ConGregate 12

A panel discussing the scientific basis for life in all its shapes and sizes and the critical features needed to make realistic alien life in sci-fi.

Moderator: Angela Giddings

Pirates once ruled the Renn Festivals and Convention Corridors, but it seems lately that Vikings are taking over.  What is it about Vikings (and their costumes) that make them all the rage?

Moderator: Matt Penick

Folklore and Storytelling have long been a part of speculative fiction.  From retellings of classic fairytales and Arthurian Legends to new versions of old myths, how can authors incorporate the old (and respect the tradition) while still bringing something new to the story.

Moderator: Gail Martin

Alexandra’s unique folk / indie / Americana silvery enchanting voice and clever, refreshing lyrics combine for a unique sound listeners find both soothing and captivating.  

A discussion of well-known "statistics" and their associated fallacies. The panelists may bring up a statistic to other panelists and see if they can spot the problems with it (along with some discussion about why it's misleading).

Moderator: Brandon Whitworth

The Haunting of Prince Dom Pedro
The Things We Keep

Do you have what it takes to overthrow your fellow geeks? Syrinx (and volunteers) brings his brand of bar trivia to the convention for some friendly single-elimination competition. The audience members will have a chance to be geek gurus as they answer questions spanning different fandoms and geek cultures.

Star Wars: Andor, Star Trek, StarGate, (Battlestar Galactica and Firefly) - Fandom has passionately followed the tv series that take us to the Stars...what is it about a series set in space that captures our attention so much so that fans have driven the "saving" of franchises, the never ending reboots and new versions of our favorite series.

Moderator: Tom Hutchens

Grab your Hawaiian Shirt and join James Fulbright (Con Chair) and Mike Pederson as we introduce our guests and tell you about the special events happening this weekend!

Each year, ConGregate remembers contributors that we have lost from the science fiction and fantasy world. The tradition began in memory of Aaron Allston, who was well known for his love of Hawaiian shirts. We encourage everyone to wear a Hawaiian shirt on Friday, July 17.

This is also where the Manly Wade Wellman Award will be presented. The Manly Wade Wellman Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy was founded in December 2013 to recognize outstanding achievement in science fiction and fantasy novels written by North Carolina authors.

Where it "began," how we got "here," a run-down of the types of fusion, and then a round-up of most of the current fusion research paths and their relative promises.

Where Fandom Meets the Unscripted.

Prepare for a high-energy, side-splitting comedy experience as the Idiot Box Comedy Club takes the stage at Congregate! This isn’t your standard improv show—it’s a deep dive into the heart of the con.

Our players are ditching the script and plugging into the Congregate hive mind. We’re taking your suggestions and spinning them into instant comedy gold. Whether you’re a sci-fi stalwart, a fantasy fanatic, or just here for the vibes, come see your con culture reflected, refracted, and hilariously presented in real-time.

No Scripts. No Safety Nets. Just pure, unadulterated, improvised geekery.

Grab your badge and your sense of humor—we’ll see you there!

Tales from the Shiny Diner

So let's talk urban con legends - did someone really get tazed?  Did a program really have "fire drill" included? What other stories have you heard that seem impossible?

The Forgotten Cryptids - Giant Leeches? Giant Gila Monsters? Killer Shrews? - Lets talk about the lesser known B movies that kept the cryptid genre going all these years

Moderator: O Hai Mark

What if Arthur was a self-absorbed narcissist, Merlin's "wizardry" was in propaganda, and the Germanic communities were simply victims of hatred? DJ McGuire's new album Make Britain Great Again takes the Arthurian legend to a dark but all-too-conceivable place.

First there was Romance in my Paranormal, and Urban in my Fantasy.  Now there's Romance in my Fantasy?  What makes a "romantasy" novel?  What draws readers to them?  And what stories are out there after you've read "A Throne of Glass" or "Fourth Wing".

Our interviewer extraordinaire Michael D. Pederson return to delve deep into the mind of John Scalzi asking him questions on everything from writing to guitars to "Whatever".Our interviewer extraordinaire Michael D. Pederson will delve deep into the mind of John Scalzi asking him questions on everything from writing to burritos to photography. Since Mike has already posed the 10 questions by original interviewer of the stars, James Lipton, we'll switch things up and ask the Colbert Questionaire!

The Quest For The Golden Dragon
Bonno Eversong and the Day the Music Died
From the Wizard's Workbench

Chuck plays slice of life, confessional geek tunes that are often kind of funny, and his lyrics have been called “sensitive”, “literate”, and “hard to sing…”

The podcast Arcane Carolinas explores folklore, legends, and modern weird tales from the mountaintops to sand dunes across the Carolinas' backroads and byroads. From cryptids to cursed earth to people whose passions will surprise you, North and South Carolina are chock full of surprises.

