MarsCon 2025 Program Schedule - updated January 20, 2025 21:39 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 the Food Group, a network of food shelves, during the convention. If you are registering at the door for MarsCon 2025, 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) | Bid on a masterpiece! Open for Bidding, Art Market, and Quick Sales | ... | Everyone |
03:00pm Friday | Book Exchange - 2nd floor |
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| Re(a)d Mars (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 on the Mainstage. | ... | Everyone |
03:00pm Friday | Prop-A-Torium 18 opens - 2nd floor |
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| Prop-A-Torium (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 | Speed Friending! |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Speed Friending is one of MNeurodivergent's signature events. Similar in idea to speed dating, but for friendship! Two rows of people sit across from each other. They then talk to that person across from them for 5 minutes. In order to help the conversation going, we have sheets of Ice-Breaker questions available. Important note about speed friending: It is not separated by gender, age, race, sexual identity, etc. Everyone will have an opportunity to talk to everyone, time permitting! | ... | Mitchell P Schaps |
04:00pm Friday | Trailer Park 2025: Movies |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | Check out trailers for the movies 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 | The Outer Limits Fan Panel |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | More than just Twilight Zone’s geeky younger sibling, the Outer Limits gave us decades of intriguing, thought-provoking, suspenseful, and of course entertaining sci-fi stories. Join panel of fans as they discuss their faves from the often overlooked anthology. | ... | T. Aaron Cisco, mod. |
04:00pm Friday | Teen Training - 14+ |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | Are you a teen who is frustrated with having to let the adults use the glue gun? Can you use the glue gun at home or school? Well, come to this training to learn our room rules and the safety guidelines, earn a button that shows you are allowed to use the glue guns. Volunteer for at least one other craft to show off your newfound privilege. | ... | Jen |
04:00pm Friday | Anime by request |
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| AV/Anime (Mallard Point) | ... | Anime/YA | |
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 |
05:00pm Friday | Sewing Tips and Tricks for Newbies |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | ... | Rae Lundquist | |
05:00pm Friday | Trailer Park 2025: TV Series |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | Check out trailers for the TV series 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/stream next weekend or next month. Don’t miss THE TRAILER PARK! Titles TBA. | ... | Everyone |
05:00pm Friday | The Psychology of the Rogue |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | Examining their motivations, their impact on society, and the ethical gray areas they inhabit. | ... | Sherry Merriam |
05:00pm Friday | Bookmarks and Buttons - AA |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | 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 |
07:00pm Friday | Opening Ceremonies |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Thank you for joining us for the 27th annual MarsCon Sci Fi/Fantasy/Gaming Convention! We will open MarsCon with live sketch comedy, welcome and introduce our wonderful Guests of Honor, and learn important stuff that will help you get the most out of MarsCon 2025. | ... | Chairs, ConCom and Guests of Honor Jason Carter, Brandie Hanson, Ozgur Sahin, TBA, TBA |
07:00pm Friday | Chain Maille |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | ... | Gerald Dagle | |
07:00pm Friday | Faeries - 14+ |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | Did you just complete your teen training? Itching to use the glue guns?? Use your new permissions and create a faerie friend for your weekend adventures, and then you will have a friend for life. Just don't take any trinkets it offers you... Those pesky Fae! | ... | Jen |
07:00pm Friday | Prop-A-Torium Closes |
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| Prop-A-Torium (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 |
07:45pm Friday | How Rogue Can You go? |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | A full-length Comedy Improv story to fill in the details of what occurred during the Opening Ceremonies by having the Audience answer the question "What if" What if...the audience dictated plot-twists, script direction, cast changes, and character development from interaction throughout the show. What if indeed | ... | Variety Exhumed |
08:00pm Friday | Life on Set: Guest of Honor Jason Carter |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Perhaps best remembered for his portrayal of Marcus Cole in Babylon 5, Jason began his career in London. Since he landed in America, Jason has had roles in many TV productions including Viper, Beverly Hills 90210, Roar, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Charmed, Lois and Clark and Angel . Film work includes Georgia, The Mesmerist, Wild Obsession, Dakota Road, The Emperor’s New Clothes and King David. Most recently, Jason appeared alongside Woody Harrelson and Liam Hemsworth in the 2016 western drama, The Duel. | ... | Jason Carter, GoH |
08:00pm Friday | Working With Leather |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | ... | Todd Murray | |
08:00pm Friday | New at Disney Parks |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | Join us for an exciting and magical journey as we explore the latest and greatest updates coming to Disney Parks in 2025! Whether you're a seasoned Disney fan or a first-time visitor, this program is your ultimate guide to all the new attractions, shows, dining experiences, and magical moments awaiting you at Disney Parks worldwide. Stay up-to-date with what's new and discover how Disney continues to innovate and enchant visitors of all ages. | ... | Tony Artym, Seykahr Amrod |
08:00pm Friday | Fun Free Writing tips (you can actually use) |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | Tired of advice like "just write"? JOin this panel of authors and writers who sharing their weird, wild, and totally stealable tips that’ll make your word count soar faster than your coffee intake. | ... | T. Aaron Cisco, C. M. Alongi, Patrick Marsh |
