Ham. Amateur radio is a wonderful hobby and a public service. Bounce your signal off the moon, spot tornadoes, chat with people all over the world and contact astronauts in space. Help your community reestablish communications when hit by natural disasters. Join us. | Art Johnson, Joe Swenson, Tron & other Hams |
04:00pm Saturday | Readings by Author Guests of Honor |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | Emma Bull and Steven Brust will read from their works and take questions. | Emma Bull and Steven Brust |
04:00pm Saturday | Bead Lizards AA |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Were you set on making another for your collection and missed Friday? Good news, it's here again. Come on in and make your pet, just like your mom made when she was in grade school. | Brittany |
04:00pm Saturday | USS Nokomis Trek Trivia |
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| A Star Trek trivia event in the Nokomis party room 1204 (10 Forward Lounge) | T. Aaron Cisco, Diana Tonn, USS Nokomis Star Trek fan club | |
04:15pm Saturday | Devo Spice |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Past MarsCon Guest of Honor Devo Spice is a nerdcore and comedy rapper from New Jersey who calls himself "the red-headed stepson of Weird Al Yankovic and Eminem" and is one of the most popular artists on "The Dr. Demento Show", having had the #1 most requested song of the year three times, and is also a FOUR-TIME Logan Award winner spanning all 3 categories. He is the webmaster of the comedy music collective website "The Funny Music Project", aka The FuMP .com. Of his many albums, one of note would be his Doctor Who concept album "I Am The Doctor", which has has 11 tracks about each of the first 11 Doctors (there's a new Capaldi song on his latest album, Whittaker song coming in the future, fam). In 2024 he released an album of cover songs called Cover Up. http://www.devospice.com/ | Devo Spice |
05:00pm Saturday | The Great Luke Ski! |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | At Dragon*Con 2004, Dr. Demento declared "the great Luke Ski" (a former MarsCon Music Guest Of Honor) to be his radio program's "Most Requested Artist of the 21st Century". Since then, Luke held onto that title by having his nerdy comedy tracks on "The Dr. Demento Show's" annual year-end "Funny 25" countdown of his most requested songs of the year for 18 years in a row, with a whopping FIVE of them reaching the #1 spot, including his 2018 hit "Candybars", which earned him his 3rd Logan Award for Outstanding Parody Song. Luke has been the Chair of the MarsCon Comedy Music Track since it's inception, now in its 22nd year. Luke Ski is currently looking for his next full-time job in the animation industry in the Burbank / L.A. area, and trying to make more new comedy songs when he has the time and money to do so. In 2023 Luke Ski released his first new album in over 8 years, "Needlessly Meta", available at Table 27 all weekend. http://www.thegreatlukeski.com/ | The Great Luke Ski! |
05:00pm Saturday | Masquerade Workmanship Judging |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | Masquerade Workmanship Judging | Masquerade Director |
05:00pm Saturday | Star Wars: Before the Prequels |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | What existed before 1999, before Disney, before George Lucas got back into the fray? How did the fandom operate? How was Star Wars viewed as a setting? Think Tales of the Jedi, the Thrawn trilogy, Dark Empire. | Brian LaBounty, Kevin Berg |
05:00pm Saturday | Glorious B Movies - Anderson and Jovovich |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | 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. | Catherine Lundoff, Matt Coe, Michael Merriam |
05:00pm Saturday | Tie Dye Bandanas - 14+ |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Are you missing that one accessory for your hippie costume? Need a retro disguise for your thief or your ranger? This craft is for you. Due to the messy nature of this craft, the ages is restricted to 14 and up. | Brittany |
05:15pm Saturday | Bellydance For Every Body |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | The dance forms from Southwest Asia and North Africa that fall under the English term "bellydance" are a fun way to get moving and enjoy beautiful music. We will learn a little bit about these dances, warm up, play with veils, learn a few basic movements that are building blocks of these dances, and put these moves together into a simple combination. No dance experience required. Bring a hip scarf and/or veil if you have them, otherwise Anjela will have some available to borrow during the class. All genders, sizes, and ability levels are invited. Variations will be offered for various levels of mobility. The instructor places an emphasis on how the movements feel over how they look. Sensory advisory: coin scarves produce ringing sounds that may cause discomfort for some with noise sensitivity or hearing aids. | Blue Lotus Dancers |
05:15pm Saturday | Film viewing |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | Please visit the room for a complete schedule. | AV/Anime Crew |
