CoastCon will present a Mardi Gras float to roll in the d'Iberville Parade in Mississippi on Sunday, February 19, 2012.
CoastCon is a science fiction convention based in Biloxi, Mississippi. This is the first year patrons of the convention will have the opportunity to ride on a parade float inspired by the event.
In true Carnival style, members threw the first annual CoastCon Mardi Gras Ball at the Fountainbleu Community Center in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, on Saturday, January 14.
Purple, green and gold fringe lined the entry ways. Gold marbled columns adorned the halls. The lights were dimmed and the party was rockin' to one of the best collections of fandom dance music this writer has experienced. Mark and Tiffany Brown, ball co-captains, organized every detail, and theirs was a job well done.
Niels Erickson reigned as King Herbius Rex I. After volunteering faithfully for the convention for 34 years, Erickson was honored with royal title. He dressed to the nines in ivory and gold, complete with embroidered fur-lined cloak. As he sat upon his throne and held his jeweled cane, His Majesty presided over the festivities.
"I am glad that we are starting a tradition this year with the first Krewe of CoastCon Mardi Gras Ball," stated Erickson. "It's good to be the king!"
Revelers wore a colorful assortment of ball gowns and costumes. Fan groups were present in droves. Lab coats worn by members of Inebriated Labs honored the group's leader, Queen Tapis I, Bevan Lowery.
Per Member Nolan West, "In popular fandom you have eggheads, you have mad scientists, you have bumbling scientists. We are the drunken scientists."
Donald Schermerhorn was particularly stylin' in his Oscar de la Renta ensemble. Schermerhorn runs Mobicon, the science fiction convention based in Mobile and held in May. Mobicon and CoastCon share volunteers and work together as sister conventions.
Members will present a CoastCon fan table during Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con from January 28-29, 2012, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mobicon will be present with its own fan table as well, as will other science fiction conventions and fan groups.
New Orleans is home for science fiction fans Alexis Tucker, Cheri Cerio and Rob Cerio. CoastCon is a second home for each. Alexis is the 2011-2012 Chairman of the CoastCon, Inc. Governing Committee. Cheri is Vice Chair and handles publicity. Originally from New York, NOLA transplant Rob is an author guest of CoastCon 35.
From March 16 - 18, 2012, CoastCon will celebrate its 35th annual convention at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum. Guests scheduled to appear include the original Bionic Woman herself, Actress Lindsay Wagner, as well as Actress Patricia Tallman of Babylon 5. Additional guests include Author Timothy Zahn, creator of Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, Gaming Guests Jon Leitheusser and Steve Kenson (Mutants & Masterminds Superhero RPG Game creators) and Fan Guest of Honor Ken Grimes who has been served as photographer and archivist for the event for 15 years.
"CoastCon is an engaging and brief escape from reality to participate in fun and games," shared Vice Chair Cheri. "It allows fan groups to gather and recruit members, and exchange ideas. Founded as a literary organization, we attempt to promote local science fiction writers and host writing panels while having fun in the process."
Committee Chair Alexis Tucker is a Star Wars fan and thrilled to meet Zahn. The author's character Mara Jade is a favorite of Tucker's. "She's the no-nonsense kind of female type which I like," stated Tucker. "She kicks butt!"
Superheroes is the 2012 theme. The convention features gaming, panels, merchants and more.
For ticket information on CoastCon, click here.
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