CoastCon

Friends, Family, & Fen- While CoastCon 46 may still be fresh in the books, time, and your friends from CoastCon are always on the move and planning the next big event. This weekend, all your Friends from CoastCon are looking forward to our very first visit out to get the word out for our next CoastCon- CoastCon 47!! For our first big event we are visiting with a few thousand of our friends in Lafayette, LA at the CajunDome for Louisiana Comic Con 2024 this coming Saturday and Sunday, March 9 & 10. The weekend is going to be a full of exciting guests, nerd-friendly venders from around the South, some of the best cosplay in Louisiana, as well as all the clubs, conventions and groups that are are the rock of deep South Fandom. Of course, Fans are encouraged to head out in their costumed best to the event to join in the fun. Your CoastCon 47 friends will be ready and supporting the event at a Fan table talking up our 2025 CoastCon - with lots of cool swag, some giveaways, and more than a few surprise guest announcements to make it worth your wild to stop by the table for a visit. To celebrate this visit, CoastCon is offering a AMAZING special on our 2025 CoastCon 47 weekend membership rate- from now thru midnight, March 10, the cost for a weekend membership to CoastCon 47 is ONLY $30. That is right, three FULL days of guests, vendors, events, gaming, and more fun than you can handle, all for the lowest price it will be all year. Just follow the link - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coastcon-47-registration-855363243487 and get your memberships now. And be sure to stop by the table this weekend and say Hi- We hope you all join us there!!!

CoastCon Friends & Fans- We are all exhausted, but we all had a great time spending time with you and a 1000+ of our best friends this past weekend. While we recover from the CoastCon 46, please feel free to continue to share all your photos and stories of the con with us on FaceBook and YouTube. We will be happy to continue to share those stories and good times with you all. A SUPER-SIZED THANK YOU to all for the great time at CoastCon 46 and here is to a bigger and brighter CoastCon 47 in 2025....THANKS AGAIN!!!

CoastCon Comrades- CoastCon parking is going to be at premium this morning as we are unexpectedly sharing the space with a scheduled dance/cheer group that has rented a large part of the parking lot today. Expect to park in the coliseum parking garage OR mention you are with CoastCon and ask for directions. Thanks everyone for your patience. See you at the show!!!

Get them while you can, they never stay long...

These little dragons are on their way to an art show! Who will adopt them at CoastCon ?

Attention CoastCon Comrades- today we have landed on the air with your friends at WLOX. Check us out...and we hope to see you this weekend!!

Happening March 1-3: Coast Con returning to Coast Coliseum in Biloxi Coast Con is the largest running multi-genre convention on the Coast and it's happening again this week at the Coast Coliseum and Convention Center!

CoastCon News YOU can use- CoastCon 46/2024 Donate that Item, Buy Some Cool Swag, Help Some Deserving Kids, edition, Part Two!!! CoastCon Comrades- Long time CoastCon Supporter, Fan, and Game Friend Greg Spanier of maCnarB Gaming has gone the extra step to help this year's charity, CASA of South Mississippi. He has braved the elements and reached deep into the caverns of legend to produce not one, but one each of these amazing white and green dragon trophy heads for a raffle at CoastCon this year. Hard to find, pricey, and as you can see from the photos, pretty amazing conversation starters that would make any home décor- especially that home game room or den, look like a bazillion platinum pieces in high level wizard lux living and is sure to give the owners an additional +20 on all charm and charisma rolls. Tickets would be $10 for 1, $20 for 3, or $50 for 8 and all proceeds over the cost would go to the con's charity. Eager adventures wouldn't have to be present to win, Greg or someone working with him would get their cell and/or email, and he will hold the drawing Sunday at noon at CoastCon. Interested Fans, be sure to reach out to Greg during the weekend to purchase tickets- even the $50 tag for 8 tickets is a bargain for these trophy heads and of course go to an excellent cause. Of course, we at CoastCon highly encourage you all to be a part of the drawing. As they say in the Realms/Underdark/Phlogiston/tavern, may the odds be every in your favor! For more information on CASA of South Mississippi, please go to https://casasouthms.org/. You can also follow them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CASAsouthMS/) and for maCNarb Gaming, you can follow them right here on Facebook. As always, thanks everyone AND keep following this space for more news YOU can use as the countdown to CoastCon 46 THIS WEEKEND continues...

