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Next ‘Fest: June 10-11, 2023 | Crowne Plaza Louisville Hotel

WonderFest 2023 - Return of the Builders

SEARCH THE SITE:

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Click an icon to learn more.

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Tickets

Sold at the door only.
Adults: $33 for 1-day, $48 for 2-days.
Ages 4 to 12: $12 for 1-day, $18 for 2-days
Age 3 and under free.
Ticket booth hours…

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Hotel & Restaurant

Special WonderFest room rates at the Crowne: $139 per night for up to 4 people! It’s convenient to stay in the show hotel with an award-winning restaurant
Reserve a room online…

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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 2023 GUESTS

Click their names to read about them. All appearances are tentative.

LORNE PETERSON

LORNE PETERSON

ILM Modelmaker, vfx artist: Star Wars Saga, Jurassic Park, Men in Black, Galaxy Quest

CHARLIE BAILEY

CHARLIE BAILEY

Legendary ILM Model Maker: Empire, Jedi, Back to the Future, Spaceballs, Galaxy Quest

BILL GEORGE

BILL GEORGE

ILM Modelmaker, VFX Supervisor: Blade Runner, Star Trek, Star Wars, Harry Potter

KIRK THATCHER

KIRK THATCHER

Writer, Director, Producer: Werewolf by Night, Star Trek, Jedi, Muppets, Dinosaurs

WESLEY EURE & KATHY COLEMAN

WESLEY EURE & KATHY COLEMAN

Actors: Land of the Lost and more!

ELIZABETH SHEPHERD

ELIZABETH SHEPHERD

Actress; Tomb of Ligeia, Damien: Omen 2, The Corridor People

NICK TATE

NICK TATE

Actor: SPACE: 1999, Lost, Pretty Little Liars, The Devil's Playground, The Blacklist

JOHN EAVES

JOHN EAVES

Production Illustrator, Star Trek, Marvel

DAREN DOCHTERMAN

DAREN DOCHTERMAN

Concept Artist, Visual Effects, Art Direction

RICK STERNBACH

RICK STERNBACH

Designer, Star Trek TMP, Voyager, DS9, Last Starfighter

WILLIAM STOUT

WILLIAM STOUT

Paleo Artist & Production Design, Return of the Living Dead

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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 10th, from 8 a.m. ’til Noon

  • $10.00 per first 2 models for adults, up to 8 additional entries free
  • $8.00 per first 2 models for teens, up to 8 add’l entries free (ages 13-19)
  • Free for ages 12 & under

With over 800 entries in 2022, it took up the entire ballroom and featured some of the best modeling we’ve ever seen.

MUST-SEE PROGRAMMING

Click an icon to learn more.

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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 33rd 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!

AFM logo
CultTVman logo
Black Heart logo
Badger Airbrush logo
Iwata logo
FineScale Modeler logo

WONDERFEST LATEST NEWS

From our Facebook feed...

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2 days ago
WonderFest USA

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!

This year we're looking for some new demo presenters to add to our talented group. If you have a technique you think other modelers will want to hear about, bring it on!

Brian Ludden and Joe Nejberger are still our demo coordinators and will help us review the proposals and choose the ones we can fit in this year.

We have a special webpage with the details and form you can use to send in your idea:

www.wonderfest.com/demo-presenters-needed/
... See MoreSee Less

If youre 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!

This year were looking for some new demo presenters to add to our talented group. If you have a technique you think other modelers will want to hear about, bring it on!

Brian Ludden and Joe Nejberger are still our demo coordinators and will help us review the proposals and choose the ones we can fit in this year. 

We have a special webpage with the details and form you can use to send in your idea:

https://www.wonderfest.com/demo-presenters-needed/
6 days ago
WonderFest USA

Registration is going strong for our FIVE (!) Friday Pre-Show Workshops at WonderFest 2023!

These are hands-on classes taught by the best of the best in our hobby. All are presented by their individual sponsors.

FOUR of them are still taking students, while one is already SOLD OUT. Don't wait! Learn more And sign up today!

More details and sign up info here: www.wonderfest.com/upcoming-show/programming/
#wonderfest2023 #wonderfesthobbyexpo
... See MoreSee Less

Registration is going strong for our FIVE (!) Friday Pre-Show Workshops at WonderFest 2023!

These are hands-on classes taught by the best of the best in our hobby. All are presented by their individual sponsors.

FOUR of them are still taking students, while one is already SOLD OUT. Dont wait! Learn more And sign up today!

More details and sign up info here: https://www.wonderfest.com/upcoming-show/programming/
#wonderfest2023 #wonderfesthobbyexpo

Comment on Facebook

I purchased the AFM Model Boot Camp #2 class, via PayPal. I got a receipt from PayPal, but no confirmation from anyone at AFM. Is that normal? Will I hear something about it before I get to the class?