** Note: This session will be recorded for future broadcast. **

Our panelist talk about how and why communicating science is important, and the transition between writing for Academia and from industry.

Followed by Biomedical Graduate Students from Dr. Robert E. Hampson's Communicating Science course who will give seven-minute "Ted Talk" style presentations about their science. Come hear about some exciting new fields of biomedical research. Heckling is discouraged, but the students could certainly use some real-world feedback on their talks!

(alternate: Emily Jane Beuhler)

Trapped
The Curse of the Were-Alien

Biomedical Graduate Students from Dr. Robert E. Hampson's Communicating Science course who will give seven-minute "Ted Talk" style presentations about their science. Come hear about some exciting new fields of biomedical research. Heckling is discouraged, but the students could certainly use some real-world feedback on their talks!

Do you like puns or just bad jokes?  Have we got the guys for you!

Come in, grab some food or a drink (yes, alcohol is an option) and enjoy this hour of torture fun. 

Our interviewer extraordinaire Michael D. Pederson will delve deep into the mind of Richard Kadrey asking him questions on everything from writing to art to (something else). Of course, Mike will end with the infamous 10 questions posed by the original interviewer of the stars, James Lipton.

Coloring Girl
White Noise
The Sessions  
The Lost Boys
RecAlchemist
Favela Amarela (Yellow Slum)
Buzzby
"A  Vampire's Kiss"

ConGregate's Costume Contest with host O. Hai Mark with Cash prizes! Join us for all the fun!
(Sponsored by John & Heather Simpson)

Interim music by Alexandra Higgins

ConGregate Costume Contest Rules & Information

The ConGregate Costume Contest is open to any costumed individual or group, but all participants must have valid ConGregate membership badges.
Prejudging is Saturday in the Hight Point room at 1:30pm, the contest will be held in Main Events (Grand Ballroom D) at 3pm. Contestants must be at the Piedmont room no later than 2:30pm for line up.
If you have a re-creation costume, bring any supporting photos, illustrations text passages, models, or other reference materials with you for judges to examine during Pre-Judging. Please remember to EAT before pre-judging!!!
Costume Contest Registrations:
Sign-Ups will be available during the convention at the Registration Desk until 12 Noon on Saturday. 
Contestants can pre-register here: Costume Contest Registration
Note:
If you have audio/sound to be played while you are on stage, you will need to speak to a member of the sound crew in Grand Ballroom D. Please have it recorded on an otherwise blank CD which is labeled with your name, your badge number, and the name of your costume (or group), Thumb Drive (flash drive), or MP3 player (or other similar device). Any device other than a CD cannot be dropped off and you must speak with the sound crew to check if it can be played. There should be no more than ten (10) seconds of blank time before your audio begins to play. The audio must be turned in with your Costume Contest sign-up sheet. ConGregate cannot guarantee your audio will be played during your presentation. We reserve the right to review music before allowing it to be used. CDs can be reclaimed after the Costume Contest awards are presented.
If you plan to use music during your presentation, please double check it with the sound crew to make sure that they are able to play it. There will be a sound technician in the room during prejudging to assist with anything last minute (within reason).
There will be no live microphone for contestants to use on stage. There will be no spotlights or other light effects available on stage.
If you plan to draw or otherwise “use” a weapon during your presentation, note that on your Costume Contest sign-up sheet. Judges will make any necessary determination of suitability and safety.
If you are taking part in a group entry, only one Costume Contest sign-up sheet is necessary for the entire group, but the name and badge number of all group members must be listed on that sheet.
The contest is open to all ages. An adult must accompany children under 12. Parents can accompany their children onstage. Entrants under 12 will not be judged, but will receive certificates for participating.
Category Definitions (Any entrant may choose to compete in a higher category):

• Youth - those under the age of 14 years (see above).
• Novice - those who have won three (3) or fewer major (Best-, Top-, 1st Place-in category) awards in costume competitions.
• Journeyman - those who have won more than three major awards in costume competitions, but have won fewer than three (3) Best in Show or Best Overall awards.
• Master - those who have won more than three (3) Best in Show or Best Overall awards.