CoastCon News YOU can use- CoastCon 46/2024 Donate that Item, Buy Some Cool Swag, Help Some Deserving Kids, edition!!! CoastCon Comrades- The CoastCon 46 Charity Auction is looking for donations and shoppers. Every year we collaborate with a local charitable organization to raise money for them at our annual convention through our Saturday charity auction. This year we have again partnered with CASA of South Mississippi for our auction and CoastCon is looking for help and donations from Fans like YOU--
The mission of CASA of South Mississippi is to provide specially selected and trained community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the pursuit of safe and permanent homes. CASA of South Mississippi is composed primarily of community-based volunteers who advocate on behalf of neglected and abused children in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, and Stone Counties. The children served by our group of specially trained volunteers are undoubtedly some of the most vulnerable within our community. When local Youth Court Judges need another “set of eyes and ears” on a case, they call upon CASA of South Mississippi to serve in that role. CASA Advocates have impacted the lives of many here in Hancock, Harrison, and Stone Counties. They have encouraged parents to get their GED and college degrees, assisted in supervised visits with parents, helped reunify children with their parents, worked with parents to get employment and housing, identified resources for much needed services, located relatives for permanent placement of children, found furniture for their home, beds for their children, food for their cupboard, and toys to put under the Christmas tree, but most importantly have been a constant presence to the child and family during the confusing and daunting court process. Representatives from CASA of South Mississippi will be available at the Con all weekend to answer your questions about their services, opportunities for you to volunteer, and how to donate to their organization.
While at CoastCon 46 this year, all of us hopes you will consider helping our CASA in one of two ways-
1) Consider bringing items to donate to our charity auction on Saturday, March 2, 2024. These items can be new or gently used items that are Fan related, collectables, games, books, nerd-swag, crafts, anything that you think could help raise funds for this amazing group and all the good work they do across the Gulf Coast would be great help. You can bring these by the Art Show starting at 2 pm on Friday, March 1 at CoastCon or contact us via email or Facebook if you would like to donate, but can't attend the event:
2) Then consider joining us at the 2024 CoastCon Charity Auction starting at 2 pm in Panel Room One on Saturday. There will be amazing bargains to be had on art, books, crafts, games, collectables, toys, trips/services, and lots, lots, MORE. ALL proceeds from the auction will go to CASA.
For more information on CASA of South Mississippi, please go to https://casasouthms.org. You can also follow them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CASAsouthMS/). As always, thanks everyone AND keep following this space for more news YOU can use as the countdown to CoastCon 46 continues...

CoastCon News YOU can use- CoastCon 46/2024 the 411 on all the happenings/special events AND a look at the 2024 floor plan, edition!!! See below for a look at the programming/special event schedule and the floor plan for our 2024 convention layout highlighting the various event spaces for CoastCon 46. As you can see there are old favorite events and some new, exciting fun things on tap for a VERY busy weekend at CoastCon 46 with everything from the cash prize costume/cosplay contest, our traditional charity and art auctions, dances, parties and very latest topics in Fandom and the publishing, art, & writing world, to Tarot meet-up and trading, Jedi Yoga, and Saturday morning cartoon nostalgia fests, so we hope this is a great aid in helping your plan for getting some of the best for your Fan dollar. As always, while this is mostly how it will look at the convention next weekend, the CoastCon 46 programming schedule is subject to change due to many factors, so please keep that in mind. There will be convention floor-plans, event schedules, and any event updates/changes posted at various points through out the con all weekend long as well as on the web page time permitting, so be on the look-out for those signs, updates, and posts. while you are on site. Fans, feel free to pass-it-on, many thanks everyone, AND keep following this space for more news YOU can use as the countdown to CoastCon 46 continues...

CoastCon News YOU can use- CoastCon 46/2024, We are all at the same playground/message from the academy edition!!! CoastCon Comrades, we just wanted to take a second to drop you all a reminder of the CoastCon Rules & Policies before CoastCon 46. They are sort of a "please pay well with others" for the convention and have been a part of our show for a long time, but like all rules guides, we tend to take them for granted until we need them. This reminder is a small way to keep them in mind because while one of the goals of CoastCon is to have a great time with likeminded people, we want those like minds to recognize CoastCon is a not-for-profit event held in public space, we should all be safe, be respectful of each other, and have a great time together. Best advice is to keep the rules in mind as you go out there this year to make some great memories of CoastCon 46. As always, thanks everyone AND keep following this space for more news YOU can use as the countdown to CoastCon 46 continues...

