Wednesday, December 15, 2021
2:30 pm EST
Make and take! Materials will be provided to make fun takeaways like badge ribbons, geeky holiday ornaments, and fantasy eye masks.
4:00 pm EST
Bring your artistic talent (or lack thereof!) and join the fun guessing fannish phrases, titles, or characters, based on drawings by you or your fellow fans.
Please note: Virtual streaming of this session will be audience-only. Participation through drawing and guessing will be limited to on-site attendees due to technical constraints.
Welcome to the convention. We will present the First Fandom and Big Heart awards, as well as remarks from the Chair.
Welcome to Camp DisCon! Let’s gather ’round the “campfire” and sing! You know the tunes; we supply the music (your Head Counselor Filthy Pierre at the keyboard), and the words (on the big screen). We’ll sing the glories of the Outer Space Marines and Frodo Baggins; the miseries of slow elevators and bad hotel food; and of Star Trek doings we’ll never see in prime time. “S’mores,” anyone?
Signing – Jonathan Pace Brazee
5:00 pm EST
Come join us in honoring local creators here at Worldcon. Bring your autographs books because we’re bringing them all together in one location for you to meet.
5:30 pm EST
Mark Protection Committee – Day 1
This is the first of two meetings at DisCon III of the only permanent body of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS), the Mark Protection Committee (MPC). As its name suggests, the MPC manages the intellectual property for WSFS, including the registered marks for “Worldcon,” “Hugo Award,” and “NASFiC.” Wednesday’s meeting will finalize its report to WSFS for 2021. The MPC meets again on Sunday after the adjournment of the WSFS business meeting and will choose its officers for 2021-22.
7:00 pm EST
Grab your knitting needles, embroidery thread, or any other supplies you have. Let’s make some art together.
Sip With the Stars (Wednesday)
New con-goers are invited to hang out with published writers, critics, and convention veterans. A great way to make new friends and get the vibe of the con! We’ll break into groups of 4-5 people, each with a mix of newer and more experienced folks. Sips With the Stars events are planned on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings at 7–8 p.m. in the private dining room of the hotel restaurant. Bring your own drinks!
8:30 pm EST
Calling all ukulele players! It’s time for a jam session. Come make music with other uke enthusiasts.
Wednesday Night Open Filk – Chaos Style Room 1
Making music all night long. Unicorns, space flight, cons, cats—the topic could be anything and could change at any time. All styles of music welcome. Singers, instrumentalists, and listeners all welcome.
Wednesday Night Pick-Pass-Perform Song Circle
What is a pick-pass-perform song circle? Everyone in the room gets the chance to perform a number, pick a song by asking for a specific song, asking a specific person to perform, or picking a song topic, or pass their turn. All forms of music welcome.
11:30 pm EST
Wednesday Night Open Filk – Chaos Style Room 2
Making music all night long. Unicorns, space flight, cons, cats the topic could be anything and could change at any time. All styles of music welcome. Singers, instrumentalists, and listeners all welcome.
Thursday, December 16, 2021
8:30 am EST
A fully inclusive, gentle yoga class for people of all abilities. Practicing in a chair or on a mat with some optional standing poses, participants will move, stretch, rejuvenate and relax through a series of gentle yoga movements, breathing exercises, and meditation. This class will offer different variations and options, encouraging participants to explore at their own pace and expand their yoga experience within a welcoming and inclusive community. Companions and support people are welcome.
9:00 am EST
Stroll with the Stars (Thursday)
Meet up with facilitator Debra Nickelson at 9 a.m. in the lobby of the hotel for the now-traditional morning stroll.
9:30 am EST
WSFS Preliminary Business Meeting
The WSFS Business Meeting is open to all Worldcon members. This is where rules regarding Hugo Awards, site selection of future Worldcons, and related matters are voted upon. The preliminary meeting considers resolutions (including extensions of Hugo Award eligibility), and sets the agenda and debate time limits for the other meetings. This meeting can kill newly submitted business, but not proposals pending ratification from past years. Arrive early for handouts and orientation.
10:00 am EST
Gaming Room and Online Gaming — Thursday
Come join us for freeform gaming!
Online, visit the gaming channels on Discord.
