There’s always so much to do at WonderFest!
The days are packed with events. Once the show closes at 5, we fill the nights with events, too.
Friday Daytime: Pre-Show Workshops
Blender 3D:
Sci Fi Landing Gear & Deployment Systems
Friday, May 29th | 10 am-6 pm | Instructor: Stephen Burns
Join our one-day Blender intensive where you’ll learn to design and model fully articulated, 3D‑printable landing gear for your spacecraft! Starting with core hard‑surface modeling techniques in Blender, you’ll build robust telescoping struts, shock‑absorbing mechanisms, and folding leg assemblies—all engineered with real‑world movement and structural integrity in mind.
The afternoon focuses on 3D‑printability, ensuring your landing gear isn’t just visually striking but also fully functional and ready to bring to life on any FDM or resin printer. Leave with a complete, articulated landing gear assembly, a custom texture set, and the skills to tackle any mechanical sci‑fi prop with confidence.
You will learn:
- Fundamental concepts of Blender 3D
- How to create landing gear components
- Applying modular design principles
- Texturing and Materials
- Rigging and animating
- Exporting and preparing models
- And much more!
Cost is $275 per person. Laptop required; see list of required items at the link.
AFM Model Boot Camps
Come for the instruction, leave with the knowledge!
We’re proud to present the following two classes for WonderFest 2026. Hope to see you all there!
Friday, May 29th | 9 am-5 pm | Crowne Plaza Hotel in Louisville
Boot Camp Class 1, Friday, May 29th, 9am-5pm
Dave Prosser, AKA The Professor, will lead the class in painting a large 1/4 scale The Fly bust by Earthbound Studios using a set of quality paints and brushes–all to keep and take home.
Cost for Boot Camp Class 1 is $310 per student.
Boot Camp Class 2, Friday, May 29th, 9am-5pm
Neal DeConte will lead the class in painting a beautiful retro-styled ray gun prop—the “Neurotic Neutron Neutralizer!”—using a set of quality paints and brushes–all to keep and take home.
Cost for Boot Camp Class 2 is $260 per student.
Saturday-Sunday Daytime
Dealers!
10am-5pm
Two Dealer Rooms!
Open 10 am till 5 pm Saturday and Sunday.
Dealers from around the world will be set up at more than 160 tables.
Early Bird tickets are available to get in two hours early on Saturday morning. See the Admissions booth.
501st Legion | Bluegrass Garrison
We’re so happy to welcome the members of the 501st Legion – Bluegrass Garrison.
You’ve seen the 501st on the Mandalorian series as well as adding a distinctively Star Wars presence at our past shows! They add a life-size element amid all the model-scale ones on display.
The Bluegrass Garrison will also be collecting donations for Norton Children’s Hospital.
Exhibits
10 am-5 pm both days
The STUDIO and The BACKLOT – In the Oldham and Madison Rooms!
A celebration of the modeling craft that unites makers from across the globe!
The STUDIO: What began as a modest collection spanning two tables–the studio-scale models of Jason Eaton and his close collaborators–has grown! Look for it across the hall from Dealer B in the Madison Room.
Every miniature featured is both a portal to a cherished pop-culture memory and a unique expression of their makers. They are hand-crafted creations, not mass-produced kits. And they are windows into the worlds that shaped who we are.
The BACKLOT: If you’ve ever wanted to travel back in time to the space where the Star Wars ships were first made, you’ll need to visit this exhibit where you’ll swear you’re really in Van Nuys, California during 1976!
A talented team has painstakingly researched all references of this model studio, procured them, and will recreate this birthplace of Industrial Light and Magic from floor to ceiling. 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!
Star Trek 60th Anniversary Exhibit
In honor of the 60th anniversary of STAR TREK the original series, we’re having a special exhibit of original props, wardrobe and other goodies from several shows of the franchise.
Have you have ever wanted to see Scotty’s tool kit up close? Maybe you want a look at an original “Red Shirt” from the TOS or get a glimpse of a cadet uniform then this is your chance. There will also be a selection of items including insignia, costumes, scripts and more from Deep Space Nine and the Star Trek Movies featuring the original crew.
Rumor has it there might be a recreation of a small section of the original bridge of the USS Enterprise.
Charity Raffle & Auction
Open Saturday 11 am–5 pm, Sunday 10 am–5 pm – in Dealer Room A
Every year at WonderFest there’s a Raffle and Silent Auction to benefit worthwhile charities. This incredible effort has raised more than $22,000–while hobbyists have taken home startling goodies–thanks to the generosity of many donors and friends of WonderFest.
Guest Talks!
10am-5pm
Guest Presentations
10 am-5 pm both days in the Upstairs Theaters
Every year our industry guests do presentations, participate in panel discussions, and do audience Q&As!
A schedule will be posted in the days leading up to the show.
How-To Demos
All Weekend
How-To Demos for Figure and Hardware Modelers
These FREE presentations by modelers change every year and usually last from 30 minutes to an hour, (or even two). Focus is on major topics and skills demonstrations. Some will allow the viewers to go hands-on and try the techniques shown.
Two tracks are offered: One for figure modelers and one for vehicle/hardware modelers.
A list of demos topics and times will be posted closer to the show date.
Airbrush 101 – in the Perry Room
SAT: 11 am-12;30PM, 2 pm-3;30pm
SUN: 11 am-12:30pm, 1:30pm-3pm
During WonderFest weekend, sign up for one of four FREE 75-minute, hands-on classes (limit 12 students each class), staged and sponsored by GREX Airbrush. No charge for WonderFest attendees. Sign-up in the Perry Room.
Make & Take for Kids 16 & Under
Saturday-only: 11 am–1 pm & 2–4 pm in the Elliott Room
Kids ages 16 and under can learn how to build or paint a model—and then take it home.
A great place for beginners to try model painting without fear. Best of all, it’s free! First-time modelers age 16 and under can learn to paint a model using acrylic paints—with help from a crew of patient and experienced volunteers—and then take the finished model home! (Above that age can participate, but there will be a small fee of $5.)
Thanks to Round 2 for donating snap-together kits and Black Heart Models for donating small resin busts this year! And to Kaiju Modeler and WonderFest for supplying paint, brushes, and hairdryers to speed the process.
There’s no better way to bring a new generation into our fantastic hobby!
Friday-Saturday-Sunday Night Programs
Friday
Friday Night May 29th
7-9 pm – Crowne Patio
WF26 Welcome Party
Meet & greet with arriving friends, a cash bar, and surprises!
Friday Night May 29th | Gore Club Podcast presents
8-11 pm – Upstairs Theater
A Night with WILLIAM STOUT, Master of the Movie Arts!
Saturday
The Rondo Awards: Fan-voted and presented at WonderFest!
Saturday, 4 pm in Upstairs Theater A
Fandom’s only classic horror awards decided by fans, for fans!
We’re happy to welcome David Colton and company back to WonderFest for their live awards presentation for the best in print, film, web, art, media, toys and models… in short, just about everything that makes our monstrous world go ’round!
So make a date with Rondo for Saturday evening. Seating starts at 4 pm in Upstairs Theater A.
Learn more about the much-coveted acromegalics at www.rondoaward.com.
Are you an IRON MODELER?
Saturday 6 pm-10 pm
It’s like ‘Iron Chef,’ but with models!
Eight 3-person teams are given a “base item” (could be a kit, could be a random item), a big pile of parts, greeblies and assorted castaway household items, and four hours to build the best model they can out of what they’ve got. A spray booth and paints are provided as well, but teams need to bring any glue or tools. At the end of four hours, the models are judged and the Iron Modeler Champion Team is crowned, giving them bragging rights for the next year. Oh, and there’s prizes too.
Official start time is 6pm, but you can arrive any time after 5:30 to set up your table. Teams should arrive no later than 5:45. If your team is not there by the 6pm start time, another team will take your place.
If you have any questions, just email John Lester.
Saturday Night in the Upstairs Theater:
Chiller Cinema LIVE!
Our friendly horror host and fan fave Doctor Gangrene (Larry Underwood) presents genre favorites in his usual style with a with a cool, fun double feature!
7-9 PM – TBA
Doc presents an entertaining movie with special surprises and door prizes!
AND…after a brief intermission…
9-10:30 PM – TBA
For the night owls, a second special screening for your enjoyment.
Sunday
The 2026 Wrap Party!
Sunday at 7:30 pm in the Upstairs Theater
To Be Announced…
Choose to eat at the event ala carte, visit the cash bar, or just come for the fun! Food and drink sold separately. The WonderFest team will present tributes and door prizes.
WonderFest Sunday evening, My 31st, at 7:30pm.
Tickets are just $9 per person, sold at Admissions and at the door.