Windycon | |
---|---|
Status | Active |
Genre | Science Fiction/Fantasy Convention |
Location(s) | Oak Brook, Illinois |
Country | United States |
Inaugurated | October 25-27, 1974 |
Most recent | November 10-12, 2023 |
Next event | November 8-10, 2024 |
Organized by | ISFiC |
Filing status | Non-profit |
Website | http://www.windycon.org/ |
Windycon is a science fiction and fantasy literature convention held in Oak Brook, Illinois, on the weekend closest to Veterans Day.
ISFiC, the parent corporation that runs Windycon, [1] was founded in 1973 in Chicago. The first Windycon was held the following year and has been held annually ever since either in Chicago or a Chicago suburb. [2] It is a general interest convention.
ISFiC and Windycon were founded to raise the profile of fandom in Chicago in preparation for a Worldcon bid. [1] In 1982, Chicon IV was the result. From its small beginnings, Windycon has grown to have an annual membership hovering around 1300. It is the largest of the two fan-run Chicago conventions.
Annually since 1986, ISFiC has hosted a writers contest, open to unpublished authors. The contest is judged by professional authors and editors. [3] Separately, Windycon has hosted a writers' workshop under the coordination of Richard Chwedyk since 2000. [4] From 2004 to 2015, ISFiC Press, the publishing arm of Windycon's parent organization, published a Guest of Honor book to be released at the convention.