05:45pm Saturday | Insane Ian |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Insane Ian is a comedy musician, originally from Baltimore MD, who now resides in Chicago IL — meaning he has moved from one "war-torn" city to another, if you believe certain orange oligarchs. You might've heard his music on The Funny Music Project (aka The FuMP), his YouTube Channel (where his popular series "A Comedy Musician Reacts" releases episodes weekly), or on the legendary Dr. Demento Show, where he was recently named one of the Top 20 Most Requested Artists of All Time in the 55 year history of the show, and had the #1 song of the year on the show in 2015. Insane Ian's songs run the gamut of topics, such as comic books, video games, D&D, movies, tv shows…basically, if it's pop culture, Ian's got a song about it. He's a 17 time nominee of the Logan Whitehurst Memorial Awards for Excellence in Comedy Music, but seeing as he is also the chairperson of the awards, he is also a 17 time runner-up, and thusly calls himself the "Susan Lucci" of the Comedy Music Awards. If you get that reference, kudos to you. With a sharp wit, sarcastic smirk, and a bit of self-deprecation, he's here to bring his unique sound to anyone who won't tell him to shut up…and even a few that will. FFI: https://www.insaneian.com/ | Insane Ian |
06:00pm Saturday | Solar Journey: Going Green in Minnesota |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | A real-life tale of the motivations, hurdles and successes of converting to solar power and EV in Minnesota. | |
06:00pm Saturday | The Dystopian Future is Now: Sci-Fi Predictions that Came True |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | 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. | T. Aaron Cisco, Kathryn Sullivan, David Otto Walbridge |
06:00pm Saturday | Tour inside Prop-A-Torium (2nd floor, end of hallway) |
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| Prop-A-Torium (VII - White Pelican Bay) | Visit the Prop-A-Torium and learn about the props currently on display. | Prop-A-Torium Curators |
06:00pm Saturday | Science Room Closes |
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| Science Room (Woodlands) | "The pursuit of science is a never-ending journey into the unknown, fueled by curiosity and guided by reason." - Neil Armstrong | All |
07:00pm Saturday | Masquerade Rehearsal & Judging |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Masquerade participants | |
07:00pm Saturday | Debbie David: Where Am I Now, and How I Got Here |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Debbie was our very first Media Guest Honor for MarsCon. Learn about her journey from behind the scenes on Star Trek to the present day. | Debbie David |
07:00pm Saturday | Masquerade Rehearsal |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | Masquerade Director | |
07:00pm Saturday | The Top Ten Greatest Paranormal Evidence with Adrian Lee |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | Join author and presenter of Unscripted Paranormal as he discusses the filming and producing of the show, with his top ten of greatest paranormal evidence he's recorded. Books will also be available to buy and sign. | Adrian Lee |
07:00pm Saturday | Finding Time for Creativity in a Busy World |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | Whether you're juggling multiple jobs or projects, family needs, extracurriculars, or beyond, there's a lot of competing activities taking over our time. Let's talk about how to identify roadblocks that are getting in our way, along with ways to prioritize time and energy for creative pursuits that work with our needs, not against them. | A L Raden, mod., Ozgur Sahin, Emma Bull, Steven Brust, Will Shetterly |
07:00pm Saturday | Yarn Dogs AA |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | The pet your grandmother allowed you to have in her house. The pet you never knew you needed. Did you miss this craft Friday? Then you are in luck. This craft uses tacky glue and gets messy. | Jen |
07:00pm Saturday | Prop-A-Torium Closes |
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| Prop-A-Torium (VII - White Pelican Bay) | Thank you for visiting! Come back tomorrow! | All |
07:00pm Saturday | Dealers Room & Makers Market Close |
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| Visit before closing time for your last minute purchases! Supporting Dealers supports the convention. | Everyone | |
07:30pm Saturday | Art Show Closes |
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| Art Show (Riverside) | "So while our art cannot, as we wish it could, save us from wars, privation, envy, greed, old age, or death, it can revitalize us amidst it all." —Ray Bradbury Please come back tomorrow! Support local artists! | Artists & Fans of Art |
08:00pm Saturday | Masquerade/ Cosplay |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | A grand costume contest with prizes and half-time entertainment! | Masquerade Director, MC, Judges, Masquerade participants |
08:00pm Saturday | Masquerade Green Room |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | Masquerade Director | |
08:00pm Saturday | Bird Houses AA |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Come and decorate a small wooden bird house. Color, stickers, glue doodads on it. Too small for an actual bird but may be nice for a jumping spider. | Jen, Brittany |
08:00pm Saturday | Anime viewing |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | Please visit the room for a complete schedule. | AV/Anime Crew |
09:00pm Saturday | 70 Years of Eurovision |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | An exploration of language, geopolitics, and cultural impact over the years. | Jei Herald-Zamora |
