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All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions
Episode 93: The Slow March to New Gaming Conventions
Ep. 93
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In this episode, Ben and Quarex march you through many of the gaming conventions you need to know about in January, February, March and April, including (but not limited to because of character constraints):
- Midwinter Gaming Convention in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, from January 9-12 (link)
- Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo in Oaks, PA from January 16-19 (link)
- Ohayocon in Dayton OH from January 31-February 2 (link)
- CascadeCon in Bellingham, WA from Jan 30 - February 2 (link)
- Niagara Boardgaming Weekend in Grimsby, ON, from January 23-26 (link)
- CanCon in Canberra, AUS, from January 25-27 (link)
- Rocket City Gamefest in Huntsville, AL from Feb 2-4 (link)
- Winter Fantasy in Fort Wayne, IN from February 5-9 (link)
- Williamsburg Muster in Williamsburg, VA from February 16-18 (link)
- Gamers of Winter in Harrisburg PA from February 15-17 (link)
- Dreamation in Morristown PA from February 20-23 (link)
- Evercon in Wausau, WI from February 28-March 2 (link)
- Games with Trains is at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore MD on March 1 (link)
- Gameface Con in Baltimore, MD from March 8-9 (link)
- Cleveland ConCoction in Cleveland, OH from March 8-10 (link)
- Gary Con in Lake Geneva WI, from March 20-23 (link)
- Adepticon in Milwaukee WI from March 26-31 (link)
- Alamo City Game Convention in San Antonio, TX from Mar 28-30 (link)
- Break Out Con in Toronto, ON from March 14-16 (link)
- LepreCon in Dublin, IE, from March 22-24 (link)
- RathaCon in Athens, OH on April 13 (link)
- Raven Con in Richmond, VA from April 25-27 (link)
- Final Three Con, in NOVA from April 25-27 (link)
You won't want to miss them!
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20:46||Ep. 245On this episode, we're getting you ready for the thirteenth version of Gamehole Con 2026, held in gorgeous Madison, WI! Referenced on this episode is: Dane County Regional AirportThe Badger Bus from MKEHousing and campgrounds around the Alliant Energy CenterGet your tickets to Faster, Purple Worm: Kill, Kill!Take part in the Mad Orc Fun RunPlay in one of the learn to play and tournaments that Luma Events is bringing to Madison! Snag a ticket to Zombie Reign, the Shadowdark-meets-zombie movie! Demo Boss RPG out in demo row! The Mike Carr of Gen Con, Mike Carr, is running a giant game of Ford vs. Ferrari Le Mans!Try out the latest thing in roleplaying: Dungeon Crawler Carl RPGTry out the latest blend in roleplaying: the D&D x WOW preview eventPick up the last ticket to Ben's playtest event on Thursday eveningAnd best of all: Royce and the Gamehole Con have rolled out a great new app!244. Episode 244: GET ON IT by Budgeting for Summer 2027 Conventions
08:05||Ep. 244On this episode, Quarex and Ben are talking about the importance of budgeting for a summer of gaming conventions in 2027. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, you can attend five of the seven G7 conventions, to say nothing of the many larger US conventions during that period... including a new entrance that is holding its first convention in late June 2027!And if you want to see where the tea is spilt, join our Discord server!243. Episode 243: Rounding Up the Back Third of the 2026 Convention Calendar
35:25||Ep. 243Are there too many conventions! Hardly, even if our convention roundups are routinely our longest episodes! Conventions in September (after Labor Day) are plentiful and include: Strong Tower Con Council Con Tabletop Central CuseCon Justacon Dice Tower Retreat GAMEMasonHawkland Gaming Festival Southern Front SkålCon Barrage BR&WL-CON Cap Con 2026 SIBcon Atlanta Game FestMegaMooseCon Pro or Con Shirecon The Ettin Geekway Micro Camp Wagoncon Conventions in October include: Virtual Greyhawk Con Pittsburgh Gaming ExpoCon on the Cob FriendCon Arnecon Congress of Gamers Fall Session Gamehole Con Carnage Asheville Scarefest Board Game Academics Conference MañanaConGeek Girl YouMaCon Spiel Essen Conventions in November include: Metatopia Mystic Con MetagameNortheast Wisconsin GameapaloozaSan Diego Historical Games Summit (SDHistcon) Game Con Junction CarConPA Meeple-a-thon KublaCon Fall Acadecon EuroQuest Mepacon BGG.CON Philcon Chaosium Con New Zealand Bakaretsu Con HanuCon Effing Con Dragonmeet December conventions include: PAX Unplugged Krampusnacht Gaming Shorehammer Yamacon Play Test Play Fest Everwinter CNY RPG Game Day Nerdronomicon Gorgoncon NoriKonDid we miss a convention? Tell us all about it on our Discord!
242. Episode 242: Third Annual Games of the Convention!
21:35||Ep. 242On this episode, Quarex and Ben award our Games of the Convention for the 2025-26 Gen Con Ludinal Year!Whether the games are freshly released, a little older, awaiting crowdfunding or just about to be released... these are our favorite games we discovered over the last 12 months. Featuring nominations from our friends and contributors: Ben T. Barackus, Yonit, David Havelka, and artificer of the pod Shawn!
241. Episode 241: The Drama at Gen Con 2026
26:03||Ep. 241On this episode, Quarex and Ben review the drama at Gen Con 2026... from the big stuffed owlbears at the D&D Carnival to the tornado touchdown that didn't involve the Colts to everything in the exhibit hall. Listen in because you won't want to miss it.Reminder: if this is you're first time listening in, our podcast offers almost exclusively positive coverage for most conventions—we generally want to accentuate the positive. After doing 90 episodes in the last 12 months and twenty episodes about Gen Con 2026 in the last six weeks, we think we've earned the right to focus on the drama for thirty minutes.
240. Episode 240: The Spectacle of Gen Con 2026
28:56||Ep. 240On this episode, Quarex and Ben talk about everything that wasn't gaming or drama at the best four to eight days in gaming. Video evidence that Ben attended the Block Party (go to 6:50)!Video evidence that Ben and Quarex were in the same aisle in the exhibit hall at the same time but Quarex ignored Ben (go to 15:30)!
239. Episode 239: The Games at Gen Con 2026
19:54||Ep. 239On this episode, we're focusing on the most important part of the Best Four to Arguably Eight Days in Gaming... the games! Listen in to hear about: The new board games! The new RPGs! The announcements from WOTC! The announcements from NOTC! The awards shows! You won't want to miss it.238. Episode 238: GET ON IT with Event Registration at PAGE 4
07:24||Ep. 238Have you gotten your badge for PAGE 4 yet? This amazing convention in the Philly suburbs of Oaks, PA is held from January 14-17, 2027, and it's one of the fastest growing, most fun RPG convention that started in the last decade! Need another excuse? If you don't have your badge, you can't register for all the great events... including those we're talking about on this episode. SO GET ON IT!!!... and check out their Facebook group, which is a great hub for all info PAGE 4!237. Episode 237: An Entirely Too Early Look at Gen Con 2027
04:35||Ep. 237On this episode, Quarex and Ben have just gotten back from Gen Con, and they're already covering the next one? You wouldn't expect any less from the premier podcast for gaming convention coverage, would you? It's only 366 days, baby!