Sci-Fi Valley Con

Last updated
Sci-Fi Valley Con
StatusActive
GenreMulti-genre [1]
Venue Blair County Convention Center
Location(s) Altoona, Pennsylvania
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2012 [2]
AttendanceNearly 4,000 in 2015 [3]
Organized byAssett Conventions LLC [2]
Website scifivalleycon.com

Sci-Fi Valley Con (formerly Sci-Fi in the Valley Con) is an biannual three day multi-genre convention held during June and October/November at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona, Pennsylvania. [1] [4] The conventions organizers also created Momento Con in Pittsburgh. [4]

Contents

Programming

The convention typically offers board gaming, charity auction, costume contest, film festival, guest panels, role-playing gaming, table-top gaming, trivia tournaments, vendors, video gaming, and workshops. [1] [3] [5] [6] The 2012 charity auction raised $1200 for The Machine Gun Preacher's Save the Children Foundation. [7] 2013's charity auction benefited Shriners Hospitals for Children and raised almost $1500. [8] The 2022 charity auction benefited the Children's Miracle Network. [9]

History

Sci-Fi in the Valley Con 2012 was moved from the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to the North Central Recreation Center in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. This occurred due to a local fee that would affect the conventions dealers. [2] [10] [11] In 2013, the convention moved to the Jaffa Shrine and used the bottom floor. [12] [13] It used both of the Jaffa's floors in 2014. [14] The convention used half of the Blair County Convention Center in 2015, and the whole facility in 2016. [3] [15] Sci-Fi Valley Con 2020 was moved from June to August due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and later cancelled. [16] [17] [18] [19] Sci-Fi Valley Con 2021 was moved from June to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [20] [21] [22] The October 2021 convention had lower than normal attendance. [9] The June 2024 event had additional parking offsite. [23]

Starting with the November 2024 event, Sci-Fi Valley Con expanded to two events per year. [4]

