In 2018, RavenCon launched The Clarence Howard “Bud” Webster Award in memory of friend of the convention, Bud Webster, who passed away in 2016. The award is to recognize outstanding achievements in writing by Virginia writers.[3]
Past winners
2018 Chris Kennedy for The Golden Horde
2019 Cass Morris for From Unseen Fire
2021 R.S. Belcher for The Ghost Dance Judgement
2022 R.R. Virdi for The First Binding
2023 Chris Semtner for Haunting Poe: Edgar Allan Poe's Afterlife in Richmond and Beyond
Scheduled events
Programming
Bishop O'Connell book reading at RavenCon
As of 2024 RavenCon has over 12 different tracks of programming featuring author book readings, animation, art/artists, costuming, current events, science/technology, writing, gaming and literature among them.
Book Launches
Over the years the convention has hosted numerous book launches. In 2023 they hosted the launch party for Murderbirds: An Avian Anthology, edited by Mike Jack Stombous.
Music and media
The convention runs multiple musical panels and concerts with a focus on filking acts and filk writing workshops.
RavenCon hosts an open to all cosplay contest the Saturday night of the convention. They also have a hall cosplay contest for those not wanting to brave the stage.[5]
Themed events
RavenCon 16 also saw the introduction of The Gothic Wonderland Tea Party. In 2016 RavenCon also hosted FanHistoricon 13, with a track of panels and guests that focused exclusively on the history of fandom.
Starting in 2019 RavenCon started running themed Escape Room's for the guests, like Vampire Masquerade and Multiversal Mayhem. In 2022 they started a 2nd Escape Room.[6]
Move from Richmond to Williamsburg
RavenCon 2015 was the last time that RavenCon would be held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Richmond-Midlothian in North Chesterfield, Virginia, when the owner of the hotel, Shamin hotels of Chester, Virginia, asked for a 600 percent increase in rates. Following this, RavenCon moved from Richmond and later events would be held in Williamsburg, Virginia at the DoubleTree by Hilton Williamsburg.[7]
Concert events/RavenConcert
In addition to its annual spring author-focused convention, RavenCon has experimented with music-focused events later in the year.
RavenCon 13.5 was held September 21–23, 2018 at the Four Points Sheraton Richmond, off of Midlothian Turnpike. This was a much smaller convention, with a primary focus on music. R.S. Belcher was author guest of honor, and the music guests of honor were MC Lars, George Hrab, Reverend Billy C. Wirtz, and Misbehavin' Maidens.
RavenCon 14.5 was a one-day outdoor concert held on August 8, 2021 at Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center in Glen Allen, Virginia. Mikey Mason, Dimensional Riffs, Chuck Parker, Dirty Metal Lefty, and Dr. Shock and the Electrodes were the performers.
COVID-19
RavenCon 15 had been scheduled to take place in April 2020 and was cancelled a few weeks before the convention. It was rescheduled for April 2021 and then cancelled again. To raise money for refunds and to keep the convention operating during the two years of cancellations, authors donated stories for an anthology with the proceeds going to the convention. The fundraiser was successful, and the convention produced CORVID-19: A RavenCon Anthology, edited by Michael D. Pederson.
Return to Richmond
RavenCon's concert events marked a brief return to Richmond which was made permanent when they signed a contract with Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center in Glen Allen, Virginia. After RavenCon 14.5, all future events would be held in Richmond.
