Con of Thrones is an upcoming Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire fan convention that will hit the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN from June 30 to July 2. The biggest convention of its kind, it’ll have a who’s who of cast and crew members in attendance, including:
- Iwan Rheon (Ramsay Bolton)
- Kerry Ingram (Shireen Baratheon)
- Kate Dickie (Lysa Arryn)
- Rupert Vansittart (Yohn Royce)
- Sam Coleman (Young Hodor)
- Aimee Richardson (Myrcella Baratheon)
- Miltos Yerolemou (Syrio Forel)
- Roger Ashton-Griffiths (Mace Tyrell)
- David Peterson (the conlanger behind the Dothraki and Valyrian languages)
- Tommy Dunne (the show’s Weapons Master)
- Paula Fairfield (sound designer)
On top of all that, there will also be a series of panels, parties, live tapings of fan favorite podcasts, and other things sure to thrill all and sundry. Check out the schedule below:
FRIDAY, JUNE 30
- You’re Not the One, 10:00 – 10:50 AM. “Everyone thinks they’re the hero of their own story, but as some characters find out, the truth is much different. Through their experiences, Margaery, Young Griff, Quentyn, and more teach us valuable life lessons.”
- Winter is Still Coming: A Refresher, 11:00 – 11:50 AM. “Before we dive into a weekend of theorizing, let’s remind ourselves what we know about “The Winds of Winter” so far. Where did “A Dance With Dragons” leave off? Which arcs are going to be explored next? And what can we learn from the released sample chapters?”
- Challenging Expectation: Gender in George R.R. Martin’s World, 2:00 – 2:50 PM. “Join us for a discussion of the gender roles and gender politics of ASOIAF and Game of Thrones. We’ll explore the characters who buck their assigned gender roles, those who don’t, the middle ground, and how gender affects their stories.”
- Friday Night Concert, 6:00 – 8:30 PM. “Rock out with your fellow fans and celebrate the end of day one at the Friday Night Concert. FEATURING: The Smoothrays; The Manimals; and Daenerys and the Targaryens; and a special stand-up act by Steve Love.”
SATURDAY, JULY 1
- Game of Thrones: Cosplay on a Budget, 10:00 – 10:50 AM. “Game of Thrones has featured a stunning range of beautiful and intricate costume designs as seen on the screen or described in the books. Join us for a roundtable discussion on recreating many of these amazing costumes without needing a loan from the Iron Bank.”
- Bannerless: Discussing the Brotherhood, 11:00 – 11:50 AM. “For fans of the rebel crew and heroes of the smallfolk. Gather to discuss Beric, Thoros, Anguy and the lot, and their future. Are they too far down a dark road in the books? What can we expect in season seven?”
- Dracarys! 12:00 – 12:50 PM. “In a world of White Walkers, aurochs, and direwolves, fire-breathing dragons may be the most accessible beastly myth for those entering the Seven Kingdoms. From ancient history to Tolkien to Puff the Magic Dragon, this discussion will explore our fabled obsession and their role in George R.R. Martin’s world and beyond.”
- Ball on the Wall, 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM. “Close out day two by dancing the night away at the Ball on the Wall. When you need a break, join us for games or take in a performance. Dress to impress or dress to get down, just make sure you bring your dancing shoes!”
SUNDAY, JULY 2
- The Perils of Adaptation, 11:00 – 11:50 AM. “Let’s face it–not everyone loves the TV adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire. Some changes worked, and some didn’t. What did they do right in changing, and what would you do differently? Watch our panelists make a case for a different version of Game of Thrones!”
- Spoiling Game of Thrones, 12:00 – 12:50 PM. “Spoilers have been part of the Game of Thrones fandom from the beginning, with fans thirstier than ever for info about the new season. But why is it such a popular element? Panelists will talk spoiler culture, the how and why of spoiling the show, and ask the question: Should we spoil it?”
- Queering Westeros, 2:00 – 2:50 PM. “Let’s take a closer look at how queer sexuality is treated in ASOIAF and Game of Thrones, from Oberyn and Ellaria’s open bisexuality to the doomed love between Renly and Loras, to the same-sex dalliances of queens.”
- The Unanswered Questions of ASOIAF, 4:00 – 4:50 PM. “For every resolved question in ASOIAF, there is a lingering mystery. Whatever happened to Tysha? Is Ashara Dayne really dead? Who was the Knight of the Laughing Tree? Here, we gather to examine the unanswered questions of the series.”
For more information and to get tickets, head here!