Next ‘Fest: June 1-2, 2019 | 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 29th 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 2018 GUESTS
Click their names to read about them.
PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
Click an icon to learn more.
Tickets
Buy your tickets at the door for one day or the whole weekend. Early Bird tickets get you into the dealer’s rooms 2 hours early!
More info…
Hotel & Restaurant
Special WonderFest room rates in a fine hotel, with an award-winning restaurant. It’s so convenient to stay in the show hotel!
More info…
Louisville Attractions
Bring your family and take extra time to visit exciting tourism sites in and around Louisville. Go exploring.
More info…
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!
With 743 entries in 2017, it took up the entire ballroom and featured some of the best modeling we’ve ever seen.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE (TENTATIVE)
JUNE 1-2-3, 2018
| # | Session | Speaker(s) | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AFM Modeling Boot Camp | 9A-5P | Russell Room | |
| 2 | Badger / Black Heart Model Finishing Class | 9A-3P | Trimble Room | |
| 3 | Iwata / TAG Team Friday Workshop | 9A-4P | Madison Room | |
| 4 | Friday Night Welcome Party | 7P-9P | Main Hallway | |
| 5 | Iwata Airbrush Party | 7P-10P | Madison Room | |
| 6 | CHESLEY BONESTELL DOCUMENTARY SCREENING | 7:30P-9:10P | Theater B | |
| 7 | Friday Night Frights | 9:15P-11P | Theater B |
| # | Session | Speaker(s) | 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 | 7P-11P | Theater B | |
| 8 | Wicked WonderFest Hallway Cosplay Contest | 1PM-5PM | Main Hallway | |
| 9 | RobotWorks at WonderFest | 9AM-5PM | Grant Room |
| # | Session | Speaker(s) | 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 | CHESLEY BONESTELL DOCUMENTARY SCREENING | 1:30P-3:30P | Theater A | |
| 6 | CONTEST AWARDS CEREMONY | 3P-4P | Theater B | |
| 7 | ROBOTWORKS AT WONDERFEST | 9AM-5PM | Grant Room | |
| 8 | WONDERFEST WRAP PARTY | 7:30P | Theater A |
MUST-SEE PROGRAMMING
Click an icon to learn more.
How-To Demos
Learn techniques from other great modelers! Demos last from 30 minutes to an hour. Become a better modeler with these tips and tricks.
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
Fandom’s only classic horror awards—decided by fans, for 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 2016
Click image to open a slideshow.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
They help make this event possible!
WONDERFEST LATEST NEWS
From our Facebook feed...
Take a look at these great video shots from FineScale Modeler!
Click below to see Star Wars, Star Trek, and lots more fantasy creations.
Need to resubscribe fine scale modeler. Been model kit building since 1973 and 2004 mold making other figure resin kits to kit bash them. Love Star Trek universe my favorite, Star Wars, and sexy female resin kits
Was there, did that!
Jason Banks some great models.
We're happy to announce our 2018 Amazing Model Contest Winners List is finally posted on our website. Congratulations to all who entered and won!
wonderfest.com/upcoming-show/contest/past-winners-archive/2018-winners/
wonderfest.com
Pinnacle Award for Best Scratch BuildingSponsored by Resin Illuminati “N-Type Shuttlecraft XN-1B Javelin” Bill Krause
Thank you again, and congratulations to all the winners!
More entries = more winners ??? Let's aim for 800 models in 2019 (-:
It looks like silver and up are intended to be links to photos, maybe? Doesn't seem to be working for me...
Needs pics.
It's only been 2 weeks since Wonderfest, and I'm already for next years
Matt Lowe!!
Outstanding!!
Tables already booked, and we’re already working on the class prep for next year.
Ain’t missing this one!
Need to hit this one. Been too long.
I’ve been to everyone but 2 so I won’t miss this one
We shall be there again!
Go big or go home.
I get more out of it every year
Hope to make it
miss going..deeply.!!!
It's on my calendar already and I'm starting my "Christmas Club Account" at the bank so I'll have plenty of money to buy myself presents and pay for my room, meals, and gas for the trip from Kansas City, Missouri !
So, I don’t have much time to drink beer at the show. So what do you do? Go to wurst fest afterwards hang with my German peeps and drink good German beer. And bring your Wonderfest staff with you!
Congratulations on another great year folks! Looking forward to 2019 and the 30th Anniversary!
Thank you for all you do...
Sehr gut!
Nothing like good German beer!
Greetings any potential dealers for Wonderfest 2019. Pre-sales of tables for next years show has taken 116 of the 126
available table spaces. That’s right, there are only 10 tables left in Room A. Room B has more space left but is already starting to sell as well. If you want to table I would suggest that you get in soon. Update for June 8 - Now 7 tables.
Jimi Jr. Glancy
Also really means there's not enough dealer space(or demo space given how packed the vehicle ones were and people couldn't get in)
I agree with Scott. I had to skip a few classes because it was standing room only.
I think Wonderfest is pushing the boundaries of its venue. There is definitely inadequate parking. It seems to me like it is ready to graduate to a small convention center. Wonderfest also need to print more t-shirts. This is the third year in a row that all of the large t-shirts were gone before the doors opened on Saturday.
Is there a link to go to for buying tables?
Good deal.
We learned our lesson this year and renewed Sunday night.
Aradia Miniatures