Norwescon 48 December Newsletter
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- Science Guest of Honor Summer Ash
- Register for Norwescon now
- Labyrinth shadow cast auditions
- Teen engagement is returning for Norwescon 48
- Hey cosplayers and costume wizards
- Single pattern contest
- Interstellar Encounters & Enchanted Evenings - Dance Norwescon-style
- Interested in running a game at Norwescon?
- Norwescon welcomes volunteers
- - Upcoming Norwescon 48 volunteer meeting dates
- The Norwescon camping trip is back
- Moderators needed
- Meetup sign-ups are open
- Bookshelves overcrowded? We'll take them!
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[The Norwescon logo and text News From Norwescon over art by Geneva Bowers of a young girl reading a book to a dragon in a field of flowers.]
News for Norwescon 48
December 2025
Quick Links:
- Science Guest of Honor—Summer Ash
- Register for Norwescon Now!!
- Labyrinth Shadowcast Auditions
- Teen Engagement Is Returning for NWC48!
- Hey Cosplayers and Costume Wizards!
- Single Pattern Contest!
- Interstellar Encounters & Enchanted Evenings—Dance NorwesconStyle
- Interested in Running a Game at Norwescon?
- Norwescon Welcomes Volunteers!
- The Norwescon Camping Trip Is Back!
- Moderators Needed!
- Meetup Sign-Ups Are Open!
- Bookshelves Overcrowded? We’ll Take Them!
Science Guest of Honor—Summer Ash
Summer Ash is an astrophysicist, rocket scientist, and freelance science communicator. She enjoys Jupiter, Orion, supermassive black holes, and advocating for equity, accessibility, and inclusion across all STEM fields.
As a self-professed space cadet, Summer grew up dragging friends and family out at all hours of the day or night to look up at the sky. She has a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Stanford University and a master’s in space studies from the International Space University, and she worked as an aerospace engineer on the X-34 Program at Orbital Sciences Corporation (now Orbital ATK) before making the jump from low-earth orbit to intergalactic scales. Summer did graduate research at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge on the evolution of radio galaxies and the effect of active galactic nuclei (aka AGN or supermassive black holes) on galaxies and galaxy clusters.
After academia, Summer transitioned to education and outreach and has worked for the World Science Festival, Columbia University, and the Very Large Array (VLA) at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). Her written work has been published online in The Atlantic, Smithsonian, Scientific American, Atlas Obscura, Slate, Nautilus Magazine, SyFy.com, and Now.Space. She has hosted web videos for NBC.com, science videos for the Science Forward program at CUNY’s Macaulay Honors College, and NRAO’s Baseline video series. She moderated Virtual Astro Live for the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum from 2020 to 2023 and was the in-house astrophysicist for The Rachel Maddow Show from 2009 to 2016. Summer is also a consultant for the Science & Entertainment Exchange, an arm of the National Academies of Science.
If she has any time left over after that, Summer spends it bringing astronomy and fashion together as a cofounder of STARtorialist.
Summer also enjoys communicating solely in GIFs whenever humanly possible. Find out more about her at summerash.com.
Register for Norwescon NOW!!
We’re coming up on the end of the year, which means it’s time to get your membership before rates increase at the start of next year! Right now only $95 gets you access to four full days of the convention, which include hours of panels, readings, dances, workshops, concerts, and our exclusive special events such as the masquerade and the Philip K. Dick Award. Looking to bring family or friends? Visit the Memberships page of our website for the link to register and instructions on how to register others. Any questions? Reach out through our email.
And if you haven’t made a room reservation yet, consider taking care of that too! Visit our Hotel page for more information!
Labyrinth Shadowcast Auditions!
Auditions open this December!
All roles in our 2026 Norwescon Shadowcast Production are now open for auditions! Whether you’re hoping to step into the shoes of Sarah, Jareth, Hoggle, Ludo, or Sir Didymus, we want to see your talent on stage. We’re also seeking stagehands, tech crew, prop builders, and costume creators—if you love working behind the scenes, this is your moment to shine. Visit the Labyrinth Shadow Cast page on the website to access and submit the special events audition form.
We welcome participants of all backgrounds. Norwescon and the Special Events Department encourage involvement from individuals of every race, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion, creed, and cultural background. Inclusivity is a core value of our community, and all are invited to audition and participate.
Brought to you by the Special Events Department, Norwescon.
Teen Engagement Is Returning for NWC48!
All teens ages 13 to 18 are encouraged to participate in activities all weekend long. Our focus is on teaching life skills and how the convention works, with the goal of getting teens to interact with each other in an analog environment. They will be operating out of the Shire, aka the Teen Lounge.
This year’s hands-on activity is origami, so we are looking for origami paper and instruction books. We also need prizes, such as Nerf and Lego toys and full-size candy bars. Just like last year, we are planning a “Learn To Play Magic: The Gathering” class, so we need donations of Magic cards to make teaching decks that the teens can take home with them.
Hey Cosplayers and Costume Wizards!