09:00pm Saturday | Comedy writing |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | 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... | David Otto Walbridge |
09:00pm Saturday | ROOM CLOSED |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Go to the parties, con suite, or rest from the full day you've had. There's more to do tomorrow. | |
09:30pm Saturday | Saturday Night Karaoke |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Sing and sing along. | MusicBox Entertainment & Singers |
09:30pm Saturday | Film viewing |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | Please visit the room for a complete schedule. | AV/Anime Crew |
10:00pm Saturday | Hentai Game Show! |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Join us for an adult (18+) game show where contestants compete for prizes. Volunteers from the audience competeand 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 | Kevin Doheny, Host |
10:00pm Saturday | Voices From the Past |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | In twenty plus years as a paranormal investigator, I have captured amazing evidence, both audio and visual, of ghosts and hauntings. Join me as I offer some of the most spectacular evidence of the paranormal from across the country ever collected . I've traveled the country alone, and with Adrian Lee and The International Paranormal Society/Unscripted Paranormal investigating the paranormal. | Moderated by Scott Kenner |
10:15pm Saturday | Fan Film Debut |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | See room for full details. | Doug Atwill, Mike Barnett |
10:30pm Saturday | Rock Band |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | 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. | Nick Thell |
11:00pm Saturday | Aliens 40th Anniversary |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | "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. | T. Aaron Cisco, C.M. Alongi, Erik Pakieser, Jim Soos |
11:30pm Saturday | Burlesque - 18+ |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Back for their 13th appearance…the performers of the Twin Cities burlesque scene. Meet them, hear a history, learn where the shows are, and maybe a performance. Open to those 18+ ONLY, you will be carded at the door. | Twin Cities Burlesque |
11:30pm Saturday | Three Bad Girls Who Find a Gun and Become Vampires (2025) (Rated: NR) (76 mins) |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | In writer/director Christopher R. Mihm's ode to "teensploitation" films of the 1950s and the cinematic oeuvre of the Coen Brothers, three female juvenile delinquents obtain a firearm and, just for the thrill of it, start robbing the fine folks of New Berlin. Unfortunately, their crime spree takes an unexpected turn after they mug and nearly murder the gambling-addicted pastor of the local church-who turns out to be an immortal, blood-sucking creature of the night. Hijinks ensue when the vampiric padre hires a pair of hitmen to help him retrieve his stolen cash and seek revenge against the three bad girls responsible. | Christopher R. Mihm |
12:45am Sunday | Q&A with Filmmaker Christopher R. Mihm |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | Post-screening discussion with the director about his unique blend of retro-horror, humor, and DIY filmmaking. | Christopher R. Mihm |
01:45am Sunday | Ad Reel |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | Please visit the room for a complete schedule. | AV/Anime Crew |
10:00am Sunday | Silent Bids - Charity Auction |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | We will be accepting silent bids for Charity Auction items prior to the live auction. If you are unable to attend the live auction, but wish to bid on particular items, see one of the volunteers during setup. We are happy to accept additional auction donations during setup. We will also be accepting donations of non-perishable food and household goods to benefit our designated charity VEAP (the Twin Cities' largest food pantry) throughout the convention weekend. For more information on VEAP, check our their website: http://www.veap.org. | Everyone |
10:00am Sunday | Birr Castle, Ireland, Where Steampunk Was Real |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | Many (well, at least Ben) are familiar with Lord Ross and his six-foot wide giant reflector telescope. But that family was also into photography, steam cars, automatic steam machinery, steam turbines, the invention of which solidified their fortune. | G. David Nordley |
10:00am Sunday | The Manosphere is Evil: How to Be a Good (Geek) Guy |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | 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. | T. Aaron Cisco, Scott Wenker, Jim Soos |
10:00am Sunday | Buttons and Bookmarks - AA |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | You've done it once, maybe twice. Either way, you know the drill. Come and make your trinket for your memories. | Cindy, Brittany |
10:00am Sunday | Art Show opens! - 1st floor |
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| Art Show (Riverside) | Open for Art Market and Sunday Sales, Artist Pick up and check out. All artwork must be picked up no later than 1:00 pm on Sunday. | Everyone |
