Next ‘Fest: May 31-June 1, 2025 | Crowne Plaza Louisville Hotel
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PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
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Tickets
Sold at the door only.
Adults: $36 for 1-day, $50 for 2-days.
Ages 4 to 12: $13 for 1-day, $20 for 2-days
Age 3 and under free.
Ticket booth hours…
Hotel & Restaurant
Special WonderFest room rate at the Crowne: $149 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 2024 GUESTS
Guests will sign autographs at their table or at posted times!
VANESSA HARRYHAUSEN
Daughter of Ray Harryhausen: Author, illustrator and Trustee of the Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation
BELINDA BALASKI
Artist, writer & actress: Piranha, The Howling, Gremlins 1 & 2, Matinee, Food of the Gods
FON DAVIS
Production designer, modelmaker: Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline
ROGER CHRISTIAN
Set decorator, production designer and feature film director; Star Wars, Alien, Final Cut, Nostradamus, Underworld
DANIEL ROEBUCK
Actor, voice actor, filmmaker; The Fugitive, Star Trek TNG, The Munsters, Jedi Fallen Order
FRANK DIETZ
Actor, Writer, Animator, Producer, Director: Creepshow, I Hate Kids, Black Roses, Zombie Nightmare
JOHN EAVES
Production Illustrator, Star Trek Picard, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and 3, WandaVision, Loki
SAM IRVIN
Director: Elvira's Haunted Hills; Author: The Epic Saga Behind 'Frankenstein: The True Story'
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
- $15.00 per first 2 models for adults, up to 8 additional entries free
- $10.00 per first 2 models for teens, up to 8 add’l entries free (ages 13-19)
- Free for ages 12 & under
With over 1,049 entries in 2023, 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 34th 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...
Greetings everyone. Wonderfest 2025 is now open for hotel booking. We would suggest you do it sooner rather than later as we sold out earlier than ever last year. We’ve added some more rooms and days, but that still doesn’t guarantee that if you’re late, you will get a spot. You can go to the website for the Louisville Crowne Plaza hotel, and use the code WND to get the room
rate. Or you can call 866-888-0620. Once again, the code is WND. we will be posting this information to our website as well a little later.
Show dates are May 31-June 1, 2025.
26 CommentsComment on Facebook
Just got off the phone with the Crowne Plaza, and from what Ive been told, the rooms are sold out for WonderFest USA 2025!? I Think I booked the last rooms for Friday through Sunday, and they gave me a room with one King bed for Thursday for the same rate. I asked if they thought there;d be more rooms added to the group discount, but the hotel said that they already had the majority of the rooms. I'm hoping we can get some clarification on this from the WF staff....Ive NEVER seen the rooms sell out this quickly!?
The website has the 2025 info and link now.
Hmm, called the hotel and they said they had no availability
The list of 2024 Amazing Model Contest winners has now been posted on the WonderFest website. Congratulations to all for another record year!
www.wonderfest.com
We had a total of 1,118 entries in 2024–a new record! Congratulations to all of our winners and entrants! 2024 Sponsored Awards Most Amazing Figure Sponsored by Amazing Figure Modeler Magazine To...3 CommentsComment on Facebook
Since you no longer have an awards ceremony at the show, perhaps you should consider adding a large tv or monitor Sunday morning between the contest room doors running a slide show listing the winners and picturing the golds and special awards.
Working on it. We'll see.... 😉
Sure wish you had added pictures of all of the winners. Simply saying "Batman" is of no use.
Don't miss Greg at WonderFest on Saturday only!Louisville welcomes Greg Nicotero to Wonderfest convention this weekend! We have a strong feeling he will be stopping through at Nic & Norman's Louisville during his stay! Have you made your reservation for tonight yet? Reserve your table here: www.nicandnormans.com/louisville-ky#loc-info 🤫 #Wonderfest #WhiskeyAlley #NicandNormans #GregNicotero
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
He said we're all invited tonight at 7. I made a 730 reservation to be on the safe side.
We have reservations for tomorrow.
I didn't!
There's a seat left for tomorrow's class if you act quickly!Save 20% from now till Monday night!
SEATS ARE STILL OPEN FOR THIS 3D FRIDAY WORKSHOP!
Design Futuristic Models: 3D Modeling for 3D Printing Innovation!
Friday, May 31 | 8am-6pm | Instructor: Stephen Burns
New to 3D? This class is perfect for you. Take a deep dive in learning how to create a part or a whole model in Blender--specifically for 3D printing. Blender 3D is an open source 3D software package that allows you to build, texture, animate, create effects and 3D print. And it is amazing!! This class will focus on getting to build, texture and render your 3D visions.
3D Printers have come down in price tremendously. Class will address two types: Resin printers (SLA) and filament printers (FDM). Printing Software to be used and discussed will be Chitubox, Lychee and Cura.
Prerequisites: Bring your own laptop, install Blender 3D (it’s free!), and have a mouse that has a scroll wheel for the middle button.
Participants will receive a video of the full class.
Cost for the class is $275 per person. Take advantage of the Memorial Day Sale. From now till Monday night at 11:45pm, save 20% off the cost!
For more info and to register:
futuristicmodel.eventbrite.com
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Here we come…..:
We have a GOOD feeling about this!
Whether you have Hyperdrive or Warp Drive...good luck on your journey to WonderFest...and please get here safely!
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2024 #wonderfesthobbyexpo
22 CommentsComment on Facebook
See you all soon
Didn't finish the 'Matter Transferral Unit' in time so I guess we are driving... See you Thursday evening!
Will all the guests stay until Sunday? I cant make it on Saturday