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Balticon is the title of the Maryland Regional Science fiction convention, sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS). BSFS has held Balticon annually since 1966. Due to the venue’s popularity and success, BSFS trademarked the name, “Balticon.”

Prior to 1966 BSFS held an annual event for the election of BSFS Board of Directors. After several years, BSFS rented hotel space and invited an author to speak, as a guest of honor, at its election events. From this point forward, the event became an annual convention known as Balticon. Subsequently, BSFS election functions were moved to a different date.

Neil Gaiman was one of the guests for Balticon 2006.

Balticon brings together hundreds of science fiction professionals and creative amateurs with well over one thousand SF fans for a yearly event held inside a hotel in the Baltimore area. Before 2001, Balticon was held on Easter weekend to take advantage of lower hotel costs; however, in 2001 Balticon moved to Memorial Day Weekend and expanded to a four day convention. Unlike other SF conventions on holiday weekends, Balticon uses all four days to deliver over 300 hours of program and tends to run 24 hours a day from Friday at 1:00pm till 5:00pm on Monday. BSFS presents the Compton Crook Award for best first novel in the genera during Balticon.

Besides panels by authors debating every literary and philosophical principle imaginable, Balticon features programs on:

• anime,
• film,
• music (including filk music),
• science discoveries,
• game show style trivia contests,
• a huge art show and Masquerade,
• poetry and prose writers' workshops,
• charity auctions,
• dances, and
• live theater.

• Balticon Official Website