Next ‘Fest: June 1-2, 2019 | Crowne Plaza Louisville Hotel
SEARCH THE SITE:
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 30th 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.
MEET THE 2019 GUESTS
Click their names to read about them.
PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
Click an icon to learn more.
Tickets
Sold at the door only.
Adults: $30 for 1-day, $45 for 2-days.
Ages 4 to 12: $10 for 1-day, $15 for 2-days
Age 3 and under free.
Ticket booth hours…
Hotel & Restaurant
Special WonderFest room rates at the Crowne: $124 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…
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…
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
- $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 700 entries in 2018, it took up the entire ballroom and featured some of the best modeling we’ve ever seen.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE (TENTATIVE)
MAY 31 & JUNE 1-2, 2019
| # | Session | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazing Figure Modeler's Model Boot Camp | 9A-5P | TBA |
| 2 | Badger / Black Heart Model Finishing Class | 10A-4P | TBA |
| 3 | Garage Kits.US Colors Paintfest | 9A-4P | TBA |
| 4 | TAG Team / Iwata Sci-Fi Modeling School | 9A-4P | Madison |
| 5 | Friday Night Welcome Party | 7P-9P | Main Hallway |
| 6 | Friday Night Frights | 10P-? | Theater B |
| # | Session | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DEALER ROOMS OPEN | 10A-5P | Dealer A & B |
| 2 | HOW-TO DEMOS | 11A-5P | Elliott, Franklin, Grant |
| 3 | GUEST TALKS | 10A-4:30P | Theaters A & B |
| 4 | CONTEST ENTRIES | 8A-Noon | Coronet |
| 5 | CONTEST VIEWING | Noon-5P | Coronet |
| 6 | RONDO AWARDS | 5P-7P | Theater A |
| 7 | CHILLER CINEMA LIVE | 7:30P-11:30P | Theater B |
| 8 | RoboCon at WonderFest | 10AM-5PM | Dealer A |
| # | Session | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DEALER ROOMS OPEN | 10A-5P | Dealer A & B |
| 2 | HOW-TO DEMOS | 10A-2P | Elliott, Franklin, Grant |
| 3 | CONTEST VIEWING | 10A-3P | Coronet |
| 4 | GUEST TALKS | 10A-3P | Theaters A & B |
| 5 | CONTEST AWARDS CEREMONY | 3P-4P | Theater B |
| 6 | ROBOCON AT WONDERFEST | 10AM-5PM | Dealer A |
| 7 | WONDERFEST WRAP PARTY | 7:30P-9:30P | Theater A |
MUST-SEE PROGRAMMING
Click an icon to learn more.
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
5pm 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…
HIGHLIGHTS FROM WONDERFEST 2018
Click image to open a slideshow.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
They help make this event possible!
WONDERFEST LATEST NEWS
From our Facebook feed...
SPECIAL WORKSHOP - Sunday, June 2nd, 12:30PM
"Hollywood on a Cosplay Budget"! Master movie propmaker Ken Palkow meets master cosplayer Scott Pope in a creative and revealing presentation about translating mega-buck original movie props and weapons into fan-friendly versions for costuming and more. Ken always puts on an exciting display at WonderFest and takes it to the next level with this instructional session on how to wow the public and fellow creators with unique and lightweight materials on a budget!
Read more about our guest presentations at wonderfest.com/upcoming-show/programming/#guestpres
Can somebody record that one for me? I'm sorry I'm gonna miss it!
Nice!
Just a reminder that Monster Kid FRANK DIETZ is returning for our 30th--and we're delighted! Frank's had a busy year. A new movie comedy he wrote, I HATE KIDS, opened January 18th. He helped out animating the penguins in MARY POPPINS RETURNS, and he starred in the radio comedy WHAT ABOUT BLOB? with Brian Howe, Frank Conniff and Trace Beaulieu from "Mystery Science Theater 3000."
Frank has a new book coming out in time for WonderFest, called "Sketchy Things: Beauties and Beasts" featuring art inspired by Frank's favorite gals and monsters.
For info about tickets, hotel and more, visit www.wonderfest.com.
See you there Frank
NEW GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: Sam Irvin is a two-time Rondo Award winning veteran film and television director, producer, screenwriter, author, journalist and film teacher. His credits include working with Brian De Palma on THE FURY & DRESSED TO KILL, directing the supernatural TV series DANTE'S COVE, to being co-executive producer of the Academy Award-winning GODS AND MONSTERS. A published author, he has written articles for such horror genre magazines as "Little Shoppe of Horrors," "Screem," "Cinefantastique," and his own fanzine "Bizarre." His long-standing friendship and association with Cassandra Peterson resulted in his directing her second feature film, ELVIRA'S HAUNTED HILLS. We'll be screaming it...er, screening it on Sunday morning at 10:30, followed by a Q&A with Sam.
Read more about Sam at: wonderfest.com/upcoming-show/guests/
Damn I though Elvira was coming.......
Well faithful WonderFest fans, we'd no sooner posted this evening about our guest Don Frye when we received a message that he's had a serious back injury and emergency surgery (with a graphic photo included) and must, regretfully, cancel his appearance at WonderFest 2019. We're very sorry to deliver this bad news. And we know that all of his fans will wish Don well in his recovery.
Hope he gets well soon
Health comes first. Wonderfest will be there for him next year. All the best.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh damn. Oh well. Hope he feels better. Really wanted to buy him a drink
Well Damn...
We're so thrilled to welcome back one of our nicest guests ever: the delightful Marta Kristen. Best known as the original "Judy Robinson" in TV's LOST IN SPACE, Marta has appeared in dozens of TV shows and movies. At WonderFest, she'll be at a table in a room with at least a dozen LOST IN SPACE Robot replicas, as part of RoboCon at WonderFest. Marta's appearance is sponsored by CultTVman!
Find all the WonderFest details at: www.wonderfest.com
I liked her better as a mermaid! 😉