dragoncon logo…and TheOneRing.net will be there! This convention is possibly the biggest fan-based party of the year, and this year promises to be a particularly good one for Tolkien fans. Here’s what’s on offer:

Guests from Middle-earth include Manu Bennett, Billy Boyd, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, Craig Parker and Karl Urban. The Tolkien Track (run by TORn’s own MrCere) will be busy presenting a full schedule of amazing panels and discussions, including chats with some of these celebrity guests.

Amongst highlights of the track scheduling are Friday’s Evening at Bree and Saturday’s Middle-earth goes 70s Dance Party! The Evening at Bree has long been a fan favourite, with TORn’s good friends Emerald Rose performing; this year those attending can also expect the usual costume contest – with amazing cosplayers out in force! – a performance from the Elf Choir, and possibly some other surprises and special guests! Join us in Centennial I ballroom in the Hyatt, 8.30pm on Friday 29th – get there early to be sure of admission!

Last year’s ‘Middle-earth goes 80s’ party was a huge success, so this year we’re going back a decade and doing it all again! Calling all disco dwarves, glam rock elves and hippy hobbits – get down and be funky! (Costumes encouraged but not needed!) In A601-A602 (Atrium level) of the Marriott Marquis, Saturday 30th from 10pm, with music provided by DJ Deathskiss – aka TORn’s own deej! Come and dance the night away.

SMUGTORn will of course be presenting panels at the convention. On Saturday at 4pm we’ll be discussing the ‘Final Film in Middle-earth’ – an unofficial sneak peak at what we can expect from The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Then on Sunday at 1pm we’ll look at ‘The Fourth Age of Fandom – what’s next in Middle-earth?’ With Peter Jackson’s time in Middle-earth drawing to a close, what is out there for fans to anticipate and enjoy? The answer is more than you’d think – come along and find out more!  Both panels will be in the Grand Ballroom East in the Hyatt.

And of course, TORn will also have a fan table at the event, where we look forward to catching up with our fellow fans! Staffers deej, greendragon and Thorongil will be busy at the table, where we’ll be selling shirts, buttons and – for the first time this year – LANYARDS! Come by and get the coolest lanyard available for your DragonCon badge! We’ll have a different button on sale each of the four days of the con, and our shirt designs will be our ‘SMUG’ dragon (on black shirts) and our ‘Keep Calm and Read Tolkien’ shirt (on red). Limited availability in all sizes (including fitted in the SMUG design), so come by early to get your size! Of course we’ll also have trivia and time to chat! We’re in our usual spot, opposite the entrance to the Art Show in the Hyatt; please come by, say hi, and support your favourite website!

Looking forward to seeing our fellow fans there – let the games begin!

[DragonCon 2014 official website]