Chicon Fringe is facilitating extracurricular events around Chicon 8! The “Fringe” are events that will generally be off-site (some may be online) and don’t require Worldcon membership. As such, they shouldn’t be read as “official” Worldcon events, but they will hopefully be a fun supplement for both Worldcon attendees and local Chicago folks who might not be attending the actual convention. We’re hoping these events give Worldcon visitors a chance to check out other aspects of Chicago, and encourage Chicago folks to check out the convention!
Please note! As Fringe events during con are somehow even more volunteer-driven than our 100% volunteer-driven convention, the Fringe events will be evolving as we get interest & feedback. Please check the Program for the most updated list of Fringe events during the con itself; this website will be updated as we can!
Events with a captain listed will generally meet in the lobby of the Hyatt and head to the venue; for other Fringe events, we’ll just meet at the event location.
Interested in “captaining” a Fringe event? Basically all this means is “I would like to go do a cool thing somewhere in Chicago during the con, I’d like other folks to come with if they’re interested, and I don’t mind doing some very mild organizing for it.” We’d love to have a couple times that people can gather and walk to Millennium Park for the essential “Bean” selfies. Maybe you’d like to go to one of Chicago’s many museums, or go to a cool bookstore. Maybe you’d like to arrange an outing to a stage play, or catch a movie (there’s a Stephen King Film Festival all weekend, and the Siskel Film Center is showing A Scanner Darkly on the last day of the convention). Whatever your idea is, just email fringe@chicon.org!
Fringe Events
Tuesday, August 30
Architecture Cruise with the Con Chair: Noon. Meet at noon in the lobby of the Hyatt for a 1:00 p.m. boat tour and take the world famous architecture boat tour of Chicago, captained by Helen Montgomery! Please purchase your own tickets for the 1:00 pm tour. While we do not anticipate that the tour will sell out, if you want to get your tickets in advance, you can either walk down to the Riverwalk and buy tickets there (see below) or online with Ticketmaster (with additional fees). Cruises are $52 plus fees.
There is a staircase at Michigan and Wacker, just a few steps away from the hotel, that brings you to the Riverwalk level. If you are unable to take the stairs, there is an ADA entrance a few blocks further west at State and Wacker, and you can then travel back along the Riverwalk to the cruise dock.
Once you are at the river level, the cruises depart from the Chicago’s First Lady dock at the Southeast corner of Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive. (Look for the blue awning at the stairway entrance.) The ticket booth is in the same area.
We suggest wearing sunscreen and bringing water!
Seattle Happy Hour: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The Seattle 2025 Bid team is arriving early, and would like to invite you to a happy hour at The Northman, a beer and cider garden right by the Hyatt on the scenic Riverwalk. Check out the Facebook Event.
Author Event: Maureen Kilmer for Suburban Hell @ Anderson’s Bookshop (Naperville). 7:00 p.m. Bestselling local horror author Maureen Kilmer will give a short talk, take audience questions, and then have a signing line. Purchase of the book is required to attend; register here. Attendees will need to find their own transportation; the Metra BNSF Line may be an option.
Author Event: Naseem Jamnia for The Bruising of Qilway w/ August Clarke @ 57th Street Books (Hyde Park). 6:00 p.m. Naseem Jamnia will discuss their book The Bruising of Qilwa. They will be joined in conversation by August Clarke. More details here. Attendees will need to find their own transportation; the Metra Electric Line and #6 Bus are options from the Hyatt.
Wednesday, August 31
Martin Hoare Memorial Pub Crawl 2022: The traditional pre-Worldcon pub crawl, taking place in a number of purveyors of fine ales. We will depart from The Northman at 7:30 p.m., but organizers plan to get there at 6:30 pm for a beer and some food. Meet at The Northman Beer & Cieder Garden, 233 E. Riverwalk. For more information…
Thursday, September 1
Author Event: Meg Elison for Number One Fan w/ Nino Cipri & Victor Manibo @ City Lit Books (Logan Square). 6:30pm. Meg Elison will be doing a reading and signing of her new book! Meg will be in conversation with Nino Cipri and Victor Manibo. More details here. Attendees will need to find their own transportation; the CTA Blue Line goes fairly directly from the Hyatt to City Lit Books.
Stroll with the Stars 7:00 p.m. Take a leisurely stroll through the local area in the company of some of your favorite creators, and learn a little about this year’s host city. Meet in the hotel lobby for the Stroll with James L. Cambias, N.E. Davenport, Bob J. Koester, and William C. Tracy.
We suggest wearing sunscreen and bringing water!
Friday, September 2
Stroll with the Stars 8:30 a.m. Take a leisurely stroll through the local area in the company of some of your favorite creators, and learn a little about this year’s host city. Meet in the hotel lobby for the Stroll with Alma Alexander, Polina Baron, Gordon D., Shaun Duke, J.S. Fields, James Kennedy, Eleanor Konik, Mary Anne Mohanraj, and Michi Trota.
We suggest wearing sunscreen and bringing water!
American Writers Museum Outing. 1:00 p.m. Meet Steven H Silver in the Hyatt lobby, for a walk down to the AWM, who have a variety of cool exhibits, including one on Ray Bradbury, which will be in its final weekend! Tickets are $14 for adults, and $9 for students, seniors, and teachers. Plan to purchase your tickets at the museum.
Children’s Outing: Maggie Daley Park. 2:00 p.m. Captained by Rachel Locascio. The Play Garden at Maggie Daley Park covers three acres with play spaces for kids 2–5 and 5–12, including swings, splash pads, boat-themed playgrounds, a lighthouse slide, and an Enchanted Forest full of natural play materials. The stars of the park are a pair of huge play towers with slides, bridges, and an incredible view of the city skyline and Lake Michigan. The park features many soft, spongy play surfaces and “play elements that meet or exceed ADA standards.” Learn more here.
We will meet in the lobby of the Hyatt and take a leisurely 15-minute walk (just over half a mile) together over to the Play Garden for kids to play and explore. You can return to the Hyatt at your leisure, or check out nearby spots in Millennium Park, such as Cloud Gate (aka The Bean), Crown Fountain (giant moving faces that spit out water and kids and adults can splash and play in the fountain), and the Lurie Garden. Recommended for ages 2–12.
We suggest wearing sunscreen and bringing water!
Stroll with the Stars 7:00 p.m. Take a leisurely stroll through the local area in the company of some of your favorite creators, and learn a little about this year’s host city. Meet in the hotel lobby for the Stroll with Jonathan Brazee, Kelli Fitzpatrick, Ryann Fletcher, Carol Gryzander, Rich Horton, Suzanne Palmer, and Marie Vibbert.
We suggest wearing sunscreen and bringing water!
Saturday, September 3
Stroll with the Stars 8:30 a.m. Take a leisurely stroll through the local area in the company of some of your favorite creators, and learn a little about this year’s host city. Meet in the hotel lobby for the Stroll with Vivian Abraham, Colin Alexander, C.L. Polk, Lawrence M. Schoen, Steven H Silver, John E. Stith, and Tracy Townsend.
We suggest wearing sunscreen and bringing water!
American Writers Museum Outing. 10:00 a.m. Meet Raven Stern in the Hyatt lobby, for a walk down to the AWM, who have a variety of cool exhibits, including one on Ray Bradbury, which will be in its final weekend! Tickets are $14 for adults, and $9 for students, seniors, and teachers. Plan to purchase your tickets at the museum.
Chicago Architecture Center Tour. 10:00 a.m. Meet Linda Ferentchak in the Hyatt lobby, and walk just down the street to the Chicago Architecture Center. We’ll be taking a 90-minute walking tour of Chicago’s fabulous downtown architecture. Tickets are $30. Plan to purchase your tickets at the Architecture Center.
We suggest wearing sunscreen and bringing water!
Stroll with the Stars 7:00 p.m. Take a leisurely stroll through the local area in the company of some of your favorite creators, and learn a little about this year’s host city. Meet in the hotel lobby for the Stroll with Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, R.W.W. Greene, Hildur Knútsdóttir, Sandra J Lindow, Joshua Palmatier, Sarah Pinsker, and Mary A. Turzillo.
We suggest wearing sunscreen and bringing water!
Sunday, September 4
Stroll with the Stars 8:30 a.m. Take a leisurely stroll through the local area in the company of some of your favorite creators, and learn a little about this year’s host city. Meet in the hotel lobby for the Stroll with Kevin Anderson, Lori Anderson, Paul Calhoun, Tania Chen, Allan Dyen-Shapiro, Stephanie Hans, Amber Morrell, Amy Salley, Mary G. Thompson, Eli K.P. William, and Haley Zapal.
We suggest wearing sunscreen and bringing water!
Noise in the Void horror reading @ Bucket O’Blood. 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. “Come on out Sept 4 for an afternoon of weird and wonderful horror!! We got a whole crew of horror punks doing a shop takeover from 3-5pm and you won’t want to miss this mayhem!” More info on the Facebook event. Attendees will need to find their own transportation. The CTA Blue Line to Belmont or California bus is a ~40 minute trip; street parking is also available at the venue.
Monday, September 5
Stroll with the Stars 8:30 a.m. Take a leisurely stroll through the local area in the company of some of your favorite creators, and learn a little about this year’s host city. Meet in the hotel lobby for the Stroll with Jen R. Albert, Heshe Leontess, and Seaboe Muffinchucker.
We suggest wearing sunscreen and bringing water!
Tuesday, September 6
Post-Con Cruise: 2:00 p.m. Meet at 2:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Hyatt for a 3:00 p.m. boat tour and take the world famous architecture boat tour of Chicago, led by Bobbi Armbruster! Please purchase your own tickets for the 3:00 pm tour. While we do not anticipate that the tour will sell out, if you want to get your tickets in advance, you can either walk down to the Riverwalk and buy tickets there (see below) or online with Ticketmaster (with additional fees). Cruises are $52 plus fees.
There is a staircase at Michigan and Wacker, just a few steps away from the hotel, that brings you to the Riverwalk level. If you are unable to take the stairs, there is an ADA entrance a few blocks further west at State and Wacker, and you can then travel back along the Riverwalk to the cruise dock.
Once you are at the river level, the cruises depart from the Chicago’s First Lady dock at the Southeast corner of Michigan Avenue Bridge at Wacker Drive. (Look for the blue awning at the stairway entrance.) The ticket booth is in the same area.
We suggest wearing sunscreen and bringing water!