Next ‘Fest: June 1-2, 2024 | Crowne Plaza Louisville Hotel
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PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
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Tickets
Sold at the door only.
Adults: $36 for 1-day, $50 for 2-days.
Ages 4 to 12: $13 for 1-day, $20 for 2-days
Age 3 and under free.
Ticket booth hours…
Hotel & Restaurant
Special WonderFest room rate at the Crowne: $142 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 2024 GUESTS
Guests will sign autographs at their table or at posted times!
VANESSA HARRYHAUSEN
Daughter of Ray Harryhausen: Author, illustrator and Trustee of the Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation
BELINDA BALASKI
Artist, writer & actress: Piranha, The Howling, Gremlins 1 & 2, Matinee, Food of the Gods
FON DAVIS
Production designer, modelmaker: Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline
ROGER CHRISTIAN
Set decorator, production designer and feature film director; Star Wars, Alien, Final Cut, Nostradamus, Underworld
DANIEL ROEBUCK
Actor, voice actor, filmmaker; The Fugitive, Star Trek TNG, The Munsters, Jedi Fallen Order
FRANK DIETZ
Actor, Writer, Animator, Producer, Director: Creepshow, I Hate Kids, Black Roses, Zombie Nightmare
JOHN EAVES
Production Illustrator, Star Trek Picard, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and 3, WandaVision, Loki
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, June 1st, from 8 a.m. ’til Noon
- $15.00 per first 2 models for adults, up to 8 additional entries free
- $10.00 per first 2 models for teens, up to 8 add’l entries free (ages 13-19)
- Free for ages 12 & under
With over 1,049 entries in 2023, 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 34th 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...
WONDERFEST NIGHTS are packed with events just like the days!
FRIDAY:
TAG Team/Iwata Meet & Greet
7:30 pm – Madison Room
Tom Grossman and the TAG Team/Iwata crew are back to help kick-off another fantastic show! Show off your model work or just drop in to say hello.
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Gore Club Podcast presents...
THIS IS YOUR LIFE—LIVE!—with Belinda Balaski
8 pm – Upstairs Theater
Join us for a night of nerdy madness as we dig in to the life and work of Belinda and her more than 40 years in the entertainment industry. Hear her tell behind the scenes stories from her career (including some of Joe Dante’s best films like PIRANHA, THE HOWLING, GREMLINS, MATINEE, and more!). And be sure to stick around after the show for a special Q & A!
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SATURDAY:
CHILLER CINEMA LIVE!—Horror Host with the Most, Doctor Gangrene, presents a double feature...
MATINEE (1993)
7 PM - Upstairs Theater
Director Joe Dante’s cinematic love letter to the days of showman William Castle, here represented by John Goodman’s “Lawrence Woolsey,” hits all the right notes of 50’s horror, cold war scares, and a more innocent time. Our very special guest, cast member Belinda Balaski, will introduce the film in-person!
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THE VALLEY OF GWANGI (1969)
9:30 PM - Upstairs Theater
Special guests Vanessa Harryhausen and Connor Heaney will introduce the film! Cowboy “Tuck Kirby” (James Franciscus) seeks fame and fortune by capturing an Allosaurus living in the Forbidden Valley and putting it in a Mexican wild west show. His star attraction, called Gwangi, turns out to have an aversion to being shown in public. Another film featuring the astonishing stop-motion special effects talents of Ray Harryhausen.
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SUNDAY:
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the WonderFest Wrap Party… It’s JAWS IN 30 MINUTES OR LESS!
7:30 PM - Upstairs Theater
$9 per person
The crew that brought you Scripts Gone Wild are bringing a briny new take on a classic we all love. Join us as we poke the shark with a cast of WonderFest crew and special guests! Choose to eat at the event ala carte, visit the cash bar, or just come for the fun! Food and drink sold separately. Tickets are just $9 per person, sold at Admissions and at the door. The WonderFest team will present tributes and door prizes.
Read more at www.wonderfest.com/upcoming-show/programming/
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Is this still about modeling? It seems to be quickly drifting away from that
Can't wait.