My daughter and I are signed up for Boot Camp #1.

Yep normal. Terry will usually call everyone and confirm.

3 weeks ago
WonderFest USA

NEW GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT:
Actress ELIZABETH SHEPHERD is delighted to be getting out to conventions again to meet and share time with the fans—and we're SO happy she is joining us at WonderFest!

Elizabeth started her career in England, where she had the pleasure of playing Ligeia and The Lady Rowena in the Roger Corman movie THE TOMB OF LIGEIA with Vincent Price in 1964. In her first Hollywood film she played Joan Hart in DAMIEN: OMEN 2. She made history by being the first Emma Peel (!) in THE AVENGERS--then added to her Gothic repertoire by playing Syrie Van Epp in the outrageous series: THE CORRIDOR PEOPLE.

Please welcome Elizabeth to her first WonderFest!

Elizabeth Shepherd's WonderFest appearance is sponsored by CultTVman.

Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2023 #wonderfesthobbyexpo #elizabethshepherd
... See MoreSee Less

NEW GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT:
Actress ELIZABETH SHEPHERD is delighted to be  getting out to conventions again to meet and share time with the fans—and were SO happy she is joining us at WonderFest!

Elizabeth started her career in England, where she had the pleasure of playing Ligeia and The Lady Rowena in the Roger Corman movie THE TOMB OF LIGEIA with Vincent Price in 1964. In her first Hollywood film she played Joan Hart in DAMIEN: OMEN 2. She made history by being the first Emma Peel (!) in THE AVENGERS--then added to her Gothic repertoire by playing Syrie Van Epp in the outrageous series: THE CORRIDOR PEOPLE. 

Please welcome Elizabeth to her first WonderFest!

Elizabeth Shepherds WonderFest appearance is sponsored by CultTVman.

Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2023 #wonderfesthobbyexpo #elizabethshepherd

Comment on Facebook

The hits just keep on coming!! Way to go Wonderfest!! The guest line-up for this year is amazing!!

The Tomb of Ligeia was just on last week too!

Outstanding guest appearance 👍😍👏👏👏

Excellent news! My interview with her about her false start as Emma Peel on The Avengers will be in the May issue of Retro Fan Magazine!

View more comments

3 weeks ago
WonderFest USA

NEW FRIDAY CLASS! June 9th | 9 am-5 pm
INTRO TO BLENDER 3D — Bring Your Vision To Life!

Quickly get up to speed with Blender 3D! With the guidance of instructor STEPHEN BURNS, you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to use 3D to create your visions in this full day class.

Blender 3D is an opensource 3D software package that allows you to build, texture, animate, create effects and 3D print. And it is amazing!! Top animators appear to be gravitating to Blender as their personal software to create with. This class will focus on getting to know Blender 3D as a software and how to build, texture and render your 3D visions.

Cost is $225 per person. Prerequisites: Bring your own laptop, install Blender 3D (it’s free!), and have a mouse that has a scroll wheel for the middle button.

For more info and to register:
www.eventbrite.com/e/wonderfest2023-blender-3d-to-bring-your-vision-to-life-tickets-579549798047
... See MoreSee Less

NEW FRIDAY CLASS!  June 9th  |  9 am-5 pm
INTRO TO BLENDER 3D — Bring Your Vision To Life!

Quickly get up to speed with Blender 3D! With the guidance of instructor STEPHEN BURNS, you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to use 3D to create your visions in this full day class.

Blender 3D is an opensource 3D software package that allows you to build, texture, animate, create effects and 3D print. And it is amazing!! Top animators appear to be gravitating to Blender as their personal software to create with. This class will focus on getting to know Blender 3D as a software and how to build, texture and render your 3D visions.

Cost is $225 per person. Prerequisites: Bring your own laptop, install Blender 3D (it’s free!), and have a mouse that has a scroll wheel for the middle button.

For more info and to register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wonderfest2023-blender-3d-to-bring-your-vision-to-life-tickets-579549798047

Comment on Facebook

So will this class teach what we need to create objects for 3 d printing?

I am so honored to be back again this year to share more of the exciting 3D technology using Blener 3D. What you learn from this class will absolutely apply to 3D printing.

3 weeks ago
WonderFest USA

Here are two more Friday workshops from our friends at AFM! ... See MoreSee Less

Here are two more Friday workshops from our friends at AFM!Image attachment

Comment on Facebook

I just purchased the oil painting class. Should I receive a confirmation, other than the one from PayPal?

I'm signed up for the Pumpkinhead class, really looking forward to it!!!!

Trying to pick just one is hard!

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