Farpoint Convention

Farpoint is an American science-fiction convention held since 1993 in Hunt Valley, Maryland.[1][2] The convention is fan-run, differentiating it from larger, profit-making ventures. Typical programming includes panel discussions, a competitive masquerade, fan videos, an art show, filking[3] and celebrity guest appearances. It is a successor convention to ClipperCon[4](1984-1989) and OktoberTrek (1990-1992). The most recent Farpoint was held on February 8-10, 2019.[5]

Farpoint Convention
StatusActive
GenreScience Fiction, Pop Culture
VenueDelta Marriott Hunt Valley Inn
Location(s)Hunt Valley, Maryland
CountryUnited States
InauguratedOctober 8th, 1993
Organized bySharon Van Blarcom and Sandy Zier-Teitler
Filing statusNot for profit
Websitefarpointcon.com

Locations and Dates
DatesLocationAttendance*Notable Guests
October 8–10, 1993Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn1,300John DeLancie, June Lockhart, William Campbell
October 7–9, 1994Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn1,300George Takei, Jonathan Brandis, Nana Visitor
October 6–8, 1995Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn1,200Robert Picardo, John Fiedler
October 5–7, 1996Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn1,100Michael Ansara, Tim Russ, Mark Goddard
October 4–6, 1997Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn1,500Jonathan Frakes, Mira Furlan
November 1998Omni in Baltimore460Stephen Furst, Robert O'Reilly
October 8–10, 1999Marriott's Hunt Valley InnTBDPeter Jurasik, James Darren, Robert Colbert, Mary Kay Adams
October 2000Marriott's Hunt Valley InnTBDAndreas Katsulas, Mary Kay Adams
2001**N/AN/AN/A
February 15–17, 2002Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn876George Takei, Robin Curtis, Philip Anglim
February 14–16, 2003Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn572Armin Shimerman, Gil Gerard, Erin Gray
February 13–15, 2004Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn722Tim Russ, Bill Mumy, Andrew Robinson[6]
February 11–13, 2005Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn737Jeffrey Combs, Wayne Pygram, Tony Amendola
February 17–19, 2006Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn708Harve Bennett, Penny Johnson Jerald, Jack Stauffer
February 16–18, 2007Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn758Ron Glass, Harve Bennett, Richard Hatch
February 15–17, 2008[7] Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn774James Callis, Erin Gray, Marina Sirtis
February 13–15, 2009Crowne Plaza Baltimore North799Alan Tudyk, Philip Weyland, Harve Bennett
February 12–14, 2010Crowne Plaza Baltimore North744Felicia Day, Lee Arenberg, Sam Witwer, Mira Furlan[8]
February 18–20, 2011Crowne Plaza Baltimore North[9]739Laurie Holden,[10] Tahmoh Penikett, Bonita Friedericy
February 17–19, 2012Crowne Plaza Baltimore North761Michael Hogan, Kristin Bauer, Kate Vernon[11]
February 15–17, 2013[12]Crowne Plaza Baltimore North792John Billingsley, Felicia Day, Lee Arenberg, Bonita Friedericy
February 14–16, 2014North Baltimore Plaza Hotel746Alan Dean Foster, Phil LaMarr, Melissa McBride
February 13-15, 2015North Baltimore Plaza Hotel758Timothy Zahn, Tim Russ, Colin Ferguson
February 12–14, 2016North Baltimore Plaza Hotel731Sean Maher, John Morton
February 14–16, 2017Radisson Baltimore Plaza Hotel778Enver Gjokaj, Sam Witwer, Nicholas Meyer
February 9–11, 2018Delta Marriott Hunt Valley Inn826Matt Frewer, Nana Visitor, Timothy Zahn, Nora McLellan
February 8-10, 2019 Delta Hotel by Marriott Hunt Valley 837 Wallace Shawn, Maurice Lamarche, Rob Paulsen

*Attendance does not include dealers and guest numbers

**Convention was not held

History

From 1993 to 1997 the convention was held in the Hunt Valley Inn. In 1998 the convention was held in the Baltimore Omni. After 1998, the convention went back to the Hunt Valley Inn until 2008. Farpoint was created by Beverly Ott Volker in early 1993. This convention was successor to other Beverly Volker creations such as Clippercon and Oktobertrek. The convention started in October 1993, which had over 1,300 attendees. The convention continued in October until October 2000 when the committee decided to move the convention to February. This decision caused there to be no 2001 convention because it would only be a four-month span without the convention. The date change coincided with the committee decision to feature fan interests prominently alongside the celebrity guests. Farpoint programming was moved into individual tracks that focus on fans' many interests: Authors/Writing, Science, New Media (fan-created podcasting/film/webcomics), Media (movies and television), Live Performances (theater/music/comedy), Costuming and Cosplay (Masquerade) and Youth/Children. In 2003, the convention was nicknamed "SnowPoint" because the guests, attendees, and committee found themselves locked in the Hunt Valley Inn due to a massive amount of snow. This was also Beverly Volker's last convention, as she died the May of that year. Due to rising prices, in 2009, Farpoint moved to the then Crowne Plaza of Baltimore North, currently named the Radisson Hotel North Baltimore. Due to issues with the hotel changing management so often in the past 5 years, and other issues with the hotel, the Convention moved again after the 2017 convention.

In 2018, the convention moved back to the Hunt Valley Inn, which itself has technically undergone yet another name change with ownership back to Marriott, and is now known as the Delta Hotels by Marriott Baltimore Hunt Valley. Most convention goers will still call it the Hunt Valley Inn. With the move back to the "Hunt Valley Inn", the normal weekend Farpoint usually was scheduled for in February, President's day weekend, was already taken by another customer in a multi-year contract, moving Farpoint to another weekend in February. As the convention continues to thrive, Farpoint may be able to regain their normal February weekend and take advantage of that three day weekend on President's Day.

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References
  1. Jaxton, Paullete (February 18, 2008). "Farpoint Con 2008". Archived from the original on September 7, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
  2. SciFi Diner Podcast Ep. 161 – 20 Years of Farpoint; World of Warcraft Crafts Better Employees; The Most Influential Science Fiction Movies; and More.
  3. Erik Davis, "True Believers", TV Guide's Star Trek Four Generations, Spring, 1995
  4. G, Jamie (October 31, 2012). "'Star Trek, U.N.C.L.E., Lansing and MI-O8'". Daily kos. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  5. "Farpont-2019-Schedule" (PDF). Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  6. Sclafani, Tony (February 12, 2004). "'Out of Town'". Explore Howard. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  7. Jaxton, Paulette (February 18, 2008). "'Farpoint Con 2008'". Paulettejaxton.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  8. SHERPA, NERD (February 28, 2011). "'Farpoint 2011 Convention Report – You Should Have Been There'". The Convention Fans Blog. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  9. Gunts, Edward (February 20, 2011). "'Star Trek,' sci-fi fans gather for 'Farpoint' in Timonium". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  10. Koo, Carolyn (February 25, 2011). "'The Walking Dead One of Cable's Biggest Hits; Kirkman Talks Season 2'". AMCTV Blog. Archived from the original on August 30, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  11. Vinograd, Nellie (February 22, 2012). "'Farpoint sci-fi convention is far out'". The Black & White. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  12. Belt, David (February 18, 2013). "'Farpoint 2013 - Smaller Can Be Better'". Darkcargo. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
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