Geek Out Huntsville’s 2016 To-Do List

It’s the year 2016!

While it may not be so futuristic as a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, we’ve got to make the most of the 366 days of this year.

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If you paid attention to our to-do lists of years past, you saw roller derby bouts, celebrated a space center birthday, attended mind-blowing talks, cosplayed, played games, and saw the best movies of the year.

Here are 20 more events for 2016 –

February 13 – Pour Your Heart Out

Let the Space and Rocket Center set the mood for Valentine’s weekend with Pour Your Heart Out, where you can enjoy food, drink, and live music, and then make your own Valentine keepsake from molten iron in a 75-pound coke-fired furnace. Sure beats a bunch of flowers! They immediately incinerate in a furnace.

March 18 – Superhero Night with the Huntsville Havoc

Superhero Night with the Huntsville Havoc at the Von Braun Center is your chance to dress up as Captain America, Wonder Woman, Squirrel Girl, Chamber, or any other of your favorites and watch the Huntsville Batmen take on the Columbus Supermen.

March 19 – Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo

It’s the inaugural year for the Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo at the Jaycee Community Building on Airport. Set to be North Alabama’s largest one-day geek extravaganza, you won’t want to miss it!

April 5 – Double Helix Dash

Maybe you made a New Year’s Resolution to get into shape? If so, the timing of the Double Helix Dash at HudsonAlpha couldn’t be better.

Three months in, you won’t be in your final form, but you’ll be ready to see your training pay off. Support children suffering from undiagnosed genetic disorders with a 5K or 1-mile fun run.

April 9 – Yuri’s Night

What’s the most fun you can have while honoring Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin? Find out at Yuri’s Night, where you’ll see folks dressed up as astronauts, War Machine, Starfleet officers, and more! Location hasn’t been finalized yet, so keep up with their page to see where the party lands.

April 16 – NASA Student Launch

The NASA Student Launch takes place at Bragg Farms. It’s a research-based, competitive, experiential exploration activity. This global competition of rockets and payloads launch has appeal for all education levels.

April – ChargerCon

ChargerCon at UAH is a weekend of fun, competitive gaming. Date and location not yet determined, but stay tuned to their Facebook page for updates!

April 22-24 – Rocket City Gamefest

Also in its inaugural year, Rocket City Gamefest is at Holiday Inn Research Park and will have tabletop gaming galore.

Board games, including casual play and tournament, and a 4-person D&D tournament will lead the weekend. More can be read at their BoardGameGeek forum.

May 13-15 – Rocket City Brewfest

One of the leading areas for breweries per capita, North Alabama has experienced quite the surge in craft beer, and what better place to showcase this feat than the Rocket City Brew Fest?

Huntsville is an expert in low-gravity engineering and high-gravity beer! See you at the Roundhouse & depot!

June 17-19 – HAMACON 7

Whether you’re a casual fan or a die-hard otaku, HAMACON 7, the anime convention, is always a blast. Watch as the Von Braun Center becomes the hub for fans and creators alike this summer. If you can’t make it, there’s always the winter mini-con!

June 18 – NASA in the Park

The third annual NASA in the Park in downtown Huntsville is a chance to see Marshall Space Flight Center downtown. Exhibits, activities and more are there to educate attendees and kindle fascination and intrigue in a learning mind – young or old!

June 25-26 – Tennessee Valley LEGO Club Summer Show

The Tennessee Valley LEGO Club Summer Show at the downtown branch of the library is a brick-diculous showing of LEGO might. Build your own, view an expansive city, admire the latest build sets, and more.

June 25-26 – Con*Kasterborous

Allons-y! Con*Kasterborous, Huntsville’s Doctor Who convention, might not feature a wedding this year, but it’s still a celebration of one of UK’s biggest imports. The sixth doctor himself, Colin Baker, is this year’s guest!

July 9 – Grotto Lights

Grotto Lights are a fun, family event that takes place downtown Huntsville. See the city’s light show dazzle and amaze!

August 20 – The Hottest Weekend of the Year Festival

If you can’t stand the heat, get outta the house! The Hottest Weekend of the Year Festival in downtown Huntsville will be a cool way to celebrate what’s sure to be the hottest weekend of the year.

August 27 – BruiseFest

We already highlighted a BrewFest – how about a BruiseFest? The Dixie Derby Girls Roller Derby League will be in full swing by August (check their first bout on March 19) but this event brings a special something – it’s Star Wars themed!

Watch as they take on the Magnolia Roller Derby squad from Jackson, MS. You might also see the 501st there.

September – TEDxHuntsville

TEDxHuntsville at Randolph School is a full Sunday of Technology Entertainment and Design. 2015 had the best slate to date, with innovators, educators, scientists, musicians, artists, and more. What will 2016 hold?

October – Con*Stellation

Con*Stellation is an annual convention for science fiction/fantasy fans, and last year’s featured Orson Scott Card, Huntsville’s Les Johnson, and many others. As the schedule and guests become finalized, frequent their webpage to learn more and register!

October 21-23- Rocket City Nerdcon

Rocket City Nerdcon is the brainchild of Huntsville librarians who think this is a city that loves gaming, cosplay, movies, comics, TV, sci-fi, and more. If you do – and don’t we all? – then make sure to attend this convention that hits all the high points.

December – BrickBlast

The BrickBlast at Sci-Quest is a two-day LEGO show at the city’s top hands-on children’s museum. Whether you’re a LEGO novice or a hardcore enthusiast, it’s epic fun. Castles, statues, spaceships, and more will be on hand. Everything is awesome!

2015 ended with a big, force-awakening bang! Continue to feed your inner-nerd and geek out on these events in 2016.