Dust off your glue guns and fire up those sewing machines—this year’s Norwescon Masquerade is going full-on legendary! We’re talking next-level prizes, including free passes to Norwescon 49.
But wait, there’s even more sparkle! Thanks to our amazing workmanship judge, Barnkow, and their convention-powered magic with Costume College, we’re also adding the following bonuses:
- A Costume College scholarship with hotel stay
- A full year of Costumer’s Guild West membership
And because feedback is the ultimate XP boost, you’ll also get insightful, encouraging notes from our superstar panel of judges to help you level up your costuming skills.
Bring your brilliance, your boldness, and your best builds—this masquerade is going to be unforgettable! Sign up online today!
Single Pattern Contest!
Each year, the Single Pattern Contest challenges creative, sewing, and crafting skills by choosing one pattern as the basis for your creativity! The object of the competition is to construct a one-of-a-kind creation using this pattern. Some adjustments or changes to the pattern are allowed as long as the end product reflects the original pattern.
Norwescon is excited to announce the two pattern options for this year’s Single Pattern Contest: this Hooded Duster Coat or McCall’s Misses’/Men’s Lined and Unlined Cape (M4139).
Competition awards will include, but are not limited to, best workmanship, best use of convention theme, and best in competition. Awards will be given out during the masquerade halftime.
Interstellar Encounters & Enchanted Evenings—Dance Norwescon-Style
Join us for NWC48 in the Grand Ballrooms for three nights of dance favorites and fun!
- Thursday: First Contact Galactic Gala—Leap into the cosmos and celebrate the thrill of discovery! Dress stellar, dance interstellar.
- Friday: Black Light Rave—Glow under the neon lights and dance wild through the night.
- Saturday: The Goblin Ball—Enter the realm of fantasy and mischief where masks, magic, and music collide.
Three nights. Three worlds. One epic weekend of Norwescon dances! Check the schedule for times and locations.
Would you like to help shape the playlists for our dances? Visit our Dances page and fill out the NWC48 Song Suggestion form!
Interested in Running a Game at Norwescon?
If you are interested in running a special event, including wargaming, TCGs, large learn-to-play events, tournaments, or multitable TTRPG events, please send the following information to gaming@norwescon.org:
- GM name
- Type of event
- Estimated table size
- Number of players you can accommodate
- Day you want to run the game on
- Time you’d like to run the game
- Estimated time run
- Printouts or materials required
Norwescon Welcomes Volunteers!
Norwescon is truly a labor of love. Every one of us, from our Chair on down, volunteers their skills and time to make this convention happen. And we welcome your presence! If you have any time and skills you enjoy using that might benefit Norwescon, please visit our Volunteer page to check out our open positions. And if you aren’t sure what you would enjoy doing, email us, and we’ll happily answer your questions!
Upcoming Norwescon 48 Volunteer Meeting Dates:
- November 1st, 2025
- December 6th, 2025
- January 10th, 2026 (online only)
- February 14th, 2026
- March 14th, 2026
- April 2nd, 2026 (exec meeting)
- May 9th, 2026
The Norwescon Camping Trip Is Back!
Join us for a weekend in the woods at the Bay View State Park group campsite, near Mount Vernon, over the weekend of July 10 to 12. Cost will depend on how many people join us, but it typically runs between $15 and $20 per person for the weekend.
The site features tent camping for up to 24 people, with picnic tables, fire rings, charcoal grills, full bathrooms, and showers. The park includes light hiking and biking trails, fishing with permit, and an area for metal detecting. Non-motorized watercraft such as kayaks and paddleboards may be used on the Sound.
No RVs or trailers are allowed at the group site, and open fires, including the grill, will depend on conditions. Check-in on Friday begins at 3 p.m., and a Discover Pass is required for vehicles. Passes are $10/night or $45/annually.
To RSVP or ask questions, email Todd at campout@norwescon.org.
Moderators Needed!
Have you been to a panel and thought the moderator job would be interesting and fun? Then Programming would love to hear from you. The moderator is the backbone of the panel. It is a great opportunity to work with our amazing panelists. Here are some things that are required:
- Email the panelists in advance to outline the structure of the panel.
- Introduce the panel and move the panelist introductions along smoothly.
- Keep the panel on the right track.
- Move the topic along and allow all the panelists equal time to speak.
- Control the audience Q&A.
- Handle any media that is needed.
- Fill out the feedback form after the panel is finished.
If this sounds like a job for you, please contact programming@norwescon.org. We would love to talk to you and answer any questions.
Meetup Sign-Ups Are Open!
Got a great idea for a meetup during the convention? Anything from a fandom hangout, industry mixer, writers’ lounge, or just finding other fen like you. Visit our Meetups page for more information and the link to the application.
Bookshelves Overcrowded? We’ll Take Them!
The Norwescon Little Free Library is once again collecting donations for the convention book table. If you’ve received books that aren’t quite your style, or you simply have extras to share, consider passing them along! Email us to arrange a pick-up, or bring your donations directly to the convention.
Norwescon 48 will be April 2–5, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Seattle Airport in SeaTac, Washington. Join us for a weekend of sci-fi and fantasy fun!