Nerds Descend Upon Louisville in Just 10 Days

 

Kentucky has just exploded with conventions over the last few years. Just a couple of years ago, the only convention that I knew about as someone who lived in Lexington was Scare Fest, and though it's a great con, it really fits into its own niche. (I can't wait to attend this year, PS.)  Little did I know that there was a great con just a few counties over in the city of Louisville that I would get to attend last year. FandomFest emerged out of Fright Night Film Fest and has now become one of the largest multi-genre conventions in the Mid-West. At the rate that it is growing, it could become a Dragon*Con for the Upper South/Mid-West and that would be phenomenal. In fact, it's not even just one convention. Fright Night Horror Weekend and Film Fest is a huge part of the affair, as is FandomFest, which brings in many guests based in pop culture, but there's a third component as well, Mid-America Comic Con. Rather than having one niche convention, the organizers of FandomFest have brought together some of the biggest names in popular culture, horror, comics, literature, movies, you name it really, for one great weekend.

Also in Louisville that weekend, specifically on June 30, is Derby City Comic Con. I had the pleasure of attending DCCC last year as well and was so pleased for it to be my first convention in almost 20 years (my first ever convention was the Fox Kids Expo back in the early 90s and it was glorious.) We had a great time at Derby City and met a lot of great folks, even though I didn't get to talk to Tony Moore at either convention. For the first year of the convention, I think that they did astonishingly well, as around 3000 comic fans came out to the Kentucky International Convention Center for the con. This year, it will be back in the same location with some great artists in attendance made up by a lot of local talent. There will be a silent auction in which you can place your bids all day with winners being announced just before the convention comes to a close. All proceeds from the auction benefit Kosair Charities. 

You want to know the best part? These conventions are only A BLOCK AWAY from each other and while Derby City runs from 10-5, but FandomFest continues into the evening, especially the gaming and panels portion. Check back to Kentucky Geek Girl for full previews of both conventions.

Fandom Fest/Fright Night Horror Weekend

and Film Festival/ Mid-America Comic Con

Galt House Hotel

140 North 4th Street Louisville, KY 40202

Day Passes - $25/day, Weekend Pass - $50

CONVENTION HOURS

Friday 4pm- 2am FOR VIPs 5pm-2am for General Admission

Saturday 9am-2am FOR VIPs 10am-2am for General Admission

Sunday 10am-5pm FOR VIPs 11am-2am for General Admission

Facebook | FandomFest.com | Twitter

Derby City Comic Con

Kentucky International Convention Center

221 South 4th Street Louisville, KY 40202

Adults $10, Kids 12-under: Free

CONVENTION HOURS

VIPs get in at 9AM; Doors open at 10 for regular ticket holders.
Facebook | DerbyCityComicCon.com | Twitter

Highland Renaissance Festival Kicks Off This Weekend

There's really nothing like Renaissance Fair. From the accents, ale, and period costumes to the giant turkey legs that are nearly as big as your head, a Renaissance Fair transports you back hundreds of years. Whether you come in costume or not, you're likely to see plenty of folks dressed up in their best fairy, pirate, or other fantasy finest. The long-running Highland Renaissance Festival kicks off this weekend in Eminience, Kentucky which is located in Henry County, about 50 minutes from Louisville and 1 hour 15 minutes from Lexington.

ConGlomeration in Louisville This Weekend

Louisville's multimedia science fiction and fantasy convention, ConGlomeration, will be held this weekend at the Louisville Ramada and Conference Center April 13 - April 15 (Friday through Sunday). The convention,which is organized completely for fans by fans, will celebrate its twelfth year in 2012. Following the retirement of RiverCon in 2000, fans of fantasy and science fiction began a convention which has been a staple in the Louisville science fiction scene. The entire staff is volunteer and the convention is truly a labor of love. More after the break!

Lexington Native to Appear in Downton Abbey Season 3

The Season 2 finale of Downton Abbey aired just a few weeks ago on KET and now Downton Abbey fans will wait at least 11 months until the third season premieres. For those who have been not indoctrinated into the Downton Abbey fandom, it is PBS Masterpiece Classics series which centers around the life of an aristocratic family and their servants in Great Britain. The family has weathered the storm that was the first two decades of the 20th century including the Titanic, World War I, and personal scandal. The series has become such a hit and many Kentuckians will be delighted to know that one of our own has been cast in the third season.

Lucille Sharp, 21, is a Lexington native who attended the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA) from 4th grade until 10th grade. After finished her high school career at Interlochen School for Performing Arts in Michigan, Sharp moved to London where she has been pursuing an acting career. Sharp looks a great deal like Michelle Dockery who plays Lady Mary Crawley on the series, so she definitely could pass as a Crawley cousin. However, her role will be Miss Reid, the maid of Lady Cora's mother, Martha Levinson. Shirley MacClaine will be debuting in that role when Season 3 premieres in early 2013.

Geeks Who Care: Ways To Help Tornado Victims

On Friday, the state of Kentucky was devastated by the worst tornado outbreak in over 20 years. West Liberty, located in Morgan County, was among the hardest hit. Please consider lending a hand with the relief efforts. If you're able to, I implore you to donate blood with the American Red Cross or Kentucky Blood Center. You can also text "Red Cross" to 90999 to donate $10 for relief efforts.

Kentucky For Kentucky celebrates kick a** Kentuckians

A few months ago I noticed a Facebook page called Kentucky for Kentucky had been created. The goal: to spotlight the Bluegrass state and the amazing contributions and cultural influences it has made since its entered the Union in 1792. Some notable people include George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Josh Hutcherson, Diane Sawyer, Ashley Judd, Lee Majors, Jeri Ryan... okay the list goes on and on. It's been my mission since I founded KGG to spotlight the awesomeness of Kentucky's geeky side with features on comic book shops and gaming shops as well as other interesting stories. Our site is called Kentucky Geek Girl after all and we're very proud of our state!

University of Kentucky holds world's largest water balloon fight

Brigham Young University set world record for the world's largest water balloon fight in 2010. The University of Kentucky is nothing if not ambitious, so Christian Student Fellowship sponsored a fight during K-Week (freshman orientation/move-in week) on August 26. Over 175,100 balloons were used in the fight.

Balloons were provided by KAOS, a company that makes water balloon launchers. 8.957 members of the University of Kentucky community participated in the fight which was held at the Johnson Center (athletic center) at UK. 

As Transylvania alumnae, we're super proud of our friends at the University of Kentucky. Good job, guys!