11:00am Sunday | Charity Auction |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Come, bid on donated items, and raise money for a worthwhile cause! Please consider contributing to the Charity Auction any way you can--by bidding, by donating, by volunteering. We are able to take donations up until an hour before the auction. Donations may be brought to the Bridge which is located on first floor, across from the hotel's front desk. We will also be accepting donations of non-perishable food and household goods to benefit our designated charity VEAP (the Twin Cities' largest food pantry) throughout the convention weekend. For more information on VEAP, check our their website: http://www.veap.org. Thank you for your generosity! | Everyone |
11:00am Sunday | Model Rocketry |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | An overview for beginners to old hands. What I've learned in over 50 years of making and flying model rockets. Tips, shortcuts, and things not to do. | Gerald Dagel |
11:00am Sunday | Film viewing |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | Please visit the room for a complete schedule. | AV/Anime Crew |
11:00am Sunday | Prop-A-Torium 20 opens - 2nd floor |
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| Prop-A-Torium (VII - White Pelican Bay) | Located in White Pelican Bay, at the far end of the hall The Prop-A-Torium has an extraordinary display of some of the most unusual and fabulous handmade and collected props staffed by the people who made and collected them! Swing by and enjoy the view. | Everyone |
11:00am Sunday | Science Room opens - 1st floor |
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| Science Room (Woodlands) | Located in Woodlands, between the Front Desk & Restaurant Come see how we are transforming science fiction into science fact! Visit the Science Room to view and interact with science exhibits. | Everyone |
11:00am Sunday | Dealers Room & Makers Market open - 2nd floor |
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| Ballroom I/II - Buy something fun! There are new Dealers & some older Dealers with new merchandise. Many are offering "Con Theme" oriented merch at Great Prices: jewelry, tote bags, plushies, costumes, accessories, articulated dragons, figurines, books, toys & more. Many local authors that like to talk. Some Dealers are in the hall/foyer area. All hours are posted by the Dealer Room door, in the program book & pocket program… SUPPORT YOUR CON BY SUPPORTING OUR DEALERS | Everyone | |
11:30am Sunday | Terpsichory Courtly Dance Troupe |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Terpsichory Courtly Dance Troupe. Terpsichory was founded in 1998 for the purpose of performing Renaissance dance at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. | Terpsichory Courtly Dance Troupe |
11:30am Sunday | Star Trek Universe: The Diamond Anniversary |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | 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. | Tony Artym, T. Aaron Cisco |
11:30am Sunday | Write more badly!! |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | 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. | David Otto Walbridge, C.M. Alongi, A L Raden, Michael Merriam |
12:00pm Sunday | Sewing Tips and Tricks for Newbies |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | Rae Lundquist, The DreamStitcher | |
12:00pm Sunday | Bead Lizards - AA |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | If you missed it yesterday, now's your chance. Make a friend to take home. How you use it is up to you. | Brittany, Jen |
12:45pm Sunday | Classic British Sci Fi |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | A deep dive into iconic series such as Doctor Who, The Prisoner, Blake's 7, Red Dwarf, Thunderbirds, 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. | Kathryn Sullivan, Christine LaBounty, Ben Huset |
12:45pm Sunday | Charge more: 16 secrets for creative success |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | 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) | David Otto Walbridge |
12:45pm Sunday | Anime viewing |
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| AV/Anime (VI - Owl Overlook) | Please visit the room for a complete schedule. | AV/Anime Crew |
01:00pm Sunday | Luke Ski's Animation & Stuff Podcast |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Live episode recording, featuring Ross Childs | Luke Ski, Ross Childs |
01:00pm Sunday | Actor GOH Robert O'Reilly: Q&A |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Please come with some good questions for our wonderful Guest of Honor. | Robert O'Reilly |
01:00pm Sunday | Cosplay with the Public |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | See: https://www.costumersforacause.org/ | Eve Zabronsky, Costumers for a Cause |
01:00pm Sunday | Paracord Keychain Lanyard AA |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Did you miss this? Were you set on getting a personal keychain for your own nefarious reasons? Well, no judgement here, just get yourself down to the Creative Planet and make sure to get it now, because this is it. We'll have both paracord keychains available to do. | Jen, Morgan |
01:00pm Sunday | Art Show Closes |
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| Art Show (Riverside) | All artwork must be picked up no later than 1:00 pm on Sunday. If you placed a bid on something, you may have won the bid! Please, please, please check with Art Show before you leave to retrieve your art and pay for it. Thank you for supporting local artists! | Artists & Fans of Art |