CoastCon News YOU can use- CoastCon 46/2024 WAIT, I know that person on the TV edition!!! What is it like to be on the air on your local area TV station as part of an exciting event commercial? Well, a LOT of Fans at CoastCon know because, as these two most excellent spots for CoastCon 46 can attest, you guys show up, show out, and have a blast at our convention. Just check out these spots on our YouTube channel by old friend and promotions partner WLOX Biloxi or our new promotion friends WKRG out of Mobile, AL. The spots are bold, colorful, very well made, and on point with showing our emphasis and our vibe- a great, classic, local event that is ALL about the Fans and Fan FUN! Feel free to look to see if you made this year's spots, share the spots with your friends, and then be sure to show up/show out at CoastCon 46 next weekend to maybe make an appearance in a future spot. And feel free to send us your videos to add to our growing YouTube channel as a place to store your fun memories of CoastCons' yesterday, today, and tomorrow. As always, thanks everyone AND keep following this space for more news YOU can use as the countdown to CoastCon 46 NEXT WEEKEND continues...

CoastCon - YouTube Welcome to the official YouTube account for CoastCon! CoastCon is the longest running multi-genre convention on the Mississippi Gulf Coast! Our annual weeke...

CoastCon News YOU can use- CoastCon 46/2024 Amazing at ANY Size in Metal, Plastic, & Art, Edition!!! CoastCon Comrades, we just wanted to drop you all a second 2024 update on one of the contest highlights of our annual convention this year, the CoastCon 46 Miniature Painting Contest. This event has traditionally that drawn out some of the best artisans and painters from around the region. This year promises to be just as eye-catching and detailed as in years' past. Below are the rules, sign-up details, and more for this year's contest. Contest coordinator Tim Broome and his team of judges promise a lot of great work on display this year as well as some great prizes and they hope you join in to show everyone your work for 2024. For all the details on the divisions, categories, and when/where to sign-up for the contest and present your work, please see below. As always, thanks everyone AND keep following this space for more news YOU can use as the countdown to CoastCon 46 continues...

CoastCon News YOU can use- CoastCon 46/2024 Dress in your BEST and make $$$ for it, edition!!! CoastCon Comrades, we just wanted to drop you all a 2024 update on one of the highlights of our annual convention every year, the CoastCon 46 Costume Contest. The contest has traditionally drawn some of the best and most enthusiastic new-comers and l9ng-time dedicated veteran cosplay/costumers from all around the region. You should know, this year promises to be one of the best yet. Below are the rules, sign-up details, and more for this year's event, and once again there will be CASH prizes for some of the lucky contest winners. Contest Director Jessica Reese, her team , and our judges promise a lot of fun and surprises and they hope you will be joining them this year as a contestant or as an audience member. For all the details on the divisions, categories, and when/where to sign up for Saturday's big contest, please see below. As always, thanks everyone AND keep following this space for more news YOU can use as the countdown to CoastCon 46 continues...

CoastCon News YOU can use- CoastCon 46/2024 roll of the dice/turn of a friendly card edition!!! CoastCon Comrades, we just wanted to drop you all the exciting news that the super-gaming Fans from Gulf Coast Gaming Events LLC. are once again returning to Biloxi for CoastCon 46. As well as having one of the friendliest/most game knowledgeable staff around, they will be bringing their WHOLE, MASSIVE collection of board, card, family, not-quite-family, and strategy table-top games with them this year. To hammer home the point- Gulf Coast Gaming Events features one of the LARGEST game lending libraries in the South and includes THOUSANDS of games to learn and play from some of the largest publishers/companies in the business. There is sure to be something for everyone in this collection. Their staff will also be hosting demo games ALL weekend long of classic and not even on the shelf yet games and…again, there will be plenty of games to learn, play and even WIN. At CoastCon 46 this year they will offer 75+ play-to-win board games, nine State Championship Tournaments, and four National Qualifier Tournaments provided by Double Exposure, Inc. We encourage everyone to stop by the set-up in our game room to see/play these amazing games in person...and bring your friends! There is sure to be something fun and exciting to play for everyone! As always, thanks everyone AND keep following this space for more news YOU can use as the countdown to CoastCon 46 continues...