Just in from Stephen Burns: 20% discount!Take advantage of the Mother's Day 20% off discount that ends this Friday May 18th for. Use Discount Code "MOTHERSDAY2024" for my full day class "Design Futuristic Models: 3D Modeling for 3D Printing Innovation!". If you can't be there in person then join us live by way of Zoom. Class will be recorded and the recording is free for all students.
Register Now! futuristicmodel.eventbrite.com
WonderFest USA WonderFest Fan Club Sci-Fi Illustration Resolute Sci-Fi Illustration Resolute The vault of retro sci-fi Spaceships (and Other Sci-Fi Vessels) Are Cool Star Trek-Star Wars / All Sci-Fi : Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. Sci-Fi & Fantasy Miniatures Modelers Sci Fi Models & Accessories Offered Wanted & Swaps KosyMo Sci Fi Modellbau Blender 3D Lightwave to Blender Support Group Blender Hangout Blender3D User Group Blender beginners Blender 3D Blender Help for Absolute Beginners (BHfAB) Blender 3D Cars and Vehicles Blender 3D Cars and Vehicles Blender 3D Blender 3D Artists Lightwave to Blender Support Group @lightw
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On Saturday June 1st, the WonderFest 2024 "MAKE & TAKE" will offer kids ages 16 and under a few hours of model-building fun. Kids will be able to choose from an assortment of easy-to-assemble and fun-to-paint model kits that all will enjoy.
We'll offer two sessions on Saturday June 1st: from 11am to 1pm and then from 2pm to 4pm.
MAKE & TAKE sponsors Black Heart, Round 2, and Kaiju Modeler are providing models and supplies--plus our volunteers will help teach new builders how to glue or paint.
Black Heart is providing a limited number of two new busts sculpted by Michael Berglund. Both are very detailed, about 4 inches tall with the base and 3D printed by two of the best 3D printers in the business. Grogu (“Baby Yoda”) was 3D printed by Ed Bradley and Creature Crafters. Gizmo (the cute Mogwai from GREMLINS) was 3D printed by Todd Powell and Escape Hatch Hobbies.
Round 2 is providing sci-fi snap-together plastic kits as well, and Kaiju Modeler is handling supplies.
We look forward to seeing you at the show.
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2023 #wonderfesthobbyexpo #blackheart #Round2Models #kaijumodeler
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ANNOUNCING A NEW BOOK--AND GUEST!
MICHAEL POSSERT is premiering a new book at WonderFest: The Rocket Factory - The Making of the Rocketeer's Helmet and Rocket Pack. You'll be able to order from his Facebook page or website (michaelpossert.com), and he bringing a limited number of books, hard and soft cover, to sell and sign. Plus an exclusive round gold sticker with a commemorative design for the WonderFest launch of the book ONLY!
Don't miss Michael's in-person presentation at 1pm Saturday, June 1st at WonderFest!
ABOUT THE BOOK: In 1990, Disney filmed The Rocketeer, a movie from the comic book of the same name by Dave Stevens. A small crew from a modest company was tapped to make the Rocketeer's helmet and rocket pack on a very short deadline. The journey of those props, going from comic book design to the big screen, has never been explored. With over 300 photos and images, The Rocket Factory: The Making of The Rocketeer's Helmet and Rocket Pack explains all the numerous iterations, tests and prototypes that went into the making of the iconic helmet and rocket pack.
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#therocketfactory #rocketeer #handmade
7 CommentsComment on Facebook
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the WonderFest Wrap Party… It’s JAWS in 30 Minutes or less!
The crew that brought you Scripts Gone Wild are bringing a briny new take on a classic we all love. Join us as we poke the shark with a cast of WonderFest crew and special guests!
Choose to eat at the event ala carte, visit the cash bar, or just come for the fun! Food and drink sold separately.
WonderFest Sunday evening, June 2nd, at 7:30pm.
Tickets are just $9 per person, sold at Admissions and at the door.
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2024 #wonderfesthobbyexpo
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Sounds like I should bring a 12-pack of Narragansett this year!