A sampling of the many guests and program items Gallifrey One has featured over the years, from guests including Sir John Hurt, John Barrowman and Billie Piper, to main auditorium guest panels & interviews, discussion panels and workshops, podcast interviews, parties and gatherings, and more!
The beating heart of Gallifrey One is our programming and event schedule: three full days of panels, interviews, presentations, Q&As, and so much more. Next year’s convention will be no exception, celebrating all things Doctor Who and the science fiction & fantasy media genre. Our program and schedule of activities, which has helped us develop a proud reputation for fun and enjoyment over the years, will be no less than at our previous events… and in fact, much more!
Here’s just a sample of what you can expect at the next Gallifrey One convention:
Panels, Interviews, Q&A Sessions & Event Programming
Our main ballroom will our major guests appearing in both solo and group panels, with a few special events thrown in for good measure. Note that some of our guests will only appear once or twice on our main stage during the weekend, so please be sure to watch for the schedule of events on the website later this year.
Our mainstream convention programming has ranged from interviews to live Doctor Who episode commentaries, special program events with surprise guests, discussion panels with popular writers and producers in the SF/Fantasy TV & film genres, and even ‘event’ programming like demonstrations, puppet shows, and our annual kick-off panel hosted by our friends at the Radio Free Skaro podcast.
Autographs & Photo Sessions
Gallifrey One’s autograph sessions are all now located in our Dealers Room; meet your favorite celebrities (at either their own tables or sponsor tables), spend a moment chatting with them and get items autographed for a nominal fee (up to the guest). Later, join us in our Photo Studio where you can have your photo taken with a celebrity and have a special photo printed on the fly to be signed later (with a digital copy available after the convention!) Autographs and photos with our actor guests require a separate fee.
Discussion Panels
Gallifrey One’s Discussion Panel track is incredibly lively and a lot of fun, with a mixture of both professionals as well as qualified fans making their cases on everything from Doctor Who to science fiction and fantasy TV & film, comics, gaming, conventions and much more. They’re always lively, and often packed to capacity – one of the highlights of the weekend for a lot of people.
We also host our annual TARDIS Talks Academic Session each year, a step up from discussion panels, presented by attendees on a particular set of topics. Full details available at the link.
The Bob May Memorial Charity Auction
Sunday afternoon’s annual convention charity event, a great way to support a charitable endeavor and grab some terrific Doctor Who and science fiction merchandise. Named for our dear departed friend Bob May, the Robot from Lost in Space, the annual charity event has raised over $250,000 for local and national charities.
The Masquerade of Mandragora
The Masquerade of Mandragora is Gallifrey One’s annual Friday night costume & fashion show, which brings you the best Doctor Who and science fiction-related costuming in the entire galaxy.
Gallifrey One After Hours
Besides the Masquerade, we feature evening events beginning with a special pre-convention launch party on Thursday night at 8:00pm, our comedy/variety show The Idiot’s Lantern on Saturday night, three full nights of Karaoke thrown in for good measure, costume-related presentations, evening programming including a discussion panel track on Friday and podcast shows on both nights, and our annual disco. If you miss out on Gallifrey One’s nightlife, you’re missing a huge part of the convention!
Evening Guest Receptions
On both Friday and Saturday night, our primary guest sponsor Showmasters Events holds limited-attendance guest receptions with a selection of our attending guests of honor. Grab a complementary glass of wine and mingle with our major guests in a low-key social setting. (Note: the Evening Guest Receptions are an add-on item for an additional fee; receptions go on sale shortly before the convention.)
Gallifrey One Science Track
More popular than ever, our annual track of science programming brings us experts from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to discuss humanity’s role in space, various missions such as the Curiosity, Cassini, Dawn and New Horizons projects, and so much more!
Also on tap… our special limited-attendance Science of Doctor Who workshops for kids ages 6-15 (with a parent), always a lot of fun. Sign-ups for these workshops occur closer to the convention and require a nominal fee to cover the cost of materials only.
Kaffeeklatsches
Sign up at the convention for these very popular one-hour intimate sessions featuring one or two of our technical or writer/producer guests and up to twelve fans, for an hour of coffee and light discussion about their work. The Kaffeeklatsches are extremely popular and sign-ups will once again take place online a few weeks prior to the convention.
Adventures for the Whole Family
Gallifrey One is definitely a family friendly convention! Our Children’s Programming Room, for ages 6-12, is also in high gear all weekend, with Doctor Who and science fiction & fantasy-themed crafts galore. We also host our Science of Doctor Who workshops (as above) and a Teen Social on Friday for making new friends.
Cosplay & Costume Events
Gallifrey One is full of cosplay and we have the program track for it, with workshops and panel discussions about costuming related topics, as well as a full costume repair station for work on your Masquerade costume, and photography backdrops for those amazing photo experiences.
And Much More
Photos with the TARDIS, our gaming room featuring board and card gaming all weekend, Doctor Who themed exhibits and displays, select video events, and so much more! We’re just getting started and we’ll have much more information for you later in the year!
