Next ‘Fest: May 30-31, 2026 | Crowne Plaza Louisville Hotel
Weekend after Memorial Day
SEARCH THE SITE:
PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
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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...
THIS WEEKEND: TWO OUTSTANDING EXHIBITS!
STEP BACK IN TIME to the Star Wars model shop in 1976. A talented team has recreated the birthplace of Industrial Light and Magic from floor to ceiling. You'll swear you're really in Van Nuys, California during 1976! This exhibit will provide you the opportunity to walk amongst the same models, work benches, authentic tools and entertainment. The experience will be a feast for all your senses! In the Oldham Room.
Just down the hall in the Jefferson Room, you can experience a special exhibit of original props, wardrobe and other goodies from several shows of the STAR TREK franchise. See Lee Meriwether's Losira costume from "That Which Survives" as well as a selection of items including insignia, costumes, scripts and more from Deep Space Nine and the Star Trek Movies featuring the original crew.
WonderFest is May 30-31, the weekend after Memorial Day, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Louisville, KY.
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2026 #wonderfesthobbyexpo
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Here's a SPOOKY PAIR you can meet at WonderFest this weekend:
VICTORIA PRICE is an author and inspirational speaker who just happens to be the daughter of "king of horror" Vincent Price, best known for roles in films like THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM, THE RAVEN, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, and one little Michael Jackson video called THRILLER!
JOHN GOODWIN is an Emmy-winning makeup artist who's worked on hit shows CSI, CSI: NY, and feature films like MEN IN BLACK, TREMORS, CRITTERS, JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THING, and the more recent TALES OF FRANKENSTEIN.
WonderFest is May 30-31, the weekend after Memorial Day, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Louisville, KY.
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2026 #wonderfesthobbyexpo
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
You won't want to miss The Jupiter Experience!
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
A HEADS-UP FOR FOLKS COMING TO WONDERFEST...
The Crowne Plaza Hotel now takes payment only by card; no cash money is accepted. This includes paying for lodging as well as the restaurant and hallway food concessions and our Sunday night Wrap Party.
WonderFest Admissions and most dealers will still accept cash payment in addition to plastic.
WonderFest is May 30-31, the weekend after Memorial Day, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Louisville, KY.
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2026 #wonderfesthobbyexpo
9 CommentsComment on Facebook
THIS FRIDAY: 3 GREAT WORKSHOPS!
There may still be time to join one of these valuable skills workshops! Visit our WonderFest Programming page and follow the sign up links: www.wonderfest.com/upcoming-show/programming/
WonderFest is May 30-31, the weekend after Memorial Day, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Louisville, KY.
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2026 #wonderfesthobbyexpo
1 CommentsComment on Facebook