CoastCon News YOU can use- CoastCon 46 2024 Host Venue Parking and Dining Edition!! ATTENTION CoastCon Fans, as a heads up, our host site, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum & Convention Center is a cashless facility. What that means for members/attendees of CoastCon this year is that all MSGCCC operated Food & beverage concessions AND all in-lane MSGCCC parking transactions will be via credit card. This is the MSGCCC's policy, has been in place there since Fall of 2023, and is beyond the control of CoastCon.

EDITED TO ADD (2/17/24): All major credit cards are accepted, as well as Google Pay, Apple pay, and they have a reverse ATM inside the lobby.

HOWEVER, CoastCon registration, the CoastCon merchandise table, and the individual vendors/artists in our dealer's room may/will accept CASH.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention Center parking will be $10 a day. It is an increase over last year, but it is still very inexpensive compared to parking at other large regional shows. Be sure to keep your parking ticket in case you need to leave so you can return to park on that day without having to pay again.

Levy, the MSGCCC food vendor, has also updated their menu from last year with more options in food, snacks, and beverages. The Levy menu, including any daily specials, is included below. As a reminder, outside food and beverages are STRICTLY prohibited at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum and Convention Center via their policy.

As always, thanks everyone AND keep following this space for more news YOU can use as the countdown to CoastCon 46 continues...

CoastCon News YOU can use- CoastCon 46 Art for YOU and Art Sakes, Edition!!
As a quick reminder and an open invitation for all CoastCon attendees for this weekend- be sure to stop by the CoastCon Art Show and Sale!! We have traditionally been one of the highest quality science fiction convention art shows in our region, displaying some of the finest works by amateur and professional artists working today –from all across the country. Everyone is welcome to quick buy and/or bid on stunning original paintings, three dimensional art and/or inexpensive professional print works. There's something to suit almost any taste...and price range. The Hours for the CoastCon 46 Art Show are-
• Friday, March 1st: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.
• Friday, March 1st: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.-Artist Wine & Cheese Event
• Saturday, March 2nd: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
• Sunday, March 3rd :
o 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. - Public Opening
o 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – ART AUCTION
o 3:00 p.m. - 4 p.m. - Buyer Pickup, After Auction Sales

Also, aspiring artists and makers, CoastCon encourages artists to submit work for display and sale in our show. Interested artists (and we hope that you are)- take a look at the rules for the show/auction/print shop at our web page- https://www.coastcon.org/coastcon-46-art-show-auction.../ The print those out, along with an artists' master control sheet/registration form and bidding sheets (available in both PDF and Word/Excel formats). Please fill out these sheets as completely as possible and send those completed forms to the address listed in the art show packet/on the art show rules sheet- either with your art or in advance of it. Our forms are available for your use and copying as needed. While the online forms recommend all registration forms and payments be sent by February 15, 2024, via mail or email at [email protected], in order to reserve your spot, local/regional artists have until February 25th to let us know they need space if they are going to submit art. Keep in mind if you are sending art by mail- we MUST receive mail-in art before February 25, 2024.

Artists- you may also deliver your work to the convention in person on Friday, March 1, between 10:00 am and 4 p.m. Again, please contact us via mail or email BEFORE the February 25 deadline so as to reserve panel/display space. Art Show space is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact us via the CoastCon Art Show email if you have any questions – [email protected].

Just as exciting, the CoastCon Art Show is also once again the host of the CoastCon Archives- hosting over Forty-five years of Gulf Coast Fandom history and memories. The CoastCon Archives' hours are the same as the Art Show's.

