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Type: Family Programming clear filter
Friday, January 17
 

1:00pm EST

Interstellar Scavenger Hunt
Friday January 17, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
Join us for a Bingo Scavenger Hunt at this year's MarsCon! Come get your bingo card and explore the convention. You might even win a prize if you can use your powers of observation, and a little luck, to fill in all the sights on your card! Bring your curiosity and sense of adventure to seek out all the cool sights MarsCon has to offer!

Bingo Boards can be picked up at Registration, Con Ops, and/or Family Programming (Salon O) any time after 1pm on Friday. Be sure to turn your Board in by 1 pm on Sunday for your Bounty! 
Speakers
avatar for Nina Gordon

Nina Gordon

Family Programming Coordinator, MarsCon
MarsCon 2025 will be Nina Gordon’s third year as Family Programming Coordinator, and her ambition is for every year to be better than the last! An eternal kid at heart, Nina brings creativity and enthusiasm to designing fun and engaging activities for fans of all ages.When she’s... Read More →
Friday January 17, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
  Family Programming

3:00pm EST

Book Swap for Kids & Teens
Friday January 17, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
Trade your earthbound books for new cosmic adventures! Bring a gently used science fiction or fantasy book and discover your next interstellar reading journey. Whether you're fascinated by space pirates, alien civilizations, or magical quests, you'll find treasures to transport you to new worlds. All donated books should be appropriate for kids or teens and in good condition.
Speakers
avatar for Nina Gordon

Nina Gordon

Family Programming Coordinator, MarsCon
MarsCon 2025 will be Nina Gordon’s third year as Family Programming Coordinator, and her ambition is for every year to be better than the last! An eternal kid at heart, Nina brings creativity and enthusiasm to designing fun and engaging activities for fans of all ages.When she’s... Read More →
Friday January 17, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
  Family Programming

5:00pm EST

Sci-Fi Movie Trivia for Kids & Teens
Friday January 17, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
Calling all young space explorers and movie buffs! Come test your knowledge on iconic films, memorable characters, and out-of-this-world plot twists. Whether you’re a fan of classics like Star Wars or E.T., or more modern hits like Big Hero 6, there’s something for everyone. You can play as a team or on your own. Whether you’re a budding filmmaker or just love to escape to other worlds, this is the perfect chance to showcase your sci-fi smarts and make new friends along the way.
Speakers
avatar for Nina Gordon

Nina Gordon

Family Programming Coordinator, MarsCon
MarsCon 2025 will be Nina Gordon’s third year as Family Programming Coordinator, and her ambition is for every year to be better than the last! An eternal kid at heart, Nina brings creativity and enthusiasm to designing fun and engaging activities for fans of all ages.When she’s... Read More →
Friday January 17, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
  Family Programming
 
Saturday, January 18
 

10:00am EST

Saturday Morning Cartoons for Kids
Saturday January 18, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EST
Family Programming - Salon O
Travel back in time to the golden age of Saturday morning cartoons - in space! Put on your PJs, bring your stuffy, and join us for some classic animated sci-fi adventures. From The Jetsons, to Transformers, and Dexter’s Laboratory, these beloved cartoons will spark imagination across the galaxy!
Speakers
avatar for Nina Gordon

Nina Gordon

Family Programming Coordinator, MarsCon
MarsCon 2025 will be Nina Gordon’s third year as Family Programming Coordinator, and her ambition is for every year to be better than the last! An eternal kid at heart, Nina brings creativity and enthusiasm to designing fun and engaging activities for fans of all ages.When she’s... Read More →
Saturday January 18, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EST
Family Programming - Salon O
  Family Programming

12:00pm EST

Craft Time with Ms. Frizzle
Saturday January 18, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
Ms. Frizzle has come to join us from Walkerville Elementary School! She had to leave the Magic School Bus at home, but she's here to make a craft with the MarsCon children! Join her for a fun craft that you can take home.
Speakers
avatar for Nina Gordon

Nina Gordon

Family Programming Coordinator, MarsCon
MarsCon 2025 will be Nina Gordon’s third year as Family Programming Coordinator, and her ambition is for every year to be better than the last! An eternal kid at heart, Nina brings creativity and enthusiasm to designing fun and engaging activities for fans of all ages.When she’s... Read More →
avatar for Lindsay Reinoehl Bartleson

Lindsay Reinoehl Bartleson

Featured Costuming Guest
Lindsay Bartleson of Geek Diva Cosplay has been cosplaying for just under a decade. In that time she has received multiple awards at conventions in both workmanship and stage presentation and quickly reached the Master level. She has presented many cosplay panels and has also acted... Read More →
Saturday January 18, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
  Family Programming

2:00pm EST

Miniature Painting for Kids & Teens
Saturday January 18, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
Are you ready to bring your tiny space heroes and cosmic creatures to life? Come to Family Programming to learn the secrets of miniature painting! We'll cover essential techniques including priming, base coating, dry brushing, and detail work. Each participant will receive a miniature figure to paint and take home. Perfect for both beginners and young artists with some painting experience.

Ages 10+ recommended. All materials provided; space may be limited. Please note: While acrylic paints are washable, you may get messy.
Speakers
avatar for Nina Gordon

Nina Gordon

Family Programming Coordinator, MarsCon
MarsCon 2025 will be Nina Gordon’s third year as Family Programming Coordinator, and her ambition is for every year to be better than the last! An eternal kid at heart, Nina brings creativity and enthusiasm to designing fun and engaging activities for fans of all ages.When she’s... Read More →
Saturday January 18, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
  Family Programming

3:15pm EST

Kid's Concert - Blibbering Humdingers
Saturday January 18, 2025 3:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
Come sing along with the Blibbering Humdingers as they put on a show especially curated for our younger attendees.
Speakers
avatar for The Blibbering Humdingers

The Blibbering Humdingers

Featured Musical Guest
We are Scott, Kirsten, Aiden, Liam, and Chuck! We create acoustic nerdrock for –Gamers, geeks, and galactic guardians, browncoats, centaurs, and mandalorians;Hobbits, elves, and wizard gangsters; avengers, defenders, and black-belt hamsters;Elder gods, small gods, fans of Tripod... Read More →
Saturday January 18, 2025 3:15pm - 3:45pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
  Family Programming

4:00pm EST

Board Game Party
Saturday January 18, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
Join the excitement at our kid-friendly board game party and dive into the captivating worlds of strategy and teamwork! Unveil the mysteries of Forbidden Island, help the Doomlings survive the Apocalypse, or embark on a sushi-making adventure with Sushi Go Party! Kids will learn the rules, hone their decision-making skills, and strategize together in a thrilling quest for victory. Don't miss this chance for young minds to explore these thrilling games, fostering camaraderie and strategic thinking in an atmosphere buzzing with laughter and friendly competition.
Speakers
avatar for Nina Gordon

Nina Gordon

Family Programming Coordinator, MarsCon
MarsCon 2025 will be Nina Gordon’s third year as Family Programming Coordinator, and her ambition is for every year to be better than the last! An eternal kid at heart, Nina brings creativity and enthusiasm to designing fun and engaging activities for fans of all ages.When she’s... Read More →
Saturday January 18, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
  Family Programming

6:00pm EST

Alien Slime Lab
Saturday January 18, 2025 6:00pm - 7:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
Warning: Extraterrestrial substances detected! Join our cosmic scientists to mix up your very own batch of alien slime. Learn the secret formula for creating stretchy, squishy, colorful goo while conducting safe and supervised experiments. Each young scientist will take home their own container of custom-made alien slime. Put on your lab coat (aprons provided) and get ready to get messy!

All ages welcome and all materials provided. Please note: Our slime is non-toxic and washable, but participants may want to wear clothes that can get messy. Children with sensitivities to common craft materials should check with staff about ingredients. Children 8 and under must have a parent or guardian present.


Speakers
avatar for Nina Gordon

Nina Gordon

Family Programming Coordinator, MarsCon
MarsCon 2025 will be Nina Gordon’s third year as Family Programming Coordinator, and her ambition is for every year to be better than the last! An eternal kid at heart, Nina brings creativity and enthusiasm to designing fun and engaging activities for fans of all ages.When she’s... Read More →
Saturday January 18, 2025 6:00pm - 7:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
  Family Programming
 
Sunday, January 19
 

10:00am EST

Storytime
Sunday January 19, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EST
Family Programming - Salon O
Are you ready for an adventure? We invited our Guests of Honor, Cassandra Clarke and Christopher Ruocchio, to share a kids’ book that inspired them as they were growing up. Kids, and kids at heart, should bring a stuffy and grab a comfy seat for story time at MarsCon!
Speakers
avatar for Cassandra Clarke

Cassandra Clarke

Author Co- Guest of Honor
Cassandra Rose Clarke’s novels have been finalists for the Philip K. Dick Award, the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, and YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults. Her poetry has placed second in the Rhysling Awards, been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and appeared in... Read More →
avatar for Nina Gordon

Nina Gordon

Family Programming Coordinator, MarsCon
MarsCon 2025 will be Nina Gordon’s third year as Family Programming Coordinator, and her ambition is for every year to be better than the last! An eternal kid at heart, Nina brings creativity and enthusiasm to designing fun and engaging activities for fans of all ages.When she’s... Read More →
avatar for Christopher Ruocchio

Christopher Ruocchio

Author Co- Guest of Honor
Christopher Ruocchio is the internationally award-winning author of the Sun Eater, a series blending elements of both science fiction and fantasy, as well as more than twenty works of short fiction. Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Christopher received a degree in English... Read More →
Sunday January 19, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EST
Family Programming - Salon O
  Family Programming

12:00pm EST

Science Talk for Kids
Sunday January 19, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
Charles Blue, our Science Featured Guest, has a special event prepared our children and teens. He's asked for dry ice, but he won't tell us why. Come find out what cool science stuff Mr. Blue can teach us.
Speakers
avatar for Ben Davis

Ben Davis

Scientist, ECPI University
Ben Davis has a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics and an M.S. in Nuclear Astrophysics from the University of Notre Dame. He taught at the college level for several years on a number of technical subjects ranging from computer programming and math to, of course, astronomy and physics. In the... Read More →
avatar for Nina Gordon

Nina Gordon

Family Programming Coordinator, MarsCon
MarsCon 2025 will be Nina Gordon’s third year as Family Programming Coordinator, and her ambition is for every year to be better than the last! An eternal kid at heart, Nina brings creativity and enthusiasm to designing fun and engaging activities for fans of all ages.When she’s... Read More →
avatar for Charles Blue

Charles Blue

Featured Science Guest
Charles Blue (aka Blue the Science Dude) has more than 35 years of science communications experience. Charles has worked as the director of media services at the American Institute of Physics. He also served as the Writer/Editor for the National Science Foundation’s Directorate... Read More →
Sunday January 19, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
  Family Programming

2:00pm EST

"Normal is Boring" Interactive Children's Concert
Sunday January 19, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
For children and kids at heart! Come prepared to sing, dance, and express yourself as we create new songs together. Enjoy favorite campfire sing-alongs plus Alyssa's original children's music about feelings, superheroes, and being weird.


Speakers
avatar for Rhiannon's Lark

Rhiannon's Lark

Musician Guest of Honor
Have you ever wanted to hear a Disney princess singing about the things you love…board games, ninjas, and krakens? Rhiannon’s Lark is happy to make your wish come true. Alyssa Yeager is an accolade-winning musician including the Pegasus award for “Best Performer” and Guest... Read More →
Sunday January 19, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Family Programming - Salon O
  Family Programming, Concerts
 
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