Awards categories may include: Best in Show, Best Craftsmanship, Best Presentation, Top Novice, Top Journeyman, Top Master, and Judge's Choice. Depending on the number of entrants, other awards may be added.
No individual may present more than one entry in the contest. You cannot wear a costume onstage, then change into another costume and present it for competition as well or be apart of more than one group. individuals are limited to one (1) minute on stage. Group’s entries are limited to one (1) minute plus thirty (30) seconds for each additional member up to a maximum of three (3) minutes on stage. There will be no extended songs, skits, monologues, or conversations (any exceptions to this rule must be approved by the ConGregate Costume Contest Coordinator).
Any of the following on stage will result in disqualification and ejection from the Costume Contest: glitter, smoke effects, open flames, squirting liquids, firing projectiles, throwing objects into the audience or at the MC, use of obscene language, pornographic representations, full or partial nudity. Please help us keep ConGregate a safe and family-friendly convention (keep in mind PG13 or better).
We ask that anyone with a costume which has won three (3) or more major (Best, Top, or 1st Place) costume competition awards elsewhere not enter that particular costume into ConGregates' competition unless it has been significantly changed or improved.
Participants will be judged on costume construction, originality, and presentation.
No entry will be allowed to win in more than two categories.
Participants need to be in the High Point Room (please see Sched.com or con-gregate.com for its location) at least 30 minutes prior to Costume Contest time to be assigned a place in line.
*****It is possible that latecomers may not be allowed to participate, even if they have registered by turning in a sign-up sheet. *****
The High Point Room will be as secured as possible while the Costume Contest is taking place. Only identified contestants or their parents will have access to the High Point Room in that time period. Participants must stay within the contest area (the Costume Contest room, High Point Room, or designated meeting area) until judging is completed and awards are presented.
Decisions of the judges are final.
ConGregate reserves the right to remove anyone from the contest, at any time, for any reason, including but not limited to: indecent costume, unprofessional conduct, tardiness, and disruption of the contest.

Join publishers Gail Z. Martin, Robert Hampson, Jason Graves and Bill Tracy as they share the newest releases in their respective publishing houses.

Sam entertains with some all-new never performed filk originals.

Our Guests of Honor, John Scalzi and Richard Kadrey have both had the pleasure and challenge of having their work turned into something for TV/Film.  Join them as they discuss how it happened, what they learned and if they'd do it again.

Michelle able to moderate if needed?

Cheralyn has a new book!  Come see, hear, buy the real thing!

Join Gray Rinehart as he shares the best of what's going on in the Baen universe. (And there will be giveaways!)

Join our hosts as they show and talk about Sick Chick Flicks' "Blood of the Mummy" with special guest, Christine Parker.

Join Special Guest Tally Johnson, a renowned storyteller, on an exciting journey to create concise and impactful flash fiction pieces inspired by eerie pictures. Participants will be challenged to craft chilling tales, with the chance to win prizes for captivating storytelling. Dive into this unique opportunity to explore the enchanting art of storytelling in a compact and powerful format.

ConGregate will once again be raising money to support the food pantry of the Greensboro Urban Ministry. Availability of food in July is often overlooked because food drives which take place during the winter holiday season. Join us in helping feed our neighbors.

In 2025, were able to donate $10,000 to a food bank in Winston-Salem. While that number was, let's call it an outlier, we still want to see how much we can raise.

Side note: Last year, a couple of people didn't get some merch they wanted because their credit limits were capped. We suggest talking to your bank before the auction IF you think you might spend above your one day limit. 

Auctioneer: O. Hai Mark
Auction Coordinator: Glen Beattie

Join Moments in Tea as they walk you through the basics of Tea - the different types, tools and ways of making it.

Gray primarily writes "filk"—music inspired by science fiction and fantasy—though he has also written about other things. Some of his songs are silly, some are serious, and some are just strange. 

From Misery’s intimate, bone-deep dread to Saw’s calculated, mechanized brutality, the depiction of dismemberment and amputation taps an archetypal fear of bodily loss and magnifies anxieties about vulnerability, autonomy, and identity. Join our panelists as they look at a variety of approaches—from film (how camera work, editing, and sound turn physical injury into prolonged emotional experience) to writing (how authors explain the visceral fear of bodily loss). They will examine genre uses in order to comment on power, punishment, illness, and aging, discuss why some viewers recoil while others are drawn to the raw immediacy of these moments, and ask about writer or filmmaker's responsibilities in depicting extreme bodily harm. 

Moderator: Gary Mitchel

In science fiction, we like to see FTL spaceships, strange alien species, resurrected extinct species, instantaneous communication, and similar things. But a lot of everyday items are afterthoughts in sci-fi. How will technology affect clothes? Food? Ordinary medical care? And what about the "soft" sciences, like industrial safety, environmental science, anthropology, or political science? How will those change the landscape of the future?

Moderator: Robert Hampson

Harry Dresden, Anita Blake, October Daye, The Winchester Brothers and, of course, the Ghost Busters are just a few of the fictional characters who have made paranormal investigation a major part of their story.  Our panelists discuss their favorites, why they love them and if you liked those, who else should you be reading or watching?

moderator: Larry Martin

You know the deal.  Tell what you liked and what you didn't and what you'd like to see next year!