08:00pm Friday | Masks - 14+ |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | Have you gone rogue? Need a disguise? Use your new glue gun permissions to create just such a look as befitting a proper rogue. Sorry kids, tonight is just for the teens to practice what they learned in training. | ... | Jen |
08:00pm Friday | Movie TBA |
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| AV/Anime (Mallard Point) | ... | A/V Room with GPS | |
09:00pm 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 last year she and her new persona performed a 15 minute comedy music concert of her own to kick off our Sunday concert block, and this year she’s doing it again with some brand new songs! Her first song, done with Carrie Dahlby and darkNES of the Gothsicles, “Woodland Creatures”, can be heard at the FuMP dot com. | ... | MeowMeme |
09:00pm Friday | Friday Night Karaoke |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Sing and sing along. | ... | Singers |
09:00pm Friday | My experience with the 60 in 3 & 20 and back USAF space programs. |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | In 1972 I was in the USAF. I did a 60 years in 3 earth days program based with Caucasian Aliens. When I returned I was tested and read into a 20 and back program. My 50 year Non-diclosure agreement (NDA) has expired and I can talk about some of what these programs are about. To keep me on track, I use a power point presentation. Q&A after if time permits. | ... | Joe Swenson |
09:00pm Friday | Why Are Rogues In Vogue? |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | From fantasy to sci-fi, anime to romance, and Jack Sparrow of Pirates of the Caribbean to Marcus Cole of Babylon 5, the appeal of rogues is omnipresent. What is it that we find so fundamentally appealing about them, and why do people genuinely look to the rule-breakers for heroism in fiction? | ... | GOH Ozgur K. Sahin, Sherry Merriam |
09:00pm Friday | Room Closed for the night |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | ... | ||
09:15pm Friday | Worm Quartet |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Worm Quartet is a comedy music project created by Timothy F. Crist who uses the stage moniker ShoEboX and performs fast, synth-driven, pseudo-metal punk/pop. The band was formed in 1991 and its name is a reference to cartoons Crist used to draw. Worm Quartet's I Bit William Shatner was featured as a Top 5 song on the Dr. Demento Show in 2001, Frank's Not In The Band Anymore was Dr. Demento's 2nd most requested song of the year in 2002, Great Idea For A Song was the most requested song in 2004, You Were Wrong Cabinet Sanchez reached #15 in 2006, and Fueled By Angst reached #7 in 2014. The Ballad of Doctor Stopp was nominated for a Logan Award in 2013 after having previously won the Outstanding Original Comedy Song award in 2011, Fueled by Angst, and Math is Bulls**t (featuring Insane Ian) were both nominated in 2015, and I Don't Matter (featuring Chris Mezzolesta) was nominated in 2017. | ... | Worm Quartet |
09:30pm Friday | Movie TBA |
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| AV/Anime (Mallard Point) | ... | A/V Room with GPS | |
09:45pm Friday | The Odd Ditties |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Austin Aeschliman has been performing for years, both solo and as a part of bands under many different names, including Odd Austin, Smashy Claw, Rycehat, Killer Calamari, Soul Phage, not to mention a number of collaborations with other bands. This year at MarsCon, Austin is here as “The Odd Ditties”. Austin is also one of the founders of Needlejuice Records, an independent record label specializing in the physical release of alternative music. Formed in September 2017 by Austin, Jace McClain of Nuclear Bubble Wrap, and Brandon Brown, the label is dedicated to the tangible, with a goal to create high quality vinyl records, cassette tapes, and compact discs with ambitious aesthetic value. You’ll be able to find a lot of Needlejuice Records vinyl and other merch at their table in the dealer room. | ... | The Odd Ditties |
10:00pm Friday | Masquerade Lounge After Hours |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | An invitation for all costumers to gather and "talk shop" about all things costuming! | ... | Everyone |
10:00pm Friday | Last Fan Standing |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | Pop culture trivia! Test your knowledge as you compete against other fans to be the Last Fan Standing. Based on the trivia show of the same name! Come win some fun prizes or just play along from the crowd. | ... | Khori |
10:00pm Friday | Indie Author Buffet |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | A round-robin reading where local authors will take turns reading from their works. | ... | GOH Ozgur Sahin, T. Aaron Cisco, Michael Merriam, Sherry Merriam & more authors |
10:15pm Friday | Nuclear Bubble Wrap |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Nuclear Bubble Wrap is a psychedelic/alternative rock band from Nashville, TN. While their early work was devoted to creating humorous internet content, the band’s style evolved into whimsical art-rock influenced by Ween and The Flaming Lips. Their music is known for containing lush, multi-layered psychedelic arrangements, with catchy melodies and witty lyrics. Their live show features a bevy of masks and costumes. Founded by keyboardist Jace McLain and guitarist Kyle Thorne, Nuclear Bubble Wrap began recording home-made demo albums in 2005 before switching to fully-produced studio recordings in 2010. Some of this material was played on the Dr. Demento Show. Using the momentum from several popular viral music videos, the band built a cult following and has played in several cities across the United States. The current iteration of the group is filled out by bassist Stephen Smith and drummer Julia Larson. | ... | Nuclear Bubble Wrap |
11:00pm Friday | Comedy Music Guests of Honor Concert |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | John S. Hall is an American poet, author, singer and lawyer perhaps best known for his work with King Missile, an avant-garde band that he co-founded in 1986 and has since led in various incarnations. Stephen Tunney, also known as Dogbowl, is an American artist, musician and novelist. He is a founding member of the avant-garde band King Missile (Dog Fly Religion), and has recorded many albums as a solo act. | ... | Comedy Music Guests of Honor John S. Hall and Dogbowl of KING MISSILE (Dog Fly Religion) |