Onsite, visit the gaming room, which is the Blue Room Prefunction space on level one. Stop by for a pickup game, or to see the schedule of games people are looking to run.
Want to run a game? Fill out our online form to share the details for both onsite and online games. Or simply leave a note in person on the message board in the gaming room.
11:30 am EST
1:00 pm EST
This guided walking event will take participants on a tour of DisCon III’s main panel areas, Dealers Room, Art Show, freebie/flyer tables, exhibits, social spaces, party boards, and so much more!
Get books signed by Guest of Honor Nancy Kress
2:30 pm EST
What happens when you combine stuffed animal body parts with kids’ imaginations? We provide the stuffies and assistance with needle and thread, you bring the big ideas.
Poets of all experience levels are welcome to share their work at DisCon III’s open mic!
Signing – Mary Robinette Kowal
4:00 pm EST
Join the Art Show staff for a group stroll through the Art Show to view and discuss the works on display.
5:00 pm EST
Public Hugo Finalists Reception
This public reception provides a chance for members to meet the Hugo Award finalists and honor the winners from ConZealand.
5:30 pm EST
Two Truths and a Lie: Convention Version
Panelists present three wacky stories about things that have happened at conventions. Only two are true. Can you, the audience, find the lie?
7:00 pm EST
Plot a More Fantastic Four Movie
There have been 4 attempts to make a Fantastic Four movie (so far). They were all bad. The attendees of DisCon III can do better. Let’s plot, storyboard, and cast the perfect Fantastic Four movie.
New con-goers are invited to hang out with published writers, critics, and convention veterans. A great way to make new friends and get the vibe of the con! We’ll break into groups of 4-5 people, each with a mix of newer and more experienced folks. Sips With the Stars events are planned on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings at 7–8 p.m. in the private dining room of the hotel restaurant. Bring your own drinks!
8:00 pm EST
Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra
The Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra is a nonprofit community orchestra whose mission is to share video game music by putting on affordable, accessible concerts in the D.C. area. Founded in 2012, the ensemble has grown to more than 100 members between the orchestra and choir. Join them for an evening of music from some of your favorite video games.
8:30 pm EST
Instrumental Play-Along with Maugorn the Stray
Bring your instruments! After a 30-minute concert by Maugorn the Stray, he will lead the first portion of this instrumental play-along/jam session. All instruments welcome. As the evening grows late, the session will become self-organizing.
Get your face painted with us at DisCon III! Tweens and teens welcome.
Memorial Song Circle & Thursday Night Open Filk
A song circle to honor of those from the fannish community who are no longer with us, followed by a session of making music all night long. Unicorns, space flight, cons, cats—the topic could be anything and could change at any time. All styles of music welcome. Singers, instrumentalists, and listeners all welcome.
Thursday Night Pick-Pass-Perform Song Circle
What is a pick-pass-perform song circle? Everyone in the room gets the chance to perform a number, pick a song by asking for a specific song, asking a specific person to perform, or picking a song topic, or pass their turn. All forms of music welcome.
9:30 pm EST
Get ready to jingle on the dance floor as Hugo finalist John Scalzi spins all the most danceable tunes from the Bee Gees to The Weeknd and everything in between. It’ll be a very merry workout indeed.
Friday, December 17, 2021
9:00 am EST
Stroll with the Stars (Friday)
Meet up with facilitator Debra Nickelson at 9 a.m. in the lobby of the hotel for the now-traditional morning stroll.
9:30 am EST
The WSFS Business Meeting is open to all Worldcon members. Come see and participate in how the sausage is made regarding the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS), relating to rules concerning the Hugo Awards, site selection of future Worldcons, and related matters. The main meeting debates and votes upon changes to the WSFS Constitution, including proposals pending ratification from past years, and new proposals that survived the preliminary business meeting. Arrive early for new handouts.
10:00 am EST
Gaming Room and Online Gaming — Friday
Come join us for freeform gaming!
Online, visit the gaming channels on Discord.
Onsite, visit the gaming room, which is the Blue Room Prefunction space on level one. Stop by for a pickup game, or to see the schedule of games people are looking to run.
Want to run a game? Fill out our online form to share the details for both onsite and online games. Or simply leave a note in person on the message board in the gaming room.
11:30 am EST
Signing – Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam