For the hard core Cleveland geek, there is no way to beat Altoona, PA’s SciFi Valley Con. It is just four hours away at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona, PA. With over 300 vendors and a variety of media guests, not to mention after-hours bowling, SciFi Valley Con is just plain fun! Guests include Jim Beaver and Steven Williams from Supernatural, voice actor Rob Paulsen (Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, Rick and Morty, TMNT and more), Invader Zim voice actors Richard Horvitz, Rikki Simons, Melissa Fahn, and Olivia D’Abo), Tracie Thomas (Rent, Cold Case and Death Proof), Tavicat creator Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons, and many more. It is well worth a day trip. The vendors space alone covers two large, geeky, levels. Day passes are $20.
Closer to home, Cleveland State University’s AHA! Festival at Playhouse Square offers book lovers a peek between the covers with storytelling, readings, author signings and performances on the Book Festival stage. Featured guests include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar whose Becoming Kareem tells the tumultuous spiritual and athletic journey from childhood through college and his first year in the NBA. Derek Hough, Emmy Award-winning choreographer and judge on NBC’s hit series World of Dance, will lead public dance workshops on the State Theatre stage. Be sure to check the website for even more guests and events. Free admission and free parking.
For those in the Society for Creative Anachronism, the geek ticket will be the Northern Oaken War Maneuvers. They say:
Registration
Adult (18+) Registration: $20 | $18 Advanced
Adult (18+) Member Registration: $15 | $13 Advanced
Youth: Free
Breakfast tavern on Saturday and Sunday are included in the site fee.Remit checks or register online with Midrealm E-Pay!
SCA INC – Barony of the Cleftlands
c/o NOWM Registration
P.O. Box 21201, South Euclid, OH 44121-0201Please include the following registration information when submitting via mail: real name, SCA name, membership number, membership expiration date. If known in advance, also include the license plate for the vehicle traveling to NOWM. It will expedite your trip through Gate! Deadline for postal and Midrealm E-Pay is June 3, 2018.
Please have your license plate information ready when you register. Take a pic on your phone! It will shorten your trip through Gate!
Gate Hours of Operation
Friday: 3:00 PM to 10:30 PM
Saturday: 7:30 AM to 3:30 PMWhen checking in, please park your vehicle along the driveway coming into the event site. There is no parking permitted in front of the gate tent. This path must be kept clear at all times in case of an emergency.