11:00pm Friday | 2024 Movies You (didn't) Miss |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | So many movies, so little time. Lots of content is being produced and released, and it's hard to catch everything. Well, this panel discussion will cure your FOMO. Join this batch of cinephiles as they dive into last year's overlooked films....that were overlooked for a reason. | ... | T. Aaron Cisco |
10:00am Saturday | Hallmark Klingon Mashup |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | ... | IKV RakeHell | |
10:00am Saturday | How to Throw a Party (Room) |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | ... | Rae Lundquist, John Garner | |
10:00am Saturday | 3D Printing: Twin Cities Maker |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | Twin Cities Maker is a 501(c)3 educational non-profit that runs a Maker space in Seward, Minneapolis, at 3119 East 26th Street. We have over 10,000 square feet of space, and over 500 members, and all the tools needed for the Making of Things, including a full wood shop, metal shop, machine shop, blacksmithing shop, 2 large laser cutters, a bevy of 3d printers, screen printing, textile work, and more! Come learn about our org, our space, and the Maker scene! Our site: TCMaker .org | ... | TC Maker |
10:00am Saturday | What are Furries and Why are they at my con? |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | You’ve heard the term “furry” spoken among the con more within the last few years, but have no idea what they are and more importantly, why would they invade Marscon of all places? Turka Wuky is here to explain what a furry is, but why they too, would be wanting to take part in a sci-fi convention. All ages welcome panel. | ... | Turka Wusky |
10:00am Saturday | Best of Classic Who: A Doctor Who Retrospective Celebrating the First 26+ Years |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | Doctor Who is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The main character, the Doctor travels in the universe and in time using a time travelling spaceship called the TARDIS, which externally appears as a British police box. As the Doctor periodically needs to regenerate into a new body, the character has been recast numerous times. This discussion of “classic” Who will cover portrayals by William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, as well as Paul McGann’s attempted revival of the franchise, and the movies which featured Peter Cushing as the Doctor. | ... | GOH Ozgur Sahin, Kathryn Sullivan |
10:00am Saturday | Journals - all ages |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | Decorate a small blank book for your notes or sketches, whatever it is you put in a book. Make it yours. | ... | Jen, Brittany |
10:00am Saturday | Anime by request |
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| AV/Anime (Mallard Point) | ... | Anime/YA | |
10:00am Saturday | Prop-A-Torium 18 opens - 2nd floor |
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| Prop-A-Torium (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 - 10 am to 4 pm - Signup in Main Lobby |
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| This year is the 20th Annual American Red Cross blood drive at MarsCon. The USS Nokomis is inviting everyone to come save up to three lives with one donation on Saturday the 8th between 10am and 4pm. MarsCon donors have touched over 2,000 lives with their donations over the last 19 years, and this year we’ll touch even more! Please help during this extreme winter blood shortage! Come and donate to get the most coveted, hardest to get, absolute coolest ribbon at the Con! Plus, we have a special gift for all donors! Four ways to sign up: Register online at redcrossblood.org using sponsor code MarsCon or surf to here: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=MarsCon or email Captain@ussnokomis.org, 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 | The Saber Legion Demo |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | The Saber Legion is a worldwide saber club, with a focus on saber combat and sparring. Our Mission Statement: Love and always represent your charters and who you are. We’re here to teach all the ways of the force. With sabers, all will be united! http://www.saberlegion.org | ... | The Saber Legion |
11:00am Saturday | Beyond Babylon 5 |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | In 1981, after a three month tour of Holland and Belgium playing Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Jason Carter graduated from The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Much British theatre followed, with plays throughout Britain including playing Macbeth at Chichester Festival Theatre. Long runs in the London West End: The Sleeping Prince with Omar Sharrif; Simon Gray’s Melon with Alan Bates and Simon Gray’s The Common Pursuit. At the Royal National Theatre he played Naraboth in Steven Berkoff’s innovative production of Oscar Wilde’s Salome. After landing in America, Jason had roles in many Films and TV productions including his memorable portrayal of Marcus Cole in Babylon 5. | ... | Jason Carter, GoH |
11:00am Saturday | Masquerade Orientation |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | This will be 15 minutes of Masquerade orientation for those who are entered in the contest. | ... | Rae Lundquist, Masquerade Director |
11:00am Saturday | Esperanto! |
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| Free Mars (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 former 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, Minnesota Esperanto Club |
11:00am Saturday | Blurred Between the Lines |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | A discussion on some of the Unique, Weird, and Controversial interpretations of classic novels, shows, scenes, and passages (for example, in Animal Farm Napoleon was right, Clockwork Orange is pro-religion, Jay Gatsby was black and/or a ghost). | ... | T. Aaron Cisco |
11:00am Saturday | Bookmarks and Buttons - AA |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | 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 |
11:00am Saturday | Movie TBA |
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| AV/Anime (Mallard Point) | ... | A/V Room with GPS | |