01:45pm Sunday | Beth Kinderman Concert |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Beth Kinderman mainly performs serious folk music, but she has also released albums of comedy music as well! She'll be performing some of her own songs plus a few covers of funny songs from the 'filk' world! Another important thing of note is that Beth and her friends host the annual "Space Oddity Brew Club & Pub" Room Party on the 11th floor! So go hang out there on Friday and Saturday night, and then see her in concert on Sunday! | Beth Kinderman and the Player Characters |
01:45pm Sunday | Godzilla: The Rise, Power Scaling, Plot Armor and Decline |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | 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. | Jay Sterling, mod., Mike Helde, Brian LaBounty, Earl Luckes |
02:00pm Sunday | A L Raden AMA (Ask Me Anything) |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | A conversation with storyteller and Artist Guest of Honor A L Raden! This interactive Q&A will introduce you to Amber and her career so far and then we'll go from there. Art, writing, comic books, conventions, your favorite fandom, it's all on the table. Let's chat! | A L Raden |
02:00pm Sunday | Latest of 3D Printing to Policy Battles |
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| Masquerade Lounge (I - Blue Heron Colony) | This presentation will be going over the latest and upcoming 3D technology and materials with the emphasis for prop and cosplays. We will also be chatting about how policy makers may be changing 3D printing for hobbyists everywhere and what we can do to get the conversation going. | Jaysen Becerra, TC Maker |
02:00pm Sunday | Writing Diversity |
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| Re(a)d Mars (III - Eagle's Nest) | A discussion about how authors approach diversity and representation in their writing to be inclusive and respectful. | C.M. Alongi, mod., Emma Bull, Steven Brust, Will Shetterly |
02:00pm Sunday | Vintage Boxes |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Just the right size to stash a few small trinkets or stickers. Just the kind of thing you'd find in grandma's purse. | Jen |
02:30pm Sunday | Dumb Parody Ideas |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | "Dumb Parody Ideas" is a fast-paced, loosely organized contest to see who has come up with the dumbest parody idea. We present them in a rapid fire rotation as guests and audience members get up and perform a verse and chorus of their dumbest song. Keep it short and move on to the next one. The winner is chosen by audience vote and will win the coveted GOLDEN SPATULA! You are limited to 3 songs, with a maximum of 90 seconds each, and because MarsCon is a family friendly event you must keep the content of your entries between rated G to PG-13. We'll be taking entries from the audience at the event, so be there and be ready to go! | Comedy Music Track |
03:00pm Sunday | COMEDY MUSIC SMACKDOWN concert |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Concert featuring many of the 2026 Comedy Music Track acts in our grand* finale! | Comedy Music Track Artists |
03:00pm Sunday | The New Manchurian Candidate Technoloogy |
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| Free Mars (II - Cardinal Perch) | Past and new mind control technology will be discussed via a power point presentation. | Joe Swenson |
03:00pm Sunday | Project Pick Up - Everyone |
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| Creative Planet (V - Mallard Point) | Did you leave a project with us to dry? Now is the time to pick it up. Everything left behind after 4pm will go on the free table. We take no responsibility for any Fae left unclaimed. | |
03:00pm Sunday | Prop-A-Torium Closes |
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| Prop-A-Torium (VII - White Pelican Bay) | Thank you for visiting! See you again soon! | All |
03:00pm Sunday | Dealers Room & Makers Market Close |
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| Visit before closing time for your last minute purchases! Supporting Dealers supports the convention. | Everyone | |
04:00pm Sunday | Closing Ceremonies |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Say "farewell" to the guests & "thanks" to volunteers. Hear news about next year's convention plans, pre-register for next year, and wonder why the weekend went so quickly. | Chairs, ConCom and Guests of Honor |
04:00pm Sunday | Science Room Closes |
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| Science Room (Woodlands) | "Science is an ongoing process. It never ends." - Carl Sagan | All |
05:00pm Sunday | Thank you, volunteers! |
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| We couldn't do this without you! Please help clean up, then Dead Cow party @ Con Suite, Snarky's. Thank you!!! | Everyone |
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MARSCON VENUE
Hilton Mpls-St Paul Airport Hotel 3800 American Blvd E Bloomington MN 55420 Reserve a Hotel Room Contact Us Website Info |
ABOUT US
MarsCon 2026: Sci-Fi of Yesteryear March 6-8 2026 MarsCon is a fan run family friendly all-inclusive convention, held annually. A universe of Nerddom! Mailing Address: MarsCon P.O. Box 21213 Eagan, MN 55121 |
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