Next ‘Fest: October 24-25, 2020 | Crowne Plaza Louisville Hotel
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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 31st 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 2020 GUESTS
Click their names to read about them.
SUZIE PLAKSON
Actress, Star Trek: TNG, Star Trek Voyager, Enterprise, Mad About You, Everybody Loves Raymond, Dinosaurs
CHARLIE BAILEY
Legendary ILM Model Maker: Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Back to the Future trilogy, Galaxy Quest
FRANK DIETZ
Actor, Writer, Animator, Producer, Director: Creepshow, I Hate Kids, Mary Poppins Returns
PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
Click an icon to learn more.
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…
Hotel & Restaurant
Special WonderFest room rates at the Crowne: $128 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, Oct. 24th, 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 823 entries in 2019, 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.
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…
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
They help make this event possible!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM WONDERFEST 2018
Click image to open a slideshow.
WONDERFEST LATEST NEWS
From our Facebook feed...
Sharing this post from our friends at AFM. Please support them by buying their magazine direct while newsstand is unavailable during the COVID-19 quarantine. We're all in this together!Attention Modelers, Readers and Subscribers of Amazing Figure Modeler magazine-
As you are well aware, COVID-19 is currently wreaking havoc with our lives, our economy and businesses. Unfortunately, Amazing Figure Modeler magazine is not immune to the troubles caused by the pandemic. As we were going to press, we received notice that all newsstand distribution would be halted for the foreseeable future. Luckily, we could adjust our numbers and avoid catastrophe. While we feel that AFM is essential, the Federal Government does not! This leads us to say something we never expected to say, and that is, for the first time since Issue Two, AFM will not appear on the newsstand or in bookstore chains such as Barnes and Noble. We’re not going to lie, it’s an unfortunate blow for our business, but we are so grateful for the loyalty of our subscribers and readership; we will weather this together.
What does this mean for you?
If you subscribe, your issue is on its way! Our trusty printer is mailing them as you read this. If you purchase AFM at your local comic shop, there will be a delay in shipping. Diamond Comics has temporarily stopped distribution of new comics and magazines until it is safe for warehouse workers to rejoin the workforce. Our Diamond order will ship at some point, we just do not know when. If you purchase AFM at a bookstore chain or newsstand, Issue 69 will not be on the shelves.
Now here is the much needed good news…you can purchase AFM directly from our website! No need to stand six feet away as you hit “Buy Now” on your computer--you’re safe with us! Just visit amazingfiguremodeler.com and order the new issue of AFM, it’s as simple as that; no gloves or hand sanitizer required!
What does all this mean for us?
It means we’re going to make many trips to the post office! With the virus being such a problem, we’ll probably only go once or twice a week to handle the mailing, so please bear with us as we deal with online orders.
Please help us get the word out that AFM is open and ready to ship our latest issue; feel free to share this message on model forums and social media so that everyone who wants AFM can get it!
These are uncertain and troubling times… we at AFM hope that you and your families and loved ones stay safe and healthy. We’re all in this together, and together we’ll overcome this. If you’re stuck inside with little to do, why not get creative and build or paint something? We happen to know a magazine that can help you out with that!
Thank you for your years of support; we’ll see you later this summer for a very special issue of AFM- our Reader’s Choice contest winners!
Apparently Cult got them in yesterday and I just placed an order right after so I should see mine late next week. Stay safe and keep up the great job as best you can.
Hoping mine arrives today!
Greetings everyone. This is Dave Hodge. I wanted to send out a note to folks who seem to have missed the earlier explanation that reservations will not be available at the hotel until we get our new numbers for the new contract which has now been signed. This is going to take another day or two. Please refrain from trying to make reservations until we give you the all clear. That will happen very shortly at which time I will issue an explanation of how this is going to work. Please be patient we will get you taken care of. Thanks very much, look forward to seeing you all.
Just a heads up. Complete cluster trying to cancel the reservation. Passed off to six different people. They keep insisting the reservation was made through a third party. Website is down to try and take care of yourself.
I think the Louisville Cardinals are playing a home game against Florida State Seminoles on 10/24
I might be able to make this one!
Greetings to everyone. This is Dave Hodge with you once again. As promised when I had some news to give I would inform you as soon as possible. Also as promised I have been following the situation every day constantly assessing the various information cycles and trying to make the best call possible as to how to proceed. As we begin this first day of April it seems clear to me that the situation will probably not abate till mid May at the earliest. And that is probably being optimistic. Many of our attendees are people that have a high risk factor. I am among them so I am cognizant of how many are trying to weigh what to do. Your love of the show and your loyalty is one of the reasons we continue to do it after all this time. There’s no telling how long this will continue but I am going to try to make the best decision I can both for the show and it’s attendees. With the support of my staff the decision has been made to move the show dates to OCTOBER 23-25, 2020. I am in hopes that at that time things will have turned around to the point that we can have a safe and fun show. This date is still tentative as I have not signed the final papers but is our last and best option at this time. I expect to have all in hand within the next 48 hours. I am announcing this now so people can make decisions about how they wish to proceed. It will be a few days and we will get new hotel reservation numbers up with an explanation of how it will work. DEALERS today would’ve been the last day to cancel your tables with no penalty. That of course is no longer valid. You now have until SEPTEMBER 15 to make a decision as to whether you can handle the date change.  If it’s a problem for you, do not hesitate to let me know and we will get you taken care of to your satisfaction. As the situation remains fluid, things could change again. If that happens I will inform you the second any kind of new decision is made. I don’t believe in putting out speculation or information that I do not have or cannot act on because this is a moving phenomenon. If I know it, you will know it. I realize some people can’t help but speculate, some out of concern and love for the show, some for the opposite reasons. One last item for now. Some of our guests have already confirmed that they are hanging with us and will be there in October. I expect more will. Till my next message remember this. Above all Wonderfest has always been to me a family. Whatever decision you have to make do it with your safety and health in mind. I wish all of you the best during these very trying times. PLEASE take care of yourselves. I want to see your smiling faces again. Dave
That sounds like a great idea! I like the idea of the show being in the Fall!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! You said it all in one word. Family. Take care of yourselves, stay healthy, be safe and we’ll all see each other in October.
Thanks so much for all the work you do, Dave. Making plans to troop the hallways as usual for you this fall.
lets do this!!!!
I’ll be there with some more Monster Playsets!! My wife was disappointed ( She likes when I’m gone for the weekend!!) hmmmm! But she said October will work too! See you guys then!
Appreciate and respect your decision my dad has copd and he loves this stuff we come every year and I have fell in love with it as well thanks for not giving up and cancelling see you in October
I've only missed 3 and I have no plans to skip this one! I will see you all in October!
Thanks, Dave and to your whole team for your hard work every year. I know this was a difficult de decision. You can count on Round 2 to be there in October or whenever Wonderfest is held. God bless.
One the bright side, this means the show now has another paint class. 😬 Looking forward to another great show regardless of the date ... we’re all here for you and the staff.
I'll see if I can get off that Friday from work, sad, but understand... Maybe a few more entries to the contest with the delay
Halloween Wonderfest!?!?!? AWESOME!!!!!!!
Looking forward to seeing everyone in October!
I think anyone that's attends, or was planning to attend the show, are more than happy to wait. Better to do what's best in the interest of everyone's safety. You and your staff are the best in the biz and we know you'll do your best to make sure the show goes on. Thank you for all that the WF staff does.
Thank you for making this tough decision. I just moved my vacation dates so we can be there. More time to work on my models 😉
What about hotel / motel reservations? - Are we on our own? or this being handled at the same time ?
Steve, you guys probably made the right choice; I hope to attend this year. Thanks for all your hard work!
Thanks for all the hard work Dave and company. I am really happy you have been able to work it out, and as a geezer, thanks for looking out for us!
I really hope those who already had reservations will automatically get a room with the new date! 😳
Well, see you all in October!! I hate the changed date, but I'll still support the greatest show on earth!!!!
Due to the rescheduling of Wonderfest, we here at The Creature Feature HalloweenFest will reschedule our show as not to fall on the same weekend in October just a few miles apart. This would be counterproductive to both shows, and I know how DIFFICULT it is to schedule these shows, and RESCHEDULING is a Nightmare! The corona Virus has EVERYTHING topsy turvy right now, and we are all in this together and must work together and help one another out. If you know of folks out there that already have our flyer please inform them that their will be a schedule (Date)change and will not fall on the same weekend as Wonderfest.of this year. Again these dates for the Creature Feature HalloweenFest Show will no longer be valid, and check with me for new dates. Wonderfest is a staple show,in the industry and is more intricate than the Creature Feature show so lets all support one at a time. Thanks, Steve
Being on my professional association conference planning committee that had to do a similar move, I appreciate what you and your people are doing.
David, i’m still in! Awesome month for a show too. Do i dare say... Halloween party? ❤️👍
This is a good call, glad you guys were able to reschedule. Gives me more time to work on contest entries anyway! Ed and I (i.e. Arsenal Models) will see you in October! Stay safe!
Mike's Machining will still able to come so long as the Canadian/American boarder is open. Thank you for all your hard work.
Halloween WonderFest? C’mon, man! This will be one for the ages.
