LEAKYCON is a conference that celebrates the Harry Potter fan community.

For a few days every year, we get together to dance, talk, learn, and sing. We raise money for charity and awareness for causes; we cheer on our musically gifted friends and rock out at their concerts; we explore the wide world of literature and deepen our understanding of story and narrative. Mostly, we come together to celebrate each other, our friendships, our vibrance, our intelligence, our creativity, our compassion, and our bounding love for the community we have created.

This year’s LeakyCon is at the Hilton Chicago on August 9-12, 2012. It will feature scores of talented musicians, artists, writers, editors, agents, publishers, crafters, and more.

Spaces are filling up fast: we are already more than 2/3rds sold out.

To register, visit http://etouches.com/leakycon2012

See you in August!

This conference is about you, the fan. What would you like to talk about, learn to make, discuss with other people who are interested in the same subject? Do you like cosplaying, arts and crafts, Wizard Rock, serious discussions about the deeper meanings in the world of Harry Potter? Then submit a proposal for a program item you would like to see at your conference! The limit is your imagination. Panel, lecture, or dance party, we want to hear all your ideas.

Types of programming can include, but are not limited to:

Lectures: Usually involves one or two people presenting a specific topic to an audience, with or without audio/visual accompaniment, followed by a Q&A session.

Discussion Panels: Several people present and discuss/analyze a topic in front of an audience, usually with a moderator facilitating the discussion and keeping things on track. This should include a structure for Q & A and some audience participation in the discussion.

Round Table: Presenter prepares topics of discussion or activities on a particular subject. Audience members work together and discuss. Room is generally set in round tables.

Workshops: A workshop is a session that focuses on training and teaching participants about a specific subject or skill. Presenter(s) speaks with a practical application in mind. For example, teaching or creating with the audience a how-to. Participation is key. Room is generally set with tables to work at facing the presenter.

Informal Programming: Events like fashion shows, meet up groups and any other fun fan activity you can dream up can be submitted.

For the first time this year, we will be accepting a very limited number of proposals that are not about Harry Potter. They can tie in – last year the “Buffy vs. Harry Potter” panel was a big success! – or be about something new (Doctor Who, Sherlock, etc.) that you feel you would like to discuss or engage in with your fellow Potter fans. A book or other piece of fiction that really spoke to you? Speak about it with us! The limit really is only where you make it, so let’s see what we as a community come up with!

Once you know what you want to do, you can fill out the proposal form and submit your finished proposal. If you have any questions regarding programming please e-mail your queries to programming@leakycon.com.

The deadline for all proposals is MARCH 11, 2012

All you need to see it first is a registration. (Remember, you only have three more days at this price! Register here!) We can’t wait to watch this with you at LeakyCon!

Will we see you there too? Don’t forget, we’ve extended the low price of registration to Wednesday, February 8. Register now to join in the fun for just $200. Beginning February 8, Registration will be $225.

Also, rooms in our hotel block are still available but quickly filling! Book your hotel at a special reduced rate on the Hilton Chicago website or by phone at 877-865-5320!

We’re counting down the days!

The conference is 2/3rds sold out, and registrations are still going fast. Don’t wait!

By the way, our refund winner will still be chosen from those who registered BEFORE 2/1. We’ll have that for you later today!

If you’ve been following our Twitter, Facebook, and LeakyCon.com, you know that this week we were proud and excited to announce several Special Guests who will be attending LeakyCon 2012, including Evanna Lynch, Scarlett Byrne, and Team StarKid.

To cap off this exciting week and kick off the month of February we wanted to give you a chance to get to see them in person this August for FREE!

On Friday, February 3, 2012, we will choose at random a winner to have their ENTIRE REGISTRATION REFUNDED so they can attend LeakyCon for FREE!

To be entered in the giveaway you simply must have registered for LeakyCon before Wednesday, February 1, 2012 (see Terms & Conditions below for details). If you have already registered, you are already entered! The winner will be drawn at random and have their complete current registration refunded.

Make sure to Register before February 1 for a chance to win this amazing giveaway!

Terms & Conditions: You must be a paid LeakyCon registrant to be entered in the giveaway. The registration must be submitted, confirmed, and paid in full by 11:59pm CST on January 31, 2012. The winner will be refunded the full amount of their registration in accordance to the registration level that they have purchased (e.g., a Rockstar registrant will be refunded the full $400). Only one registration will be refunded. The refund is not applicable to any future purchases, additional tracks, keynotes, or special events which require additional payment. The refund will be applied on Friday, February 3, 2012 but may not show up in your account for 