News

Baltimore Sci-Fi Society, Other Organizations Offer Events for Universal FanCon Attendees This Weekend

The Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS) announced on Sunday that it is inviting registered Universal FanCon attendees to several events over the original April 27-29 date of Universal FanCon after the convention announced last Friday that the event had been postponed until further notice.

The BSFS will host a social for Universal FanCon registrants on April 27 at the BSFS building, and are also inviting registrants to the BSFS Anime Social, Book Discussion, and general Social Meeting on April 28, as well as the Tabletop Role-playing Game Event on April 29.

The BSFS is also offering a 30% discount for memberships to its Balticon convention on May 25-28 to Universal FanCon registrants. Dealers who have registered for Universal FanCon are also eligible for a 30% discount for dealers tables at the Balticon convention, and BSFS is also offering a similar 30% discount for registered Universal FanCon artists who wish to exhibit at Balticon.

Additionally, "The Great Philadelphia Comic Con" event is also offering free Friday passes to Universal FanCon registrants on April 27, and 50% off passes to registrants on Sunday, April 29.

The Black Heroes Matter and The Nerds of Color organizations are also collaborating to host a one-day pop-up convention at the Wicomico Building about a mile from the Baltimore Convention Center on April 28.

The comics news website The Beat has also posted a list of ways people can help the artists and creators who were planning to attend the convention.

The Universal FanCon convention was scheduled to have its inaugural event in Baltimore at the Baltimore Convention Center from April 27-29. The staff said the reason for the cancellation was that the convention was in a financial deficit that wouldn't allow the staff to "operate the convention within budget." The notice stated that the convention isn't cancelled, and is instead postponed, although staff said regarding a new date, "once we are able to fully assess our options, we will make an announcement." The organizers of the event also stated that they were, "currently working with multiple organizations to see what alternate plans can be created for that weekend. We will have an answer for you by April 25th."

Voice actress Yuriko Yamaguchi and composers Saori Kobayashi and Teddyloid were announced as guests for the convention. While many of the other planned guests were still listed on the website's guest list until Friday, the Japanese guests were removed at some point beforehand.

Source: The Beat (Andrea Ayres)

Thanks to Petrea Mitchell for the news tip.