Next ‘Fest: May 30-31, 2026 | Crowne Plaza Louisville Hotel
Weekend after Memorial Day
SEARCH THE SITE:
PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
Click an icon to learn more.
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: $151 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 2026 GUESTS
Guests will sign autographs at their table or at posted times!
VE NEILL
Make-Up Artist, Actress, Producer: Star Trek The Motion Picture, Pirates of the Caribbean, Galaxy Quest, Beetlejuice
BARBARA LUNA
Actress: Star Trek "Mirror, Mirror," Buck Rogers, Outer Limits, One Life to Live, Hawaii Five-O
JOHN EAVES
Production Illustrator, Star Trek Picard, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and 3, WandaVision, Loki
VICTORIA PRICE
Designer, author, and speaker: Vincent Price: A Daughter’s Biography, The Way of Being Lost
FRANK DIETZ
Actor, Writer, Animator, Producer, Director: Creepshow, I Hate Kids, Black Roses, Zombie Nightmare
THE AMAZING MODEL CONTEST
Imagination. Inspiration. And Fun!
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:
Entries may be paid at Admissions on Friday, May 29th from 2-7pm and Saturday, May 30th, from 8 a.m. ’til 10am. Usher-In: Fri. May 29, 2pm-7pm and Sat. May 30, 8am-11am.
- $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
Viewing hours are Sat., May 30, Noon–5pm and Sun., May 31, 10am–3pm. Awards Claim is Sun., May 31, 2pm.
With over 1,085 entries in 2025, 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 36th 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...
LAST CALL FOR PRESENTERS IN VEHICLES & HARDWARE TRACK!
If you're a WonderFest regular, you know that we always offer FREE HOW-TO DEMONSTRATIONS all weekend long. We do it to share great techniques and help anyone become a better model maker!
If you have a technique you think other modelers will want to hear about--and can present it in 45 minutes or less--bring it on!
Doing a demo is a great way to get a free weekend pass (worth $55.00) in exchange for sharing a technique or two!
Here's a special webpage with the details and form you can use to send in your idea:
www.wonderfest.com/demo-presenters-needed/
WonderFest is May 30-31, the weekend after Memorial Day, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Louisville, KY.
#wonderfest2026 #wonderfesthobbyexpo
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Want to learn the basics of airbrushing? GREX is now sponsoring the AIRBRUSH 101 program--at no charge to interested WonderFest attendees!
It's a hand-on class designed to get you over the first several hurdles in learning to airbrush! You'll learn about airbrush operation and maintenance and practice some basic control exercises. All supplies are provided.
This is one 60-minute class repeated five times over the WonderFest weekend, limited to ten students per session:
SATURDAY: 11:00-12:00 | 12:30-1:30 | 2:00-3:00
SUNDAY: 11:00-12:00 | 12:30-1:30
Sign up in the Perry Room with GREX at the show. Limit 10 students per class. And thanks to everyone at GREX for continuing this valuable class!
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2026 #wonderfesthobbyexpo #grexairbrush
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We’re honored to welcome the RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARDS to WonderFest for their 24th year!
Voted on by fans and professionals alike, the Rondo Awards salute the best in all media and print categories and celebrate both the history and future of our beloved gods and monsters.
on Saturday, May 30th at 4PM, join the Monster of Ceremonies DAVID COLTON for the handing out of the coveted Rondos! Several members of our WonderFest family of guests are winners this year!
#wonderfest2026 #wonderfesthobbyexpo #rondoawards
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WONDERFEST NIGHTS are packed with events just like the days!
FRIDAY:
Gore Club Podcast presents...
A NIGHT WITH WILLIAM STOUT! Master of the Movie Arts.
8 pm-1 am – Upstairs Theater
William Stout will be our very special guest for our take on the old This is Your Life television show LIVE! A Night with William Stout. We will dive into everything from his design work on Rock and Roll album covers of the 60's and 70'S to his work on Conan, Masters of the Universe, Return of the Living Dead, AND SO MUCH MORE!
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SATURDAY:
CHILLER CINEMA LIVE!—Horror Host with the Most, Doctor Gangrene, presents a double feature...
SPIDER BABY (1967)
7-9 PM - Upstairs Theater
With special video intro by guest Beverly Washburn! Doc presents a spooky, crazy, story of a bizarre family. Special surprises and door prizes.
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BEAST WISHES (2012)
9-10:30 PM - Upstairs Theater
Award-winning documentary about "The Fantastic World of Bob & Kathy Burns," featuring many past and present WonderFest guests. It was written and directed by Frank Dietz and Trish Geiger. Frank will be on hand to introduce this terrific film!
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SUNDAY:
7:30 PM - Upstairs Theater
$9 per person
“Honoring Bob & Kathy Burns”
Join us as we celebrate our Monster Kid friends Bob and Kathy Burns. Last December we lost Bob; Kathy passed about 5 years before. They both were and always will be a beloved part of our WonderFest Family! We'll be sharing stories, video clips, photos, and lots of laughter as remember this legendary couple.
Choose to eat at the event ala carte, visit the 'cash' bar, or just come for the fun! Food and drink sold separately. Remember, the hotel takes plastic only--no actual cash!
The WonderFest team will present short tributes to our guests and cool door prizes.
Read more at www.wonderfest.com/upcoming-show/programming/
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Don't miss the WonderFest 2026 WRAP PARTY!
Sunday at 7:30 pm in the Upstairs Theater
“Honoring Bob & Kathy Burns”
Join us as we celebrate our Monster Kid friends Bob and Kathy Burns. Last December we lost Bob; Kathy passed about five years before him. They both were and always will be a beloved part of our WonderFest Family! We'll be sharing stories, video clips, photos, and lots of laughter as remember this legendary couple.
You may choose to eat at the event ala carte, visit the cash bar, or just come for the fun! Food and drink sold separately. The WonderFest team will present short tributes to our guests and cool door prizes.
WonderFest Sunday evening, May 31st, at 7:30pm.
Tickets are just $9 per person, sold only at Admissions and at the door.
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2026 #wonderfesthobbyexpo #BobBurns #HollywoodHalloween
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