11:15am Saturday | How NOT to Look Like a Deer in Headlights |
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| Masquerade Lounge (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, Masquerade Director |
12:00pm Saturday | Haedong Kumdo Demonstration |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Haedong Kumdo is a Korean Sword Art form using one or two swords. Many action, fantasy, and anime depictions have different sword work. Come join us as we demonstrate basic movements, sword cutting, and new two handed sword forms. There will be a follow up panel to come and play. | ... | Steve Erickson |
12:00pm Saturday | Costumers Gone “Rogue” Photo Op |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Are you bringing the “Rogue” to Marscon this year? Get together with a gang of Rogues and take some photos! | ... | All rogues invited! |
12:00pm Saturday | Trauma Makeup |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | Cuts and bruises and gashes, oh my! Have you ever wanted to up your cosplay makeup game and create realistic looking wounds and trauma looks? This FX makeup panel will show you step by step how to create bruising, cuts, and gashes, for beginners to intermediate | ... | Kevin Doheny |
12:00pm Saturday | Author GOH Readings |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | Our Author Guest of Honor reads from his works. | ... | Ozgur Sahin |
01:00pm Saturday | School of Shaolin Kung-Fu Demo |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Join us at the Mainstage for an exciting demonstration performed by the Shaolin school of kung fu! Come and see the students, under the training of Sifu Michael Voss perform the traditional Lion dance. Complete with drums, bells and the traditional chinese flair. Stay for the demonstrations of our circular styles of northern shaolin, seven star praying mantis and so much more! Sifu Voss continues a long and rich lineage of teachers who have dedicated their lives to training the next generation of martial artists! | ... | Sifu Michael Voss, School of Shaolin Kung-Fu |
01:00pm Saturday | Zumba! |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | For fun and fitness | ... | Rachel Beise, host |
01:00pm Saturday | Care and Feeding of Wigs & Hair |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | ... | Elizabeth Sloan | |
01:00pm Saturday | A Year in Trek |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | Join us as we take a comprehensive look back at the remarkable events and milestones that have shaped the Star Trek universe over the past year. With the diamond anniversary of this iconic franchise approaching, we’ll reflect on the journeys we've embarked upon across various series, films, and the exciting new projects on the horizon. Get ready for spoilers as we delve into: The Fen events, including Universal Studios Hollywood's Universal Fan Fest Nights: Star Trek Nights, the To the Journey documentary, and Khan!!! The Musical! The conclusion of Discovery, Prodigy, and Lower Decks. The highly anticipated movie event Section 31, along with upcoming seasons of Strange New Worlds and Starfleet Academy. A glimpse into the future with thrilling projects like a live-action comedy, an origin movie, Star Trek 4, and a musical Broadway show. | ... | Tony Artym, Jay Sterling, T. Aaron Cisco |
01:00pm Saturday | Creating an Inclusive Mythology |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | Mythology is more than fantasy or historical fiction. It takes what defines us as cultures and drives us as individuals. Mythology is every bit as powerful as any true story because you never really know how much truth there is in a legend. Join me in a discussion about crafting my own inclusive mythology for stories and learn how I took my historical and intelligence background to craft a modern mythology with ancient stories. | ... | Faith MacGregor, host |
01:00pm Saturday | First Aid Kit and Class 14+ |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | 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 |
01:00pm Saturday | Everything You Wanted to Know about Filmmaking (but were afraid to ask) |
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| AV/Anime (Mallard Point) | Join us for the 7th year of this fun and informative panel on how you, yes you, can make your own film! This panel combines a wide variety of artisans who have hands-on experience making both short and feature films. We love talking about filmmaking and we can't wait to talk to YOU! | ... | Nathan Block, mod. |
02:00pm 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 |
02:00pm Saturday | Haedong Kumdo Basic cuts and paper cutting |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | You watched our demonstration, now come and participate with some hands on basics and paper cutting. | ... | |
02:00pm Saturday | Creating the… Death from Agatha All Along |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | Live costume & makeup demo | ... | Bill Hedrick, Rae Lundquist |
02:00pm Saturday | NASA in 2025 |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | NASA's leadership will be changing in a huge way in 2025, with a Space Entrepreneur becoming the new administrator of NASA in the form of Polaris Dawn and Inspiration 4 Commander, Jared Isaacman. What programs will be ongoing, which will be changing, and what programs might be cancelled? Join Mike Urvand, space educator and NASA Solar System Ambassador as he goes over the changes to the program and what they might mean for your favorite mission! | ... | Mike Urvand |
02:00pm Saturday | A Pirate's Life For Me |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | Pirates have been around since five minutes after boats first floated, but why did people choose that life, and why do some still choose it? Join the discussion of why people of many different time periods and cultures (and fandom characters) reached the end of their rope and became pirates...even when the end of a rope is exactly what awaited them afterwards. | ... | GOH Ozgur K. Sahin, Patrick Marsh |
02:00pm Saturday | Paracord Keychain Lanyard - 14+ |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | Pick your color and join us to make a cool keychain to clip your badge to. Due to the difficulty of the knots, this craft is 14+ | ... | Jen, Morgan |
02:45pm Saturday | Regdar and the Fighters |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Regdar and the Fighters is a glitch punk band out of Nashville, TN. Since 2007, who have been making weird, energetic music for nerds and music lovers. The core lineup is Steve “Fighter #1” Smith on bass/guitar and vocals, and Regdar “Why Did We Give the Computer Free Will?” on drums and synthesizers. Other musicians are frequently featured in recordings and live performances. They have existed in some form or another since 2007 and have played live with this lineup since 2009. They’re on all the major streaming platforms. If you’re looking for that, you know how to find it. | ... | Regdar and the Fighters |
03:00pm Saturday | Primordial Pouch |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Jace McClain and Kendra Shepherd are “Primordial Pouch”. Having no further information beyond that, here are the lyrics to the “Weird Al” Yankovic song “Bob” as a placeholder: I, man, am Regal, a German am I. Never odd or even. If I had a Hi-Fi. Madam, I’m Adam. Too hot to hoot. No lemons, no melon. Too bad I hid a boot. Lisa Bonet ate no basil. Warsaw was raw. Was it a car or a cat I saw? Rise to vote, sir. Do geese see God? Do nine men interpret? Nine men I nod. Rats live on no evil star. Won’t lovers revolt now? Race fast safe car. Pa’s a sap. Ma is as selfless as I am. May a moody baby doom a yam. Ah Satan sees Natasha. No devil lived on. Lonely Tylenol. Not a banana baton. No X in Nixon. O stone, be not so. O Geronimo, no minor ego. “Naomi” I moan. A Toyota’s a Toyota. A dog, a panic, in a pagoda. Oh no, Don Ho. Nurse, I spy gypsies, run! Senile felines. Now I see bees, I won. UFO tofu. We panic in a pew. Oozy rat in a sanitary zoo. God, a red nugget, a fat egg under a dog. Go hang a salami, I’m a lasagna hog. | ... | Primordial Pouch |
03:00pm Saturday | Bellydance For Every Body |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | The dance forms from the Arab world 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 |
03:00pm Saturday | Space Exploration: Year in Review |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | Highlights will include CSS, ISS and Starship…Oh, myyy! | ... | Ben Huset, MN Space Frontier Society |
03:00pm Saturday | Fantasy + Mysteries = 2 Great Tastes that Taste Great Together |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | Panel discussion on mysteries with fantasy elements and the reverse. Let’s talk about some of our favorites, what we’d like to see and more! Michael Merriam requested, if available. | ... | Catherine Lundoff, Michael Merriam |
03:00pm Saturday | Faeries - all ages |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | Create a faerie friend to take home. Just don't give them your real name, those sneaky Fae. | ... | Jen |
03:00pm Saturday | Distant Calling Pictures |
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| AV/Anime (Mallard Point) | Distant Calling Pictures returns to MarsCon for 45 minutes of short film screenings followed by a Q&A. Join us on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 3:00 PM, as the Minnesota film-making team presents selected works for your viewing enjoyment. This program will consist of short films ranging from drama, horror, dark comedy, and action. A Q&A with the filmmakers will follow. | ... | Distant Calling Pictures |
03:30pm Saturday | 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/ | ... | Holy Bongwater |
04:00pm Saturday | Steve Goodie |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Steve Goodie is, in all modesty and candor, the genius of our age. Comedian, writer, singer, director and producer, Steve was a founding member of Monty Python and has written scripts for Sid Caesar, Woody Allen, Mahatma Gandhi, Matt Groening, and Queen Elizabeth (for which he was knighted in 1972 at the unprecedented age of six). The Beatles credit much of their fame to his early studio work, during which he developed their recording sound with his apprentice, George Martin. His film scores and theatre work need no introduction, and he became a household word with his ground-breaking recording of The Biggest Belch In The History Of Man. It is a tribute to his humility that, on the suggestion of his long-time fan and sometime paramour Liz Taylor, he entered the Federal Witness Protection Program and began a new career, “to level the playing field,” as he put it, “for the other idiots trying to make it in Show Business.” | ... | Steve Goodie |
04:00pm Saturday | 501st Legion+Rebel Legion+Mando Mercs - Who We Are, What We Do and How to Join |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | 501st Legion+Rebel Legion+Mando Mercs, we are international non-profit charity groups who make and wear screen accurate Star Wars costumes to bring joy and raise money for those in need. We routinely partner with Make-A-Wish, children’s Hospitals and more to accomplish these goals! | ... | 501st Legion+Rebel Legion+Mando Mercs |
04:00pm Saturday | Get on the Radio: Amateur Radio for Pleasure & Public Service |
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| Free Mars (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, Tron & other Hams |
04:00pm Saturday | Tropes |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | Flying cars, bending space and time, telepathy, life on Mars, genetic engineering, rogue robots, dystopian governments, etc... Which overused tropes should be avoided? What tropes have changes? Can your favorite trope be redeemed or refreshed? | ... | Kathryn Sullivan, Ozgur Sahin, C. M. Alongi |
04:00pm Saturday | Bead Lizards and Hair Ties - AA |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | It's the bead lizards you know and love, but this year, you can also make a hair tie. It's an elastic, it's fabric strips, it's knots! Yay! Use it in your hair, or to keep your things together! This is for everyone! | ... | Brittany, Jen |
04:00pm Saturday | Anime by request |
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| AV/Anime (Mallard Point) | ... | Anime/YA | |
04:30pm Saturday | Devo Spice |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | 2019 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). | ... | Devo Spice |
04:30pm 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 |
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. | ... | The great Luke Ski |
05:00pm Saturday | Masquerade Workmanship Judging |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | Masquerade Workmanship Judging | ... | Masquerade Director Rae Lundquist |
05:00pm Saturday | Epic Universe |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | Universal Orlando Studios' new Epic Universe is set to redefine theme park experiences with its five new lands: Celestial Park, Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk. Join us for an in-depth chat about these lands, the incredible details, and the unique ways they tell their stories. Plus, get insights into possible expansions and future developments. Note: There will be spoilers, so come prepared for an immersive discussion into the magic of Epic Universe! | ... | Tony Artym |
05:00pm Saturday | SF Writing Groups: The 2025 Scene |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | Since 1986, the Minnesota Imaginative Fiction Writers' Alliance has held an annual meeting—currently at MarsCon—at which science fiction and fantasy writers who are looking for a writing group get a chance to connect with SF writing groups that are looking for new members. | ... | Eric M Heideman, mod. |
05:00pm Saturday | Masks - AA |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | Okay, kiddos, this is your time. Ready yourselves and come complete your disguise. Create the perfect mask to compliment your roguish looks and fool all those who pursue you for nefarious reasons. | ... | Jen |
05:30pm Saturday | The 15th Annual LOGAN AWARDS |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | The Logan Whitehurst Memorial Award for Excellence in Comedy Music (Logan Awards) is a set of awards presented by The Funny Music Project. The awards are presented annually, in three categories: Outstanding Original Comedy Song Outstanding Parody Song Outstanding Comedy Music Video FFI: https://www.loganawards.com/about-awards/ | ... | Comedy Music Track |
06:00pm Saturday | I'll Show Them! I'll Show Them All! |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | Sympathetic villains, insane heroes, and mad science. Enter our "name the mad scientist" scavenger hunt, win a prize for the most mad scientists identified. | ... | Tom Erickson, Mickie Erickson, Jessie Berg, Christine LaBounty, Nina Boenish, Jennifer Steadman, Kevin Borchers, Ben Huset, Whitestar Phoenix |
06:00pm Saturday | A Writers’ Conversation |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | Informal conversation amongst authors. | ... | Ozgur Sahin, T. Aaron Cisco, C. M. Alongi & other authors |
06:00pm Saturday | Tour inside Prop-A-Torium (2nd floor, end of hallway) |
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| Prop-A-Torium (White Pelican Bay) | Visit the Prop-A-Torium and learn about the props currently on display. | ... | Prop-A-Torium Curators |
07:00pm Saturday | Masquerade Rehearsal & Judging |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | ... | Masquerade participants | |
07:00pm Saturday | What to Do When Players Go Left |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Some tips from experienced game masters in preparing adventures and what to do when your players decide not to play it. | ... | Matthew Hellendrung, Gizmo Peterson |
07:00pm Saturday | Masquerade Rehearsal |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | ... | Masquerade Director Rae Lundquist | |
07:00pm Saturday | Rogue One & Andor: The Star Wars Prequels We Actually Needed |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | Of all the Star Wars shows on Disney Plus, Andor has consistently been the most critically acclaimed. It's also proven incredibly popular with viewers and was nominated for multiple Emmy Awards. Andor is in fact a prequel to Rogue One, the Star Wars prequel which chronicles the immediate lead up to Star Wars: A New Hope and lays the groundwork for the Rebellion's first major victory in the battle against the Empire, the destruction of the Death Star. Rogue One is a stand-alone cinematic triumph that breaks a few Disney/Star Wars rules on its own. Andor's Season 2 production was delayed, but is highly anticipated for 2025. Meet, discuss, Squee! | ... | Christine LaBounty, Kevin Berg, Brian LaBounty |
07:00pm Saturday | Bookish Trivia |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | Test your knowledge of sci-fi/fantasy books in Bookish Trivia! The questions get more difficult every round, and the team (or individual, if you shun teams) with the most points gets to take home a basket of bookish goodies! | ... | C. M. Alongi |
07:00pm Saturday | Bird Houses - 14+ |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | Come and decorate a small wooden bird house. Paint, color, glue doodads on it. Too small for an actual bird but may be nice for a jumping spider. | ... | Jen, Brittany |
07:00pm Saturday | Prop-A-Torium Closes |
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| Prop-A-Torium (White Pelican Bay) | Thank you for visiting! Come back tomorrow! | ... | All |
07:00pm 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 | 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! | ... | Art & 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 Rae Lundquist, MC, Judges, Masquerade participants |
08:00pm Saturday | Masquerade Green Room |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | ... | Masquerade Director Rae Lundquist | |
08:00pm Saturday | Magic Wands - AA |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | Need a wand for your character? Then come on down to the Creative Planet and create to your heart's content. Glue guns to be handled by the Crafternauts and Trainees only, but this craft is for all ages. Something to work your brain energy out before going to bed. | ... | Brittany, Jen |
09:00pm Saturday | Saturday Night Karaoke |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Sing and sing along. | ... | Singers |
09:00pm Saturday | Total Eclipses |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | We'll discuss Eclipses of the Sun, Moon, and all sorts of other objects. First we'll highlight (or low light?) upcoming solar eclipses on Earth, and some lunar eclipses. We'll also describe how eclipses of stars by asteroids reveal their shapes, how eclipses of the Sun by Jupiter helped determine the speed of light, how eclipses of the Sun by Earth affect communications satellites and spurred the development of batteries. Eclipses have affected the culture on Earth, so they might affect cultures on other worlds as well. | ... | G. David Nordley, Ben Huset |
09:00pm Saturday | Fic-able Moments |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | What makes a book or show open to fan fiction. There is a theory that there are moments of ambiguity in the original shows or books that seem to be common launch points for fan fantasy. These may be places where deeper relationships between characters are hinted at but not actually explored. Letâ s call them â ficable moments.â What are these moments like? Which shows/books have them? Are there good shows/books that are lacking in these moments? | ... | Lisa Freitag,Ozgur Sahin, Kathryn Sullivan |
09:00pm Saturday | Room Closed for the night |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | ... | ||
09:00pm Saturday | Movie TBA |
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| AV/Anime (Mallard Point) | ... | A/V Room with GPS | |
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 | Masquerade Lounge After Hours |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | An open invitation to all costumers/cosplayers to come and talk about all things costuming. | ... | Everyone |
10:00pm Saturday | Best of New WHO: A 20 Year Revival and Celebration of Doctor Who |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | There is so much to talk about! Since the British SF tv series’ re-launch in 2005, the time and space-traveling Doctor has been portrayed by Christopher Eccelston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker, and now Ncuti Gatwa. Share your squee moments, celebrate with fellow fans, and introduce new fans to Doctor Who. | ... | Kathryn Sullivan, T. Aaron Cisco |
10:00pm Saturday | Learning to Write from Fan Fiction |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | Putting words on a page--any page--is pretty much required for writing. How can writing fan fiction help with this process? What tropes or writing styles are being adapted from fan fiction into published works? Is there anything that should be avoided? | ... | Lisa Freitag, C. M. Alongi |
11:00pm Saturday | Burlesque - 18+ |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Back for their 12th appearance…the ladies and gentlemen 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. | ... | |
11:00pm Saturday | Elevated Horror: High Class, Low Scares |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | An in-depth discussion on horror that trades jump scares for existential dread—and leaves you wondering if the real terror was the film budget all along. Bring your monocle and your nightmares; we're getting fancy with our frights! | ... | T. Aaron Cisco, mod. |
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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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Come, bid on donated items, and raise money for worthwhile causes! Charity Auction proceeds will be split between the Gordy Dickson Memorial Scholarship Fund which benefits aspiring SF authors and Oasis for Youth, a local organization that helps youth who are at risk of homelessness. This YouTube video says it all: https://youtu.be/4RW-e5xfjDw?si=nK3V--3ojqsY0cEx 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. Thank you for your generosity! | ... | Everyone |
11:00am Sunday | Prop-A-Torium 18 opens - 2nd floor |
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| Prop-A-Torium (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 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 |
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 | |
12:00pm Sunday | Scenes From A Hat : Family Friendly |
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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 |
12:00pm Sunday | Actor Guest of Honor: Jason Carter Q&A |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | Please come with some good questions for our wonderful Guest of Honor. | ... | Jason Carter , GoH |
12:00pm Sunday | Thrift Store Costuming |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | ... | ||
12:00pm Sunday | Speed Friending! |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | Speed Friending is one of MNeurodivergent's signature events. Similar in idea to speed dating, but for friendship! Two rows of people sit across from each other. They then talk to that person across from them for 5 minutes. In order to help the conversation going, we have sheets of Ice-Breaker questions available. Important note about speed friending: It is not separated by gender, age, race, sexual identity, etc. Everyone will have an opportunity to talk to everyone, time permitting! | ... | Mitchell P Schaps |
12:00pm Sunday | Weirding the West |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | From movies like Cowboys & Aliens to local author Michael Merriam’s own work and beyond, creators have come with some great and wild spins on Westerns with supernatural elements. Let’s discuss some favs and why this subgenre has enduring charm. | ... | Catherine Lundoff, Michael Merriam |
12:00pm Sunday | Buttons and Bookmarks - AA |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | You've done it once, maybe twice. Either way, you know the drill. Come and make your trinket for your memories. | ... | Cindy, Brittany |
12:00pm Sunday | Anime by request |
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| AV/Anime (Mallard Point) | ... | Anime/YA | |
01:00pm Sunday | Carrie Dahlby |
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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 |
01:00pm Sunday | Getting to Know Our Artist Guest of Honor Brandie Hanson |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | ... | Brandie Hanson | |
01:00pm Sunday | Ask the Experts |
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| Masquerade Lounge (Blue Heron Colony) | ... | Costuming experts | |
01:00pm Sunday | Rogue Planets in Science and Science Fiction |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | Rogue planets--planets without stars--have been caught bending light when passing in front of stars, and glowing red hot in empty space soon after their formation. From the "comet" in Jules Verne's Hector Servadac to the twin planets in Balmer and Wylie's When Worlds Collide and Martin's The Dying of the Light, the sunless have had a role in science fiction as well. Under certain conditions, a rogue planet or its moon system might even host life or a scientific research station as in Lowe and Nordley's Black Hole Project. | ... | G. David Nordley, Ben Huset |
01:00pm Sunday | Dragons in SF/Fantasy |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | Discuss everything dragons. From the unnamed dragon in Beowulf, and Sir Gawain’s “worms”, to The Hobbit’s Smaug, Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, Eragon, and the many dragons featured in other works of fiction such as George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. | ... | C. M. Alongi, GOH Ozgur Sahin, Kathryn Sullivan |
01:00pm Sunday | Bead Lizards and Hair Ties - AA |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | If you missed it yesterday, now's your chance. Make a friend to take home and then make an elastic tie, decorated with strips of cloth that you can use in your hair or on your bag. How you use it is up to you. | ... | Brittany, Jen |
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 bid on something, please check with Art Show before you leave. You may have the winning bid! | ... | Artists & Fans of Art |
01:30pm Sunday | Insane Ian |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Insane Ian is a comedian/writer who has been in several bands and loves video games. He plays them, he reviews them, he collects them, he even writes comedy songs about video games. He’s gone so far as to combine reviews and comedy songs into his video game “Reviewsicals” on YouTube. Just one look at Ian’s Bandcamp page makes it obvious that Insane Ian is a comedy music juggernaut that cannot be stopped. Ian hit a milestone in his career a long time in coming, as he had the #1 most requested song of 2015 on “The Dr. Demento Show”, the name-mangling Brit-tribute, “Benedict Cumberbatch”, sitting firmly atop the Doctor’s year-end Funny 25. 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 |
02:00pm Sunday | Dogbowl |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Stephen Tunney, also known as Dogbowl, is an American artist, musician and novelist. He is a founding member of the avant-garde band King Missile (Dog Fly Religion), and has recorded many albums as a solo act. He is also the author of two novels, the surreal, post-apocalyptic Flan, published in 1992 by Four Walls Eight Windows, and One Hundred Percent Lunar Boy, published in 2010 by MacAdam/Cage. One Hundred Percent Lunar Boy takes place on a terraformed Moon two thousand years in the future and chronicles the misadventures of sixteen-year-old Hieronymus Rexaphin, a boy who can see the fourth primary color, and the trouble he gets into after showing his unusual eyes to a teenage tourist girl from Earth. | ... | Dogbowl |
02:00pm Sunday | Get Smart Again |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | We'd like to continue MarsCon 2024's discussion of this innovative sly comedy show (1965-1970). Created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry and starring Don Adams as Maxwell Smart, Agent 86, and Barbara Feldon as Agent 99, Get Smart used satire, parody, slapstick, wordplay, and imagination to create a show that has stood the test of time. | ... | Eric M Heideman |
02:00pm Sunday | Planner vs Pantser: Writer Fight |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | All writers fall somewhere on the spectrum of Planner vs Pantser. Planners plan the entire story, world, characters, before they even star Chapter One. Pantsers quite literally make it up as they go (flying by the seat of their pants). Let's talk about the pros and cons of each approach. And if we can't talk it out, we'll have a gladiatorial death match to decide once and for all which is the superior--wait, we can't? Legal liability? Fiiiine. | ... | C. M. Alongi, Patrick Marsh, Michael Merriam, Kathryn Sullivan |
02:00pm Sunday | Paracord Keychain Lanyard - 14+ |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | Did you miss this yesterday? Were you set on getting a personal lanyard 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. Due to the knots in this craft, it's still 14+ | ... | Jen, Morgan |
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 |
02:30pm Sunday | Violence Solves Everything |
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| Cantina (Executive Boardroom) | A discussion of fighting in films including stunt work, fight choreography, armory and what the path is to becoming a fight professional in film. This panel features members of The Fight Monkeys, an award winning Minneapolis based fight performance team. | ... | Lee Fillingsness, The Fight Monkeys |
03:00pm Sunday | COMEDY MUSIC SMACKDOWN concert |
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| Mainstage (Ballroom III/IV) | Concert featuring many of the 2025 Comedy Music Track acts in our grand* finale! | ... | Comedy Music Track Artists |
03:00pm Sunday | Minnesota MUFON |
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| Free Mars (Cardinal Perch) | What has been happening in Minnesota sightings and field investigators reports. | ... | Joe Swenson |
03:00pm Sunday | Super Edgy Superheroes |
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| Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest) | When super powers corrupt absolutely, is anyone safe? Think The Boys, Watchmen, Invincible, Wanted, Heroes, I Am Not OK with This… | ... | T. Aaron Cisco |
03:00pm Sunday | Project Pick Up - Everyone |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | 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 (White Pelican Bay) | Thank you for visiting! See you again soon! | ... | All |
03:00pm Sunday | Science Room Closes |
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| Science Room (Woodlands) | So long, and thanks for all the fish! | ... | Everyone |
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 Jason Carter, Brandie Hanson, Ozgur Sahin, John S. Hall, Dogbowl |
04:00pm Sunday | Room Closed |
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| Creative Planet (Owl Overlook) | Thank you for crafting with us! See you next year! Also, if you have an idea for a craft for next year or want to volunteer or present something to our crowd, let us know! Email us at creativeplanetmc@gmail.com | ... | You can ask either Brittany or Jen |
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 & Krushenko's. We couldn't do this without you! Please help clean up, then Dead Cow party @ Con Suite, Snarky's & Krushenko's. | ... | Everyone |
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MARSCON VENUE
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ABOUT US
MarsCon 2025: Gone Rogue March 7-9 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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