Event history

DatesLocationAtten.Guests
May 18–20, 2012 [11] North Central Recreation Center
Ebensburg, Pennsylvania 		1,000 (est.) or
1,200 [12] [13] 		Jeremy Ambler, Joshua Emerick, Chiara Fattorusso, Garrett Free, Jeremy McHugh, Mark Tierno, Tod Allen Smith, and April A. Taylor. [24]
May 17–19, 2013 [25] Jaffa Shrine
Altoona, Pennsylvania 		2,000 [14] Brian O'Halloran [12] [13]
June 27–29, 2014Jaffa Shrine
Altoona, Pennsylvania		Almost 3,000 [5] Rusty Gilligan, The Mandalorian Mercs, [26] Robert Bruce, Brian O’Halloran, [27] and Scott Schiaffo. [14]
May 15–17, 2015 [28] Blair County Convention Center
Altoona, Pennsylvania		Almost 4,000 [3] Blair Murphy [5]
June 10–12, 2016Blair County Convention Center
Altoona, Pennsylvania		Brian O'Halloran, John Rhys-Davies, [29] Zach Galligan, Alaina Huffman, John Morton, Alex Vincent, and Fred Williamson. [3]
June 9–11, 2017Blair County Convention Center
Altoona, Pennsylvania		 Nicholas Brendon, Dameon Clarke, David Eddings, Donald Fullilove, Harry Waters, Jr., Jeffrey Weissman, [30] Bob Gunton, Sam Jones, and Martin Klebba. [1]
June 8–10, 2018Blair County Convention Center
Altoona, Pennsylvania		Nicholas Brendon, Melissa Fahn, Richard Horvitz, Brian O'Halloran, Rob Paulsen, Rikki Simons, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons, [31] Lee Arenberg, Olivia d'Abo, and Tracie Thoms. [32]
June 7–9, 2019Blair County Convention Center
Altoona, Pennsylvania		 Rodger Bumpass, Seth Gilliam, Maurice LaMarche, Rob Paulsen, Billy West, [33] Adam Fergus, David Haydn-Jones, Mark Pellegrino, [6] David Lee Madison, and John Russo. [34]
October 8-10, 2021Blair County Convention Center
Altoona, Pennsylvania		 Jim Cummings, Gigi Edgley, Olivia Hack, Sam J. Jones, Jennie Kwan, James "Brad Mick" McDonough, Michaela Jill Murphy, and Emily Swallow. [22]
June 17-19, 2022Blair County Convention Center
Altoona, Pennsylvania		 Cam Clarke, Townsend Coleman, Grey DeLisle, Barry Gordon, Nolan North, Rob Paulsen, and Billy West. [35]
June 9-11, 2023Blair County Convention Center
Altoona, Pennsylvania		 Carlos Alazraqui, Greg Baldwin, Dante Basco, Grey DeLisle, Jennie Kwan, Maurice LaMarche, Cricket Leigh, Michaela Jill Murphy, Rob Paulsen, Janet Varney, Kari Wahlgren, [36] and Greg Sestero. [37]
June 7-9, 2024Blair County Convention Center
Altoona, Pennsylvania		Greg Baldwin, Roger Clark, Maurice LaMarche, Phil LaMarr, Nolan North, Steven Ogg, Maggie Robertson, Lauren Tom, Billy West, Rob Wiethoff, [38] Shawn Fonteno, and Ned Luke. [23]
November 8-10, 2024Blair County Convention Center
Altoona, Pennsylvania		 Ruth Connell, Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden, Colleen O'Shaughnessey, DJ Qualls, Mark Sheppard, Emily Swallow, [39] Omri Katz, Dave B. Mitchell, Bradley Pierce, Vinessa Shaw, and Rick Worthy. [4]
June 13-15, 2025Blair County Convention Center
Altoona, Pennsylvania		Dante Basco, Barbara Dunkelman, Kara Eberle, Peter Facinelli, Maggie Grace, Lindsay Jones, Michael Vincent Jones, Kellan Lutz, Ross Marquand, Nolan North, Jackson Rathbone, Arryn Zech, [40] Gil Birmingham, Julia Jones, Chaske Spencer, and Michael Welch. [41]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hicks, Cherie (June 2, 2017). "A plethora of pop culture: Sci-Fi Valley Con to feature Jones, Gunton and much more". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Dennis, Justin (February 11, 2012). "[VIDEO] Johnstown's 1st science-fiction convention to take War Memorial by storm(troopers)". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Hicks, Cherie (June 2, 2016). "Sci-fi, fantasy and fun: 2016 convention to feature famous celebrities". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Churella, Matt (November 2, 2024). "Back in town: Sci-Fi Valley Con returns for second time this year". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Hicks, Cherie (May 9, 2015). "Sci-Fi Valley Con continuing to grow | News, Sports, Jobs - Altoona Mirror". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  6. 1 2 Drumm, Amanda (May 24, 2019). "Calling all Sci-Fi Fans". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  7. ↑ Dennis, Justin (May 19, 2012). "[VIDEO] Sci-Fi in the Valley Con brings Jedi, Vulcans to Ebensburg". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  8. ↑ Dennis, Justin (May 18, 2013). "VIDEO Sci-Fi expo connects with fans". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  9. 1 2 Isenberg, Dan (June 20, 2022). "Out of this world: Sci-Fi Valley Con packs house with enthusiasts". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  10. ↑ DiPaolo, Dan (February 18, 2012). "Science-fiction convention coming to Johnstown". Daily American. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  11. 1 2 Dennis, Justin (March 6, 2012). "Sci-Fi in the Valley Con moving to Ebensburg recreational center". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  12. 1 2 3 Dennis, Justin (May 4, 2013). "Return of the geeks: Sci-Fi Valley Con fans will descend on Altoona". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 Frederick, Keith (May 11, 2013). "Sci-fi fan convention returns to the area". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 Gabeletto, Amanda (June 26, 2014). "Return of Sci-Fi: Convention brings other worldly and more to the Jaffa this weekend". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  15. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con". WTAJ. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  16. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2020 Postponed March". Facebook. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  17. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2020 Postponed May". Facebook. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  18. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2020 June Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  19. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2020 August Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  20. ↑ "Postponed October 8-10, 2021". Sci-Fi Valley Con. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  21. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2021 June Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  22. 1 2 "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2021 October Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  23. 1 2 Churella, Matt (June 8, 2024). "Sci-Fi Valley Con keeps drawing in big crowds". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  24. ↑ Rice, Ruth (May 12, 2012). "Sci-fi convention 3-day event begins Friday in Ebensburg". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  25. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2013 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  26. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2014 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  27. ↑ Dennis, Justin (June 6, 2014). "Bright reality for sci-fi event". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  28. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2015 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  29. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2016 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  30. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2017 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  31. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2018 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  32. ↑ Keith, Patt (June 1, 2018). "Family-oriented fantasy fun: Sci-Fi Valley Con to be held at Blair County Convention Center". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  33. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2019 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  34. ↑ Fasolo, Alyssa (June 8, 2019). "A family affair". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  35. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2022 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  36. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con 2023 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
  37. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con set to return". Altoona Mirror. June 3, 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  38. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con June 2024 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  39. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con November 2024 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  40. ↑ "Sci-Fi Valley Con June 2025 Information". FanCons.com. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  41. ↑ Costlow, Colette (June 16, 2025). "Fandom turns out for 'Twilight' vampires". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved 24 July 2025.

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