Keep in mind- food and beverages are restricted in the art show AND around the CoastCon Archives. ALSO ONLY the official convention photographers and supervised press (including television) will be allowed to photograph the Art Show. Please see the art show staff if you have any questions. As always, thanks everyone AND keep following this space for more news YOU can use as the countdown to CoastCon 46

CoastCon News YOU can use- CoastCon 46 Save You Some Time & $$$, Edition!! ATTENTION Friends, these are the last few days for Fans to get into CoastCon at our current pre-registration rates. In fact, the last day to get the current rate ends next week, this coming February 15, at midnight. That pre-registration rate for an adult membership is $45 ($10 off the $55 at the door rate) and it is for for three great days of guests, vendors, artists, gaming, cosplay/costumes, contests, dealers, panels, and much more. Just follow the link at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coastcon-46-registration-573172673897 and get that time/money saving process going right NOW. You will be glad you did. As always, thanks everyone AND keep following this space for more news YOU can use as the countdown to CoastCon 46 continues...

CoastCon News YOU can use, 2024 Convention Hotel edition...CoastCon Friends & Fans- the deadline for getting room reservations at the CoastCon rate [$100 a night plus tax for a Queen/King, $105 a night plus tax for a double] at our host hotel- The Quality Inn Biloxi, MS [the hotel right next to the MS Gulf Coast Coliseum for those of you not in the know]- is quickly approaching. That date is February 15, 2024 and our CoastCon room block is VERY quickly filling up. NOW is the time to take advantage of the Convention rate. To get that rate, you MUST contact the Hotel DIRECTLY at (228) 388-1000 and mention you are with CoastCon 46 when you book your room. Once again you need to book your room BEFORE midnight, 2/15/2024. After that point, the room block at that price point will end and the rates will go up. It is a great rate with a hotel & staff really excited to have us stay with them for CoastCon this year. I hope you contact them and take advantage of the rate before the deadline. As always, thanks everyone AND keep following this space for more news YOU can use as the countdown to CoastCon 46 continues...

CoastCon News YOU can use, 2024 Game Room edition...With over 26000 Square Feet of Gaming space (one of the largest in the South), you know we have a LOT of big Game Room Events planned for CoastCon 46 this year. And you would be right on the money thinking that, as the sample schedule of events over at our web page can attest - https://www.coastcon.org/coastcon-gaming/ One example- our 2024 Gaming guest, game design legend Shane Hensley, will be running three sessions of his legendary Deadlands: The Weird West TTRPG which will be a super-sized treat for fans of horror and Old West style tabletop fun. Of course, that is just the tip of the iceberg with all sorts of miniatures, board/strategy, card, and game fun on tap for all three days. Also note there will be the usual awesome prize support on hand for players and GM's. However, if you don't see a game related event on tap and want to see even more, you can pre-register with the Gaming Director, John Grigsby, as a CoastCon gamemaster volunteer. Gamemaster’s badges are a great way to show off the fun things you like to do (run games) and get a FREE pass to CoastCon to do so. Those games can be TTRPG, CCG, miniature game related events, board game demos, and more AND can be any combination of those events. All you must do to be a gamemaster volunteer is to pre-register to run at least 12 hours of games over the course of the weekend. Full details and the contact information to pre-register yourself and your games are over on our web page at https://www.coastcon.org/coastcon-gaming/ so be sure to register, then grab some of your best games, dice, and cards, and then join us at CoastCon 46! Thanks everyone AND keep following this space for more news YOU can use as the countdown to CoastCon 46 continues...

ATTENTION COASTCON 2024 FANS: NEWS YOU CAN USE CoastCon is still looking for bright, engaged, and excited Fans who want to make our 2024 convention a great experience for everyone. Our volunteers work in fun and varied areas, including registration, gaming, programing, security, the vendor's room, and many others. There are many perks to being a CoastCon volunteer, including discounted attendance and more. Also, you get be a part of one of the most fun and rewarding convention experiences you can imagine with some of the best folks around. If you think you could be one of those Fans and want to get involved in helping to make our 2024 show the best show yet, contact us at CoastCon via our [email protected] contact email address or reach out/pm our 2024 CoastCon volunteer coordinator, Rhiannon Carson, right here on Facebook. Thanks everyone AND keep following this space for more news YOU can use as the countdown to CoastCon 46 continues-

ATTENTION COASTCON 2024 FANS: NEWS YOU CAN USE, CoastCon 46 edition. We are excited to present the CoastCon 46 Vendor list. They encourage and support us, so we encourage all of you out there to support them this coming March- and keep following this space for more news as the countdown to CoastCon 46 continues-