User:Alagos PL/sandbox

Multigenre Fan Convention Pyrkon (commonly known as Pyrkon) - Polish fan convention held annually in Poznań on the first weekend after spring equinox dedicated to an integration of Science fiction fandom and a promotion of science-fiction/fantasy literature, comics, film, television, video games, RPG, LARP, board games, collectible card games and miniature wargaming.

History
Pyrkon is organised by the Science Fiction Club "Second Era" annually since 2000 except 2005 when the SF Club "Second Era" organised Polcon (in 2011 the SF Club "Second Era" organised both Pyrkon and Polcon). From the beginning Pyrkon is a non-profit convention and all organizers, lecturers and gofers are volunteers. In 2000-2010 Pyrkon was held at the Dębiec district, primarily only in the Elementary School nr 21 in Poznań, then also in the Gymnasium nr 42 in Poznań (2008-2010), the Cezamet Hotel (2008-2010) and in the High and Technical Schools Complex nr 19 in Poznań (2010). Due to increasing number of visitors in 2011 the convention moved to the Poznań World Trade Center and to the Liceum Ogólnokształcące nr 2 in Poznań, where it is being held for this day.

March 6, 1999 the SF Club "Second Era" organised "The Day with Science Fiction" in the District House of Culture "Sun" at the "Friendship" district in Poznań. It was the direct precedessor of Pyrkon.

The tradition of organising Pyrkon on the first weekend after spring equinox started in 2006. Usually it is also a weekend when the shift of time occurs - participants are informed in a convention guide book and on posters of a necessity to adjust their timepieces.

Etymology
According to one theory name "Pyrkon" comes from the 10th Book of Pausanias' "Guide to Ancient Greece", where he quotes an hexameter poem "Eumolpia" assigned to Musaios, a son of Antiophemos, which states that Delphic Sibyl belonged to Poseidon and Ge (Earth) in common; that Ge gave her oracles herself, but Poseidon used Pyrkon as his mouthpiece in giving responses.

According to the other theory name "Pyrkon" is merging of base "pyr-" of word "pyra" (which means "potato" in Poznań's dialect) and a sufix -kon added to names of all Polish fan conventions.

Main Attractions
Pyrkon's goals are realized in:
 * meetings and discusion panels with science fiction and fantasy authors;
 * meetings with books and games publishers;
 * thematic lectures related to all spheres of science fiction;
 * popular science lectures, especially about physics, history, linguistics and cultural studies;
 * RPG sessions and LARP-s;
 * lending board games (Games Room);
 * lending old video games; ;
 * board games, collectible card games and miniature wargaming tournaments;
 * demonstrations and premieres of board games, collectible card games, miniature wargaming and video games;
 * thematic competitions with prizes.

Other Attractions
On Pyrkon also take place:
 * concerts;
 * fighting shows;
 * fireshows;
 * dancing shows and lessons;
 * karaoke and DDR contests;
 * Pyrkon: You Can Dance.

Awards

 * contest of the "The Convention Guide-Book" Web Portal: "The Best Fan Convention of the Season" :
 * Pyrkon 2006 - II place (Winter 2005/2006 edition);
 * Pyrkon 2007 - I place (Winter 2006/2007 edition).


 * contest of "The Convention Guide-Book" Web Portal: "The Best Fan Convention of the Year" :
 * Pyrkon 2008 - I place.


 * contest of "The Convention Guide-Book" Web Portal: "Fan's Choice" :
 * Pyrkon 2006 - II place (Winter 2005/2006 edition);
 * Pyrkon 2007 - I place (Winter 2006/2007 edition);
 * Pyrkon 2008 - I place (Year 2008 edition).


 * plebiscite of "The Cathedral" Web Portal: "Science Fiction" in cathegory "The best fan convention or other SF mass event":
 * Pyrkon 2007 - I place ;
 * Pyrkon 2008 - III place ;
 * Pyrkon 2009 - III place ;
 * Pyrkon 2010 - I place ;
 * Pyrkon 2011 - I place.