Next ‘Fest: June 1-2, 2024 | 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: $142 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
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...
NEW GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: ROGER CHRISTIAN (SUNDAY ONLY)
The creator of the original lightsaber is coming to WonderFest! We're thrilled to welcome ROGER CHRISTIAN--an English set decorator, production designer and feature film director. He won an Academy Award for his work on the original STAR WARS (now Episode IV) and was Oscar-nominated for his work on ALIEN. DOLLAR BOTTOM, his 2nd short film, won an Academy Award for Best Dramatic Short Film. Christian directed the second unit on both RETURN OF THE JEDI and STAR WARS EPISODE 1 - THE PHANTOM MENACE.
Roger's other feature credits include THE SENDER, NOSTRADAMUS, FINAL CUT, UNDERWORLD, MASTERMINDS and JOSEPH AND MARY.
Roger will be here on SUNDAY ONLY with our friend David West Reynolds to promote his new documentary, GALAXY BUILT ON HOPE.
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2024 #wonderfesthobbyexpo #rogerchristian #starwars #galaxybuiltonhope
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
A small preview:
Excellent guest! I’ve interviewed Roger and he’s so good and stories are amazing!
This is amazing!
GUEST CANCELLATION: JOE DANTE
We have good news and bad news: The good news is there's a new JOE DANTE movie on the way! The bad is this means Joe will NOT make it to WonderFest this year because of filming schedules.
As many of you may have read, back on March 15th it was widely reported that Joe Dante would be returning to the director's chair for "Little Shop of Halloween Horrors," a reboot of Roger Corman’s famed 1960 horror comedy, "Little Shop of Horrors."
Joe hung with us in hopes that the shooting dates would still allow him to make it to WonderFest. (When he was here in 2003, he was deep into the making of "Looney Tunes Back in Action.")
Alas, it is not to be, and Joe sends his sincere regrets that it cannot work out. We blame it on gremlins!
HOWEVER...we have some incredible new guest announcements coming, so watch this space!
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2024 #wonderfesthobbyexpo #joedante
8 CommentsComment on Facebook
Oh well, things happen. I totally understand (since I also work in that industry.. we couldn't bring the shuttle bay last year because we had a big job..)
well then , I'm sad AND happy. I'm "sappy"
That’s too bad — but I can’t wait for his new movie!!!
Just in from our Contest Chief! Better start getting those entry forms in!
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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.4 CommentsComment on Facebook
i have a category question. can a kit that is designed in 3d and printed be entered as "sculpt /scratchbuilt" or does it need to be entered according to the subject (horror, robot etc...)
Do you still have to wait in line to pay for your model contest entries at the show or are you required to pay on line.
Are they still doing the judging and awards as they’ve done the couple of years?
Something else cool you can see at WonderFest on June 1-2!
12 CommentsComment on Facebook
This is a perfect idea with all the Mashup Challenge shuttles!
Oh boy! I can't wait to photograph mine in there.
Greetings folks. if there are those of you who are still checking to see about getting rooms for the show at the show rate well then I have some good news. We have arranged for some rooms at the Galt House at reduced rates.
Below I will put the link if there is any interest for those of you that might have missed out on rooms earlier. You can also check out our website as well to link up.
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Who needs tickets?