Greetings from the Chair
So this is it, the final Progress Report from Archipelacon 2! We’re one week away (give or take) from the convention, and the preparations are in their final stretch. As the chair of the convention, and why not a committee member too, it’s always interesting to go from the feeling of everything being so far away and we can’t really do much about things (yet), to everything coming together and creating something really amazing.
The final Progress Report will include important information about picking up your badge, our programme, and other information about the convention, so please read it through!
I can’t wait to see all of you in Mariehamn next week!
Convention Opening Hours
Archipelacon 2 runs from Thursday morning until Sunday evening.
Here are the venue opening hours:
- Thursday: 10.30–19.00
- Friday: 9.30–20.00
- Saturday: 9.30–21.00
- Sunday: 9.30–18.00
The Programme Is Out!
We are happy to announce that the Archipelacon 2 programme has been published on the website!
There will be over 170 hours of programming to choose from including many presentations and panels on all sorts of interesting topics, workshops, academic track and more.
To help keep track of everything interesting going on in the convention, our programme guide lets you filter programme items by programme type, language and content. You can, of course, also mark your favorites or look at the schedule as a timeline. Here’s how to read the guide: purple – academic track; light blue – panels; light green – presentations; dark green – interviews, readings, etc.; orange – games.
Please note that there have been a few changes after the programme book went to print, so during the convention remember to check the online programme guide for the most up-to-date information!
For our younger and more adventurous members, we are having two different treasure hunts during the convention! There will be a prize raffle between all participants, so find out more at the info desk during the convention.
https://archipelacon.org/programme/
Masquerade
The Masquerade, a convention favourite, will be held Saturday, 28 June in the Main Auditorium. We welcome costumers and cosplayers who’d like the chance to show off their costumes on stage and/or compete for awards. The Masquerade invites participants of all ages, gender identities, ethnicities, and abilities. Whether your costume is shop-bought or handmade, a fan favourite or an original design, you can read more and sign up at https://archipelacon.org/masquerade.
Flashmob
Are you a fan of “Agatha All Along” and “The Ballad of The Witches’ Road”? Do you also like to sing in harmony, and would willingly do so with your fellow magic wielders (con-goers) in a spontaneous (planned) flashmob? Then join the The Witches’ Road Flashmob! Questions and sign-up requests can be emailed to thewitchesroadflashmob@gmail.com, after which you’ll receive a link to The Darkhold (flashmob discord server invite). There will also be a single practice session at the con on Friday evening. Happy singing!
Join Us for Evening Parties
The fun doesn’t stop even when the programme ends in Alandica, at least for those who are 18 or over, as we have an evening programme on every night of the convention, free of charge!
If you’re already in Mariehamn on Wednesday, the local fans are arranging a small pre-con get-together at Pub Bastun starting at 19.00. The address is Sjöpromenaden 5, just a short walk from the con site.
On Thursday, we are asking everyone to join us at restaurant Boquerian which serves lovely tapas-style food. The only programme item for the evening will be the (in)famous Geek Culture Quiz, which will offer four rounds of geeky questions on all sorts of topics. There will be prizes for the top three teams but also a bunch of raffle prizes to be given between all participating teams. So please, get your geeky team of maximum of eight participants and join the fun starting at 19.30!
For the rest of the convention, we will be gathering in the Arkipelag Pool Bar right across the street from the convention venue. If you are hungry, Arkipelag’s Garden restaurant, on the opposite side of the pool, has plenty of delicious options on their summer menu.
Friday’s evening programme will offer the performance Kiertoradalla (avaruusromua) / In Orbit (Space Debris) by Karkia Walo which interlaces poetry inspired by sci-fi, popular culture, and science news with inter-planetary soundscapes on modular synthesizers. The performance starts at 21.00.
Saturday will bring the disco fever as DJ Lanai will spin danceable 80s bangers and more in a homage to the Worldcon Dance night hosted by John Scalzi in what we are calling Scalzi Ersatz Disco. The dance party starts at 22.00!
The last day of the convention will be a more mellow affair in the evening as Arkipelag will host the official Dead Dog Party of the convention. Join us one more time for drinks and conversation!
Badge Pick-up and Registration
Greetings from Registration!
We are the people responsible for handling memberships and badges, and will probably be some of the first people you will meet when you first arrive at Archipelacon 2. Our desk will be located right inside the main entrance. At Registration, you will be handed your badge, which will include your preferred badge name as well as other useful information about you (are you a programme participant, or a member of the Con Committee, etc.). The size of our badges will be A6, the orientation is portrait, which should be perfect for those who like to collect ribbons. If you did not give us a separate badge name, the badge name will be your full name.
Please have some form of identification with you when you collect your badge. Kid members travelling with their parents do not need an ID. The queues for picking up badges will be divided into two by alphabetical order of members’ legal last names.
Registration opening hours
- Wednesday: 13.00–17.00
- Thursday: 9.00–19.00
- Friday: 9.30–20.00
- Saturday: 9.30–20.00
- Sunday: 9.30–15.00
You can pick up your badge on Wednesday and on Thursday morning even though the rest of the convention site is not open yet!
Please notice you are required to have your badge visible at all times when you are at the convention site. The badges are personal and cannot be given to other people without the permission of Registration!
Volunteer!
There is still time to volunteer for the convention! If you feel like you could give some of your time to helping Archipelacon 2, please fill out the volunteer form on our website! You can also volunteer at the convention site at the volunteers desk located by our merch desk. All volunteers get access to the staff den with coffee, tea, cold drinks and snacks!
And Now for the Weather
Many parts of Europe are having a heat wave right now. It looks like we will dodge that – the forecast for Åland is predicting temperatures between 12 and 18 degrees (Celsius) for the convention weekend, so dress accordingly!
Other Interesting Facts About the Convention
Have you noticed we are publishing more and more information about the convention on our website? We’ve got our convention rules up, there is an anti-harassment policy, maps of the venue, things about accessibility, and even some tips for things to do while in Mariehamn and in Åland! The info can be found from the Programme and Souvenir Book, too, but if you want to get to know things beforehand, head over to our website and take a look!