Between October 12th and 14th, science fiction and fantasy fans within travel distance of St. Louis, Missouri can attend the Archon Sci-Fi and Fantasy convention. The Collinsville Gateway Conference Center provides the venue for the event, now in its 36th year.
There will be With games, dealer tables, speaker panels, and many guests of note, you’ll be hard-pressed to walk away from this event without knowledge and experiences that will last a lifetime.
Described as a place for everyone, you’ll be able to convene with other fans that share your love for Star Wars, Star Trek, DnD, space operas, Harry Potter, and anything else that falls under the sci-fi/fantasy/horror heading.
Masquerade
Fans of costuming will love the Masquerade event, which allows you to participate in a large-scale show where you can entertain crowds and show off your handmade or store-bought creations. Whether you sign up to participate in the show or not, you can still show up in costume any day of the convention.
Art Show
Collectors can browse the large art gallery presented by local and notable artists. After a viewing on Friday and Saturday, convention attendees will have the opportunity to bid on their favorite pieces at the auction that takes place at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
If you are an artist who wants to put your work on display and for sale, you can sign up for one or more panels at the convention. These panels come with fees, so look at the complete list of rules on the Archon website.
Attractions for Kids
Conventions are a great place to share your interests with your children, and Archon offers a special Children’s Programming area to accomplish this goal. The area hosts games, activities, and other special programs designed specifically for kids, including Muggle Quidditch and a Children’s Masquerade.
Games
Games this year are hosted by Crafty Games. According to the official Archon website, this year’s games include:
- Collectible Card Game tournaments
- Sanctioned RPGA
- Call of Cthulhu
- AD&D
Hotel Accommodations
As with many conventions, the party often overflows into sponsored hotels. For this year’s event, there will be a sectioned-off “party block” at the Doubletree in Collinsville. In addition to the party block, there is a dance hall and other public areas for socializing with fellow attendees outside of the convention center.
Cost
To take advantage of all the convention has to offer, you will need to purchase a membership badge. For adults, the cost ranges from $60 to $65, depending on when you purchase your badge. Younger attendees can take advantage of lower prices.
Charity
Although the main goal of Archon is to give fans a place to meet and make memories, the convention also has a philanthropic goal. This nonprofit event donates proceeds to a charity each year, and the 2012 convention will sponsor donations to the Challenger Learning Center of St. Louis.
Archon Updates
To stay up-to-date with all the details and announcements, subscribe to updates through any of the following links:
