MarsCon is a science fiction convention held in Bloomington, Minnesota, United States. It was first held in February 1999 with the goal of appealing to a diverse audience of fans in Minnesota and the vicinity. It is a mid-sized convention with a wide variety of events including panel discussions, guest of honor presentations, music of many kinds, art show, film room (including anime), science room, dealers room, charity auction, and a masquerade. Past guests have included actors, authors, artists, scientists, musicians, producers, and even the occasional pooka. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune describes MarsCon as "for the sci-fi serious nerds".
Since 2003, MarsCon Minnesota has also included a strong presence of the "Dementia" (comedy/novelty/filk) music genre, making the convention one of the largest events in the country to showcase such music.
Conventions
Past
MarsCon 1999: Celebrating 60 Years of Fandom
Where: Radisson South Hotel
When: February 26–28, 1999
Guests of Honor: Carl David, Jeff Grubb, Kate Novak
MarsCon 2000: Don't Panic! (Alternate Subversive Theme: M’00) Where: Radisson South Hotel When: May 12–14, 2000 Guests of Honor: Mark Allen Shepherd, Lisa Getto, Margaret Weis, Don Perrin, Denise Boie, Jack Borkowski, Donald R. Schmitt, Chesley Bonestell (Posthumous)
MarsCon 2001: A Space Oddity
Where: Radisson South Hotel
When: May 11–13, 2001
Guests of Honor: Jane Yolen, Bill Blair, Carl Talliaferro, Christopher Jones, Michael Liebmann, David Arneson, Stanley Kubrick (Posthumous)
MarsCon 2002: The Magic of Fantasy
Where: Airport Hilton
When: March 1–3, 2002
Guests of Honor: Lyda Morehouse, Peter Woodward, John Levene, Robin Wood, Harvey (See Harvey (play))
MarsCon 2003: No One Here is Exactly What He Appears
Where: Holiday Inn Select
When: February 28-March 2, 2003
Guests of Honor: Sharon Lee, Steve Miller (science fiction writer), Julie Caitlin Brown, Lev Mailer, John Garner (artist), David Mendez, Douglas Adams (Posthumous)
MarsCon 2004: Let's Play Doctor! Where: Airport Hilton When: March 5–7, 2004 Guests of Honor: John M. Ford, Richard Biggs, Barry Hansen “Dr. Demento”, Dawn Devine Brown “Davina (costumer)”, Luke Sienkowski “The Great Luke Ski”, David E Romm
MarsCon 2005: Galactic Pirates and Mercenaries
Where: Airport Marriott
When: March 4–6, 2005
Guests of Honor: Richard Herd, Jeremy Bulloch, Stephanie Gannaway-Osborn, Timothy Zahn, Todd Coss, The Great Luke Ski, Ron Ross, Herbert Jefferson, Jr.
MarsCon 2006: Things That Go Bump in the Night
Where: Holiday Inn Select
When: March 3–5, 2006
Guests of Honor: Gigi Edgley, Dean Haglund, Beth Hansen, Walter H. Hunt, Paul Lawrence (producer), Tom Smith (filker), Hugh Gregory
MarsCon 2007
Where: Holiday Inn Select
When: March 2–4, 2007
Guests of Honor: Don S. Davis, Patricia Tallman, Todd Lockwood, Eric Larson, Eleanor Arnason, Ookla the Mok
MarsCon 2008: Press Start To Continue
Where: Holiday Inn Select
When: February 29-March 2, 2008
Guests of Honor: Bill Blair, Jeff Easley, Naomi Kritzer, C. Robert Cargill, Hot Waffles
MarsCon 2009: Invasion! Where: Holiday Inn Select When: March 6–8, 2009 Guests of Honor: Musetta Vander, Scott Rosema, Suzanne Hiza-Rezema, Jeanne Cavelos, Wally Pleasant
MarsCon 2010: Dark Lords and Femme Fatales
Where: Holiday Inn Select
When: March 5–7, 2010
Guests of Honor: John Garner, Loretta McKibben, Nick Atoms, Gwynyth Walsh
MarsCon 2011: Days of Magic! Where: Holiday Inn Select When: March 4–6, 2011 Guests of Honor: Lois McMaster Bujold, Joe Rheault, Megan Rheault, Bjo Trimble, John Trimble, Worm Quartet
MarsCon 2012: Rockin' the Apocalypse
Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel and Suites
When: March 9–12, 2012
Guests of Honor: Lukas Effinger, Catherine Asaro, Rob Callahan, Consortium of Genius
MarsCon 2013: Ctrl/Alt/Del... Thriving into the future
Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel and Suites, 3 Appletree Square, Bloomington, MN 55425
When: March 1–3, 2013
Guests of Honor: actress Claudia Christian, author Harry Turtledove, science author Gerald Nordley, artist Sarah Clemens, comic artist W.C. Carani, fan/costuming The Thrift Brothers, and music Flat 29.
MarsCon 2014: Time is the Key
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton, Bloomington-Minneapolis South
When: March 7–9, 2014
Guests of Honor: J. G. Hertzler, Esther Friesner, Mickie Erickson, Rae Lundquist, Henry Phillips, Dave Duca, Bridget Landry, and the Klingons of IKV RakeHell.