Next ‘Fest: May 31-June 1, 2025 | Crowne Plaza Louisville Hotel
SEARCH THE SITE:
PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
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Tickets
Sold at the door only.
Adults: $40 for 1-day, $55 for 2-days.
Ages 4 to 12: $15 for 1-day, $25 for 2-days
Age 3 and under free.
Ticket booth hours…
Hotel & Restaurant
Special WonderFest room rate at the Crowne: $149 per night! It’s convenient to stay in our show hotel with an award-winning restaurant
Reserve a room online…
Louisville Attractions
Bring your family and take extra time to visit exciting tourism sites in and around Louisville. Go exploring the Bourbon Trails and more.
Fun in Louisville…
MEET THE 2025 GUESTS
Guests will sign autographs at their table or at posted times!
SEAN HOUSE
Art Dept., Special and Visual Effects: Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One, Jurassic World, Transformers: Age of Extinction
JOE ALVES
Production Designer & Director: JAWS, JAWS 2, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Escape from New York
MIKE CUSANELLI
Sculptor: Hasbro, Kenner, Mattel, Playmates, Solar Wind, Tweeterhead, Bowen Designs, Danger Island Models
FRANK DIETZ
Actor, Writer, Animator, Producer, Director: Creepshow, I Hate Kids, Black Roses, Zombie Nightmare
SAM IRVIN
Director: Elvira's Haunted Hills; Author: The Epic Saga Behind 'Frankenstein: The True Story'
THE AMAZING MODEL CONTEST
Greatest in the World for Imaginative Modelers!
The WonderFest “Amazing” Model Contest is focused on all types of science-fiction, horror and comics models. It’s the biggest contest of its type in America, and it’s fun to look at even if you don’t build models yourself!
The contest is sponsored by Amazing Figure Modeler magazine, which is providing a special $300 award for the Most Amazing Figure!
Entry Hours: Saturday, May 31st, from 8 a.m. ’til Noon
- $20.00 per first 2 models for adults, up to 8 additional entries free
- $12.00 per first 2 models for teens, up to 8 add’l entries free (ages 13-19)
- Free for ages 12 & under
With over 1,118 entries in 2024, it filled an entire ballroom and featured some of the best modeling we’ve ever seen.
MUST-SEE PROGRAMMING
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How-To Demos
All weekend! Learn techniques from other great modelers! Demos last from 30 minutes to an hour. Become a better modeler!
More info…
Iron Modeler
Teams are given a “base model,” a big pile of parts, and 4 hours to build the craziest model with only what they’ve got. Best model & presentation wins!
More info…
The Rondo Awards
4pm Saturday! Fandom’s only classic horror awards—decided by fans. Recognize the best in print, film, web, art, media, toys and models!
More info…
Sunday Wrap Party
Sunday night at 7:30 celebrate the end of the show with exclusive programming! Optional a la carte food and cash bar.
More info…
WHAT IS WONDERFEST?
A weekend of wonder in Louisville!
WonderFest is a weekend of hobby escape that’s held every Summer in Louisville, Kentucky USA!
Now in its 35th year, WonderFest features movie special effects guests, the largest model contest in the U.S. for sci-fi, horror & comics-related subjects, model and toy dealers galore, and seminars to entertain and improve hobbyists of all ages!
It’s always held at our mothership, the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Hotel, 830 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
They help make this event possible!
WONDERFEST LATEST NEWS
From our Facebook feed...
GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: KEN PALKOW!
Back with a vengeance is movie prop and weapon maker extraordinaire, Ken Palkow! Ken is known best for his work on DEADPOOL 1 & 2, UNDERWORLD, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, ALTERED CARBON and countless others! Most recently his work includes FALLOUT, AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER, JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 1 & 2, LOST IN SPACE, SUPERMAN AND LOIS, and TOMORROW WAR. Ken loves meeting with fans so they can see the props up close and personal all while learning about what really happens behind the scenes. The most action packed table at WonderFest!
Ken will be appearing both days.
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2025 #kenpalkow #wonderfesthobbyexpo
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GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: JEFFREY MORRIS
Jeffrey Morris returns to WonderFest to discuss his feature length documentary, THE EAGLE OBSESSION. Join the exploration of a fascinating cultural phenomenon. The legacy of the Eagle Transporter from Space: 1999 reflects the dreams of a generation. It also embodies a nostalgia for a future that never occurred, yet still resonates today. THE EAGLE OBSESSION is a visually stunning feature-length documentary that follows sci-fi creator Jeffrey Morris as he investigates the origins of the iconic vessel and the ongoing global impact of a unique moment in human history—when people walked on the Moon.
Jeffrey will be joined at WonderFest by actor Nick Tate (“Alan Carter” on Space: 1999) as well as several members of the documentary production crew. Jeffrey’s appearance is sponsored by the Space: 1999 Props & Ships Facebook Group.
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2025 #jeffreymorris #theeagleobsession #wonderfesthobbyexpo
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YES! We're nominated for The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards!
It's a thrill to be co-nominated for #20 - BEST EVENT OF 2024- Harryhausen at WonderFest USA. Appearances by the stop-motion master’s daughter Vanessa Harryhausen and Foundation curator Connor Heaney!
The Foundation has two more nominations:
#15 - BEST INTERVIEW-Vanessa Harryhausen by Don Vaughan Videoscope Magazine #128
#19 - BEST PODCAST/MEDIA- The Ray Harryhausen Podcast. Latest from the Harryhausen Foundation.
Please also consider casting your vote for #11, our 2025 guest author's BOOK OF THE YEAR: "WILLIS O’BRIEN: Lost Worlds, Giant Apes and Dinosaurs, Vol. 1, From Thomas Edison to King Kong, by Gregory Kulon (Kulon Ventures)." The early years, the conflicts, triumphs and tragedies of Kong and its sequel.
Voting is open now and it's easy! Do it before closing at midnight, April 20, 2025. Visit: www.rondoaward.com
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WONDERFEST WELCOMES AUTHOR DENNIS L. PRINCE!
His new book, "Joe Alves: Adventures in Film Design" is being premiered at WonderFest '25 (woo-hoo!). Obviously, Dennis and Joe Alves will both be on hand to sign copies.
Shudder's "Creepshow: From Script to Scream" was published in 2022 for Greg Nicotero and AMC Networks. (Dennis and Greg will sign copies.)
"Joe Alves: Designing JAWS" was published in 2019 and we'll bring it to commemorate JAWS' 50th Anniversary this year. (Dennis, Joe, and Greg will sign copies!)
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#joealves #jaws #jaws50thanniversary #creepshow #wonderfest2025 #wonderfesthobbyexpo
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NEW GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: LEW TEMPLE!
LEW TEMPLE is an American film actor, perhaps best known for his roles as 'Axel' on THE WALKING DEAD; the character of 'Ned Oldham' in the action adventure thriller UNSTOPPABLE which also starred Denzel Washington, Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson; Rob Zombie's "The Devil's Rejects" with Bill Moseley, Sid Haig, William Forsythe, and Sherri Moon Zombie; and 'Cal' the diner manager in the comedy-drama WAITRESS. Other film credits include SILENT NIGHT, ZOMBIE NIGHT; THE LONE RANGER with Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer; and DOMINO starring Kiera Knightley and Mickey Rourke. He even voiced 'Mr. Furgus' in RANGO.
Lew is an extraordinarily versatile actor who often is compared to a chameleon: he has the unique ability to take any character and make it his own.
Lew's WonderFest appearance is sponsored by the Gore Club.
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#lewtemple #TheWalkingDead #thedevilsrejects #wonderfest2025 #wonderfesthobbyexpo
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