Meet Chekov, Boba Fett and SFX at HAL-CON

SFX will be at the Canadian convention in Halifax this Halloween - will we see you there?

We get over to Canada from time to time, but none of the SFX crew has been to Halifax before, which is one of the reasons why we're so excited about going there this October. The other reason? Because it's playing host to HAL-CON , of course, the science fiction, fantasy and comic convention that's taking place over Halloween weekend.

If you're in the area as well (perhaps you're one of our Canadian readers, or maybe you just have a lot of air miles to use up), why not add it to your event calendar too? It's taking place on 29, 30 and 31 October at the Lord Nelson Hotel. It promises to be an event for genre fans to come together and celebrate what they love about their passions. There's a trailer online if you want to see some of the fans in question...

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The organizing committee is comprised of volunteer staff with a variety of professional backgrounds but a shared passion for sci-fi. Attendees of the convention will be able to enjoy a "home grown" feeling.

SFX blogger Kell Harker asked Jennifer Lambe, Co-Chair and Lead Organizer, what this means and why it will be special. "It's going to be all the goodness of a big-scale convention with all the small town benefits," she told us. "The organisers are very publicly accessible and very involved in the geek community in Halifax. For a brand new convention, we've managed to secure some pretty big events: two book launches, a cocktail reception with all the guests, a DVD launch, and a sneak peek at a highly anticipated film!"

Yep, HAL-CON has been given an opportunity to screen an exclusive sneak peek of the new TRON movie coming out in December!

"Hal-Con is expected to be one of the biggest sci-fi conventions in all of the Maritimes!" continues Lambe. What is she most looking forward to? "Hard to say with so many amazing things to see and do, but my most anticipated event might be the charity auction. Our guest liaison (the fab Jen Johnston) has managed to secure some items that the entire organizing committee all want to bid on! The IWK Children's Hospital is getting 100% of the proceeds, and it looks like that's going to be a lot!"

"But possibly topping that will be the moment of pure joy when I get to take off my shoes Sunday night, have a drink, and toast with my co-chair, Amanda Schreiber, to our huge success!" she adds. Fingers crossed for you.

Guests at the event will include Walter Koenig, Jeremy Bulloch, Denise Crosby, Aaron Douglas, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett and the author PJ Haarsma, as well as many others. The Canadian premiere of new Mystery Science Theatre #19, celebrity lectures and Q&As, autograph sessions, a masquerade ball, book launches and gaming sessions (there'll even be an official Games Workshop tournament nearby) are all anticipated. You'll also be able to meet SFX 's editor-in-chief Dave Bradley who'll be attending this inaugural HAL-CON event.

If that last one hasn't put you off, get yourself to the official website now to buy tickets while they're still available.