Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 20, 2026

Windycon

Windycon is a science fiction and fantasy literature convention held annually in the Chicago, Illinois area. In the past, it was held on the weekend closest to Veterans Day; as of 2026, the date has been moved to the second weekend of October.

Last revised
Jun 20, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
284 w
Citations
5
Source
Windycon
StatusActive
GenreScience Fiction/Fantasy Convention
LocationsOak Brook, Illinois
CountryUnited States
InauguratedOctober 25-27, 1974
Most recent
November 10-12, 2023
Next event
November 8-10, 2024
Organized byISFiC
Filing statusNon-profit
Websitewww.windycon.org

Windycon is a science fiction and fantasy literature convention held annually in the Chicago, Illinois area. In the past, it was held on the weekend closest to Veterans Day; as of 2026, the date has been moved to the second weekend of October.

ISFiC, the parent corporation that runs Windycon,1 was founded in 1973 in Chicago. The first Windycon was held the following year and has been held annually ever since either in Chicago or a Chicago suburb.2 It is a general interest convention.

ISFiC and Windycon were founded to raise the profile of fandom in Chicago in preparation for a Worldcon bid.1 In 1982, Chicon IV was the result. From its small beginnings, Windycon has grown to have an annual membership hovering around 1300. It is the largest of the two fan-run Chicago conventions.

Annually since 1986, ISFiC has hosted a writers contest, open to unpublished authors. The contest is judged by professional authors and editors.3 Separately, Windycon has hosted a writers' workshop under the coordination of Richard Chwedyk since 2000.4 From 2004 to 2015, ISFiC Press, the publishing arm of Windycon's parent organization, published a Guest of Honor book to be released at the convention.

References

References

  1. Pavlac, Ross, What's an ISFiC, ISFiC Web Site, retrieved, 2015-11-10
  2. The Windycon Big List Archived 2009-08-01 at the Wayback Machine, Windycon Web Site, retrieved, 2007-05-19
  3. "ISFiC, Inc.: Writers Contest Winners". www.isfic.org. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  4. Foster, Adrienne (August–September 2009), "Next Manuscript, Please: Amazing Tales of the Worldcon Writers Workshop", SFWA Bulletin, p. 10
External links