Newsletter February 2025: Seattle Worldcon Has Fringe

Seattle Worldcon Has—FRINGE

Just like a certain Vulcan science officer, Seattle Worldcon has a Fringe.

Promotional image of Leonard Nimoy as Spock from the original Star Trek tv show, with his trademark bangs.
NBC Television

If you want to explore the host city while you’re here, in the company of other Worldcon folks, Fringe is a great way to do it!

Right now we’re just in the early planning stage, that is, staring goggle-eyed at the mountain of activities that are available in the shadow of Mount Rainier, wondering how many we can cram into our schedule. Fringe will take place before the con, approximately August 10–12, and afterwards, on August 18 and 19. There may also be a bit of morning programming during the con. We’ll need a few volunteers to help guide groups hither and yon.

Some of Seattle’s finest attractions are just a short walk or ride away from the convention center, and there’s plenty more to see if you’re able to travel a little farther. Many of these attractions, like Spock, originated in the 1960s, when Seattle hosted a World’s Fair. The Monorail, Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, and International Fountain were all built for the event. Right alongside them you will find MoPOP, the Museum of Popular Culture, with its permanent science fiction and fantasy exhibits.

Even closer to the convention center is Pike Place Market, the Underground Tour, the Seattle Central Library, and SIFF Cinema Downtown. Just slightly farther away we have boat tours, sports games, the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), Capitol Hill bookstores and breweries, the Museum of Flight, and much more.

What do you want to see? Do you have more ideas for us? Would you like to volunteer to help out? Please contact us at fringe@seattlein2025.org.

Attending Membership Rates Increase March 1!

A rate increase is coming! Adult attending membership rates for Seattle Worldcon 2025 are set to increase by $30 on March 1, to a total of $280 ($50 WSFS membership + $230 attending supplement). Please purchase your membership before then to lock in today’s prices! Full registration information and a link to the registration portal can be found on the membership page on our website.

Announcement: Virtual Business Meeting Platform and Meeting Times

A dark-skinned person with black hair wearing purple and grey-blue retro-futuristic clothing gestures to the viewer's left. Green-tinted documents float around them.To follow up on our December announcement that the Seattle Worldcon will conduct the bulk of the 2025 WSFS Business Meeting through a series of virtual meetings held in July, we are now announcing the platform that will be used for the virtual WSFS business meetings, and the times of the meetings. We have selected Lumi Global’s virtual meeting platform. We will host a practice session at a time and date to be announced to help the community get to know Lumi’s platform prior to the meeting, and also publish written guidance.

The meetings themselves will be held for up to three and a half hours each at the following times on these previously-announced dates:

  • Friday, July 4, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)
  • Sunday, July 13, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)
  • Saturday, July 19, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)
  • Friday, July 25, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)

Thank you for joining us in this venture. If you have any questions, please contact business-meeting-help@seattlein2025.org.

Health Policy Update!

We have updated our Seattle Worldcon 2025 health policy to reflect what we expect to be our final policy unless circumstances, public health directives, or laws substantially change before the convention. Please read the full policy and plan ahead to minimize incidents of infection at the con.

Community Fund- Awarding Grants and Accepting Donations

The Seattle Worldcon Community Fund has completed its first round of grants. Congratulations to all recipients! If you have applied and haven’t yet been awarded a grant, you are still in consideration for future rounds. The next round of grants will be awarded in March.

If you have applied and have not received an email from us about the status of your grant application, please check your spam folder. If you still haven’t, please contact us at communityfund@seattlein2025.org.

The Seattle Worldcon 2025 Community Fund logo.

We are still accepting applications. You can find details about our focus groups and the application link on our Community Fund web page.

In order to help as many fans as possible attend the event from the Pacific Northwest and around the world, the community fund is still accepting tax deductible donations. You can donate when you register, or by this direct donation link. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. You are making a difference!

Remember: Hugo Nominations Open Through March 14

You should have received our special newsletter announcing the opening of the 2025 Hugo Award nominations on February 10. More information is available on our Hugo Awards Information page.