Credit: Otilia Dragan/Chronicle.lu
The 2023 edition of LuxCon, the annual fantasy and science fiction convention took place during the weekend of 15 to 16 April 2023 at Opderschmelz cultural centre in Dudelange.
Organised by the Science Fiction & Fantasy Society Luxembourg, this year's convention once again offered visitors a wide array of attractions and merchandise from different fandoms, with local artists and cosplayers from Luxembourg and neighbouring countries, notably France and Germany. This was a chance for fans to celebrate their favourite books, comics, shows, games, films, etc. in the realms of science fiction, fantasy and horror.
On Saturday afternoon, there were around 300 people present at the venue. The multiple rooms featured various activities and items for sale.
At the entrance, there were several stands of second-hand books in French, German and English, with some unique vintage science fiction books and graphic novels on offer. On the ground floor, the auditorium area was filled with varied stands with vendors, authors and more artists present, and a tombola also took place here. Individual rooms showed their respective programmes, including a “Gaming Cafe” area, for social gaming. Several French, German and English-speaking authors offered specialised conferences in the small auditorium rooms and on the first floor, including topics such as “Demonology in Epic Fantasy”, “Identity Shaping Worldbuilding” and “Own vs Other Voices in the Creative Process” - a total of eighteen talks were on the programme on Saturday.
There were around 30 artists in the basement area (Artist Alley), displaying a vast array of art from sketches to large paintings, taking commissions, with decorative items, posters, self-made jewellery and even crocheted items on sale. Everything from simple ink drawings to acrylic paint and graphic design was present. Also in the basement there were crafts on display, with live demonstrations of costume-sewing and highly realistic armour, weaponry and other decorative items on show.
On the first floor, there were also role-playing games and a board game area organised with several different strategy games on offer.
The outside area offered foods and drinks and a bar, as well as a medieval sword-fighting area in silver knights’ armour and a lightsaber sparring practice.
While many different fandoms were present (some of which Chronicle.lu was not able to identify), Star Wars characters were well represented and Chronicle.lu spotted Wednesday Addams and other creative costumes from popular culture, princesses, Mad Hatters and warriors, Avatar people and even a T-Rex.
LuxCon volunteer and team member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Society Luxembourg, Cosimo Suglia, said: “As every year, LuxCon proves that [fandoms have] a wide and diverse audience, even in Luxembourg. It’s always fun seeing people geek out to common interests - young and old!” He admitted that volunteering can sometimes prove “strenuous” but that “seeing the happiness on people’s faces is one of the best feelings [one] can have.”
