WinchesterCon

WinchesterCon, commonly known as Wincon, is an annual fan-run convention which first took place in October 2006 and was the first Supernatural Convention to be held. The organisers described it like this:

Wincon is a by the fans, for the fans operation. Our goal is to provide an annual gathering for Supernatural fans to come and meet, hang out, discuss the show and the fic written about it, party and have a good time. In other words, a giant slumber party where we can all do the fannish things we do online in person and in our pajamas. No one from the show is affiliated with this convention, nor will there be any appearances by any show actors, writers, or other personnel.

Wincon was founded by Ethrosdemon and Estrella30, and was managed by Ethrosdemon and Coiledsoul from Los Angeles in 2007 through Chicago in 2010. The convention was then managed by Affectingly starting at New Orleans in 2011. Cee_M was brought on as a Co-Lead Organizer starting at Orlando in 2014.
WinchesterCon features panels discussing aspects of the show and the fandom, big screen viewings of recent episodes, a fan vid show, and primarily plenty of opportunities for fans to meet and socialize in places like the Wincon Roadhouse. It's focus is particularly on the creative aspects of fandom, and the culture of online fandom. Each year the Convention supports a charity through its raffle. Attendance usually falls between 100-200 people, and it attracts attendees from across the United States and Canada, as well as Australia, Europe and the UK. While the majority of attendees are women, Wincon is not a women-only event.
The convention officially starts on Friday and ends on Sunday, however many attendees arrive as early as Wednesday and leave as late as Monday to enjoy the full Wincon experience.
In 2010, the convention became a panfandom event celebrating fan culture, and officially changed the name from WinchesterCon to Wincon. More information about Wincon can be found on it's FanLore page.

First Annual Winchestercon 2006

Wincon 2006 icon by exsequar

Wincon 2006 icon by exsequar

Wincon 2006 icon by exsequar

The First Annual Winchestercon was held October 13-15, 2006 in Nashville, Tennessee. It was located at Millennium Maxwell House Hotel, 2025 MetroCenter Boulevard, Nashville, TN, 37228.

• Approximately 250 people attended.

Wincon 2006 Con Committee

Anna (lalejandra)
JJ (stone_princess)
Kassie (ethrosdemon)
Kate (antheia)
Nan (estrella30)

2006 Panels/Programming

Friday, October 13th

• 6:30am – 10:00am - Breakfast Buffet. Pralines Restaurant.
• 9:00am – 12:00pm - Registration. Grand Ballroom East.
• 12:00pm – 1:30pm - Lunch (Mingle!)
• 1:30pm – 3:00pm - Paley Disc Viewing
• 3:00pm – 4:00pm - PANEL: Beta/Criticism – You suck, but I can help! Panelists: Poisontaster, Femmenerd, Moosesal, Mona1347
• 4:00pm – 5:00pm - PANEL: Mythology & Urban Legends –...and he woke up in a tub full of ice! Panelists: Bozolostash, Apetslife, Researchgrrrl, Samedamnthing, Starkeymonster
• 7:00pm – 10:30pm - Dinner
• 10:30pm – Who Even Knows?! ROOM PARTIES!!!

Saturday, October 14th

• 6:30am – 10:00am - Breakfast Buffet. Pralines Restaurant.
• 11:00am – 12:00pm - PANEL: World Building and AlU – It’s Dean’s world, you just live in it. Panelists: Maygra, Calicokat, Trollprincess, Celli
• 12:00pm – 1:00pm - Lunch
• 1:00pm – 2:00pm - PANEL: Dear Dean – Dear Dean, Will you have my assbaby? Love, all of us. Panelists: Ladyjaida, Sevenfists
• 2:00pm – 3:00pm - PANEL: RPS – We have Jensen, we win! Panelists: Phaballa, Annalazarus, Monkiedude, Written214
• 3:00pm – 4:00pm - PANEL: Wincest/No Wincest – “They are SO DOING IT!” “Are not!” Panelists: Buhfly, tsuki_no_bara, sparky77, wolfling, candygramme, ethrosdemon
• 4:00pm – 7:00pm - Dinner
• 7:00pm – It’s Done Vid Show

Sunday, October 15th

• 6:30am – 10:00am - Breakfast Buffet. Pralines Restaurant.
• 10:00am – End of Day Conference Rom Open with DVD Player, TV – Dead Dog Day

First Annual Vid Show 2006

Click here to see the 2006 Vid Show playlist.

2006 Convention Reports

Attendees posted their convention reports here.

• The Meet and Greet! - Introduction thread
• Con Report by _sin_attract
• Con Report by affectingly
• Con Report by gigglingkat
• Con Report by moosesal
• Con Report by poisontaster
• Con Review by exsequar
• Dear Dean Q&A
• Dear Dean panel vids!
• RPS Board Pics
• Beta/Concrit Panel handout

Second Annual Winchestercon 2007

Wincon 2007 icon by quietdiscerning

The Second Annual Winchestercon (called Wincon) was held October 12-13, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. It was located at Holiday Inn LAX, 9901 S La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90045.

• Approximately 175 people attended.
• The official Wincon logo this year featured the iconic Impala.
• Attendee Swag Bag included a black pen with the words "planes crash, clowns kill" written on it, Supernatural puzzles, and a flashlight with the words "salt and burn" printed on it.

Contrary to the previous year, there were no all-inclusive weekend passes and Saturday night dinner tickets available. A limited number of day passes were available for purchase on Friday and Saturday at the registration desk.

• The two day pass cost $45 and included access to all panels on Friday and Saturday, plus Friday night Karaoke party (with complimentary drink ticket) and Con Schwag Bag.
• The one day pass for $25 included access to all panels on day of choice, and Con Schwag Bag.
• Two raffles were drawn featuring a range of official merchandise, fan-produced goods and two production scripts for "Heart" and "Bloodlust" signed by Sera Gamble.

2007 Panels/Programming

2007 Wincon Convention Logo

Wincon Alumni pin (handed out in 2013 for attendees of the 2007 con)

Swag tote bag given to attendees of the 2007 convention.

Friday, October 12th

• 12:00pm – 9:00pm - Registration
• 1:00pm – 2:50pm - Episode 3x01 and 3x02 viewing
• 3:00pm – 3:50pm - Minor Characters. brynwulf, clex_monkie89, researchgrrrl, txtequilanights
• 4:00pm – 4:50pm - Writing Good Erotica. starkeymonster, minotaur, la_cspan
• 5:00pm – 5:50pm - Non-Western Mythology. starkeymonster, cathybites, antheia
• 5:00pm – 9:30pm - Wincon Roadhouse
• 6:00pm – 8:30pm - Room Parties, Dinner. See this post for room party locations
• 8:30 pm – 12:00am - Wincon Video Show and Karaoke Night. Century Ballroom (Catered snacks, Cash bar)

Saturday, October 13th

• 9:00am – 2:00pm - Registration
• 9:30am – 11:00am - Breakfast Buffet for 3-day ticket holders
• 12:00pm – 12:50pm - Het, Gen, MarySue Fiction. onelittlesleep, femmenerd, thepurpleswitch
• 1:00pm – 1:50pm - Ethics & Winchesters. moosesal, azewewish, affectingly, littlewings04
• 2:00pm – 2:50pm - Video Show Replay
• 3:00pm – 3:50pm - American Fic Idol. technosage, mona1347, derryderrydown
• 3:00pm – 11:00pm - Wincon Roadhouse
• 4:00pm – 7:00pm - Sight-see, hang out, room parties, do whatcha like!
• 7:00pm – 10:00pm - Dinner on own for those not attending the dinner downstairs
• 7:00pm – 10:00 pm - Cocktail hour and Wincon Family Supper for those holding Saturday dinner tickets (beer and wine will be complimentary for this event, liquor will be available, but not complimentary)
• 10:00 pm - ??? - Out on the town. As yet to be disclosed super secret outing into the wilds of Los Angeles

Sunday, October 14th

• 8:30am – 10:00am - Breakfast Buffet for 3-day ticket holders
• 9:00am – 11:30am - Clothing and Yarn Swap
• 10:30am – 12:00pm - Open House. (place to congregate while people check out and wait for flights and shuttles, lost and found items, etc...)
• 12:00pm - Con officially ends

Second Annual Vid Show 2007

Click here to see the 2007 Vid Show playlist.

2007 Convention Reports

Attendees posted their convention reports here.

• Yes, we'd love for you to introduce yourself. Thanks for asking. - Introduction thread.
• Commentary/Discussion about the vid show collected by morgandawn
• Con Report by brynspikess
• Con Report by scary_lullabies
• Spanish Con Report by logovo
• Con Report by naotalba
• Con Report by _sin_attract
• The Supernatural Hanky Code! by minotaurs
• Con Report by caithream
• Con Report by azewewish
• Con Report by kirbybits
• Con Report by halfshellvenus
• Con Report by girlguidejones
• Con Report by dove95
• Con Report by sophie_448
• Con Report Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday by spazzbot
• Con Report by derryderrydown
• Con Report by hansbekhart
• Con Report by marishna

Third Annual Winchestercon 2008

Wincon 2008 icon by quietdiscerning

2008 Wincon Convention Logo created by ignited

Wincon Alumni pin (handed out in 2013 for attendees of the 2008 con)

The Third Annual Winchestercon (called Wincon) was held October 17-19, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland. It was located at the Hilton, Baltimore BWI Airport, 1739 West Nursery Road, Linthicum Heights, Maryland, 21090.

• Approximately 130 people attended.
• The official Wincon logo this year was created by ignited, and featured the spiral from the Supernatural 3.11 episode "Mystery Spot".
• The charities this year were Turnaround, Inc. and the Baltimore County Family Crisis Center.

2008 Panels/Programming

Friday, October 17th

• 12:00pm - 9:00pm - Check-in (Let us know you're here and what room you're in. Pick up your con materials.)
• 2:00pm - 2:50pm - Rewatch 10/16 episode
• 3:00pm - 3:50pm - Panel #1 - Crystal Balls to the Wall: Supernatural Spoiler Speculation (and Liver Corrosion). Host: cathybites. Panelists: antheia, drvsilla, gray_light, and tjournal
• 4:00pm - 4:50pm - Panel #2 - Don't Try to Deny Their Epic Romance - RPS in Supernatural Fandom. Featuring the Inaugral Wincon Tinhat Fashion Parade (dress code encouraged). Warning! This panel may contain surprise JDM and traces of CMM. Host: missyjack. Panelists: amara_m beanside brynwulf, thenyxie and waterofthemoon
• 5:00pm - 5:50pm - Third-annual Wincon Video Show. Host: tenaciousmetoo
• 6:00pm - 8:30pm - Wincon Roadhouse
• 8:00pm - Midnight - Karaoke Party and Raffle. (hot fangirls, karaoke DJ, complimentary snacks, and cash bar)

Saturday October 18th

• 9:00am - 2:00pm - Check-in. (Let us know you're here and what room you're in. Pick up your con materials.)
• 9:00am - 11:00am - Craft Time with Mistress brynwulf and her Happy Hookers Helpers. (Come make your sock puppet for SP Theater, your tinhat or finish up your charity knitting projects. Materials provided for sock puppets.)
• 11:00am - 11:50am - Panel #3 - That doesn't go there does it?! A discussion about sex, kink, sexual subcultures, porn, and just where your other hand goes. Bring questions, ask for help researching your epic smut fic, and marvel at the things people do in pursuit of orgasm. Host/Panelists: sparkymonster and poisontaster
• 12:00pm - 12:50pm - Panel #4 - The Fastest Way to get SPN Fans to Throw Things at Each Other: A Discussion of Sexism and Misogyny in Supernatural. Picking apart the narrative and discussing the differing views on the portrayal of women in the SPNverse. Host: the_ellcrys. - Panelists: amara_m, black_regalia and others tba
• 1:00pm - 2:25pm - Sock Puppet Theater. Host: ethrosdemon
• 2:30 - 4:00pm - International Bad Fic Idol. Host: missyjack and celebrity guest panellists drvsilla, cathybites
• 6:00pm-10:00pm - Wincon Roadhouse

Sunday October 19th

• 9:00am - 1:00pm - Open house, Yarn Swap, Goodbyes, Lost and Found
• 1:00pm - Con officially ends. Waaaaambulance!

Third Annual Vid Show 2008

Click here to see the 2008 Vid Show playlist.

2008 Convention Reports

• Please allow myself to introduce...myself - Introduction thread.
• Convention reports for the 2008 convention can be found here.
• Con Report by kestrelsan
• Con Report by missyjack
• Con Report by fannishliss
• For babbling about ink and Very General Con Report That Barely Mentions The Actual Con by tsukinofaerii
• Con Report by linda3m
• Con Report by rivers-bend

Overheard at Wincon 2008

Collected from Quotes of Note

• A girl, a black guy and Christian Kane.
• A golden retriever and a snotty Siamese cat. Tell me I'm wrong.
• New drinking game: Do a shot every time Jared thinks of his dogs or Jensen is doing math in his head.
• Don't lose your Zombie.
• The solution to anything at Wincon is alcohol and bitch slapping, not necessarily in that order.
• Chocolate coated twizzlers
• Pezalecki dispensers
• I'll see your Mormon in-laws and raise you Jehovah's Witness.
• Why don't I have a penis straw?
• It's sucking out more than it's putting in.
• This is a racist event. All the sockpuppets are white. Why are there no black tube socks in our fandom.
• A Limerick is an Irish Haiku.
• Don't mock me, I'm from another country.
• I just stuck it in my mouth and started twisting.
• I popped my coffee caffeine cherry and almost vomited.

Fourth Annual Winchestercon 2009

Wincon 2009 icon by quietdiscerning

The Fourth Annual Winchestercon (called Wincon) was held October 9-11, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. It was located at Renaissance Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec Street, Denver, Colorado 80207.

• Approximately 80 people attended, including four from Australia, one from Thailand, one from Germany, and three from England.
• The official Wincon logo this year was created by obssessedmuch. The design is similar to the Golden Snitch from Harry Potter, but with Supernatural details: the tendrils are reminiscent of the cloud of demons escaping hell in the season two finale two-parter "All Hell Breaks Loose", while the wings are symbolic of the angels on the other side of the apocalypse war.
• The First Annual WinProm theme was Apocalypse Suite.
• Second Annual Tin Hat Pageant.
• The charity this year was the Dumb Friends League of Denver.
• The winner of Bad Fic Idol this year was brynspikess with the fic Sounds like one epic battle, they're going to make a movie about you for sure.

2009 Panels/Programming

2009 Wincon Convention Logo by obssessedmuch

Wincon Alumni pin (handed out in 2013 for attendees of the 2009 con)

Friday, October 9th

• 12:00pm - 9:00pm - Check-in. (Let us know you're here and what room you're in. Pick up your schwag.)
• 2:00pm - 2:50pm - Meet n Greet RPS Tournament. Not the kind of RPS you're thinking. Come meet everyone at the Rock Paper Scissors Tournament. "Dean! Always with the scissors!" Prizes and more. Host: girlguidejones
• 3:00pm - 3:50pm - Panel #1 - Surviving the Apocalypse in Style. Fangirls are practical and resourceful. Come listen to a few of them discuss the "realities" of post-apocalypse living and how you can ride out Armageddon in style and comfort. Host: brynwulf. Panelists: girlguidejones, coiledsoul, poisontaster
• 4:00pm - 4:50pm - Panel #2 - Wincon Art School. A panel about fan art, fan vids, and other fan media. Hosted by cathy, do we gotta say more? Host: cathybites. Panelists: TBA
• 5:00pm - 5:50pm - Replay 10/08 Episode. Host: tenaciousmetoo
• 6:00pm - 7:00pm - Fourth Annual Wincon Vid Show. Host: tenaciousmetoo
• 12:00pm - 10:00pm - Wincon Roadhouse. Comp drinks and snacks abound! Vid show replay and episode marathons will be happening throughout the weekend at the roadhouse this year. If you're a baker or snack maker and wanna bring something to the party, OR, if you have a small gathering or event you'd like to host in the Roadhouse, please email us about it. A separate schedule of events for this room will be posted closer to the con.
• 8:00pm - ??? - Room Parties and cathybites' annual Karaoke outing at the Ogden Street Bar. It's really not Wincon unless she's doing "Bye Bye Bye" now, is it?
• 10:00pm - ??? - Ghost tour of Denver on Banjo Billy's giant hillbilly bus.

Saturday, October 10th

• 9:00am - 2:00pm - Check-in. (Let us know you're here and what room you're in. Pick up your schwag.)
• 10:00am - 11:50am - Tin Hat Craft Time. Come make your tin hat for the pageant! Tin hat crafting will continue through the afternoon in the back of our panel room until the pageant begins. So if you're hung over from karaoke Saturday morning, don't worry. You'll still have time to come make the tin tiara of your dreams.
• 12:00pm - 12:50pm - Panel #3 - How Not to Be a Jerk Online. A panel discussion of fandom etiquette and what to really do when someone is wrong on the Internet. Host: spookshowbaby. Panelists: TBA
• 1:00pm - 1:50pm - Panel #4 - "Show us your kinks"
• 2:00pm - 3:50pm - International Bad Fic Idol. Be prepared to laugh yourself to death as we read the crackiest of crack fic known to fandom, then judge it. Not that we're judgmental or anything. Well, maybe the mental part. Hosts: sparkymonster and missyjack. Celebrity Judges: TBA
• 4:00pm - 4:50pm - Second Annual Tin Hat Pageant. Let your freak flag fly, ladies! Parade your tin hat, join in the "How obsessed are you?" trivia quiz, win great prizes. Minions welcome. Host: missyjack
• 12:00pm - 9:00pm - Wincon Roadhouse. Comp drinks and snacks abound! Vid show replay and episode marathons will be happening throughout the weekend at the roadhouse this year. A separate schedule of events for this room will be posted closer to the con.
• 8:00pm - Midnight - WINPROM - Apocalypse Suite. Come in your trashy finest to celebrate the end of the world. The raffle will take place during the prom and you must be present to win, so if you have to come downstairs in your jammies to be there, we won't mind! DJ: Cathybites

Sunday, October 11th

• 9:00am - 5:00pm - Wincon Roadhouse. The Roadhouse will become our departure point on Sunday. Need a place to park your bags while you wait for your shuttle? This is the place. Come say your goodbyes and search the lost and found for your missing undergarments.
• 12:00pm - 2:00pm - Panel #5 - The Future of Wincon. Fandom is changing and we wanna roll with the times. Come lets talk about it. Hosts: ethrosdemon and coiledsoul
• 5:00pm - Con officially ends. See you next year!

Fourth Annual Vid Show 2009

Click here to see the 2009 Vid Show playlist.

2009 Convention Reports

Attendees posted their 2009 convention reports here and here.

• Bad Fic Idol Entries

2010 and Beyond

In 2010, the convention expanded to include other fandoms and it is now a multi-fandom convention. While fans of any fandom are welcome, some of the more popular fandoms that have had panels include: Doctor Who, Comics (both Marvel and DC), Sherlock, Elementary, Teen Wolf, Welcome to Night Vale, Disney, Star Trek, Hannibal, Bandom (1D, MCR, etc.), and of course Supernatural. Other reoccurring panels include: Slash, Femslash, Kinks, Incest, RPF/RPS, Apocalypse, Vampires, Zombies, and aspects of fandom like Fanfiction, Podfic, Fanart, Vidding, Crafting, and basic online etiquette.

More information about Wincon can be found on it's FanLore page.

Links

• Wincon's FanLore page
• WinchesterCon at LJ
• @Wincon on Twitter
• WinchesterCon Merchandise at Cafe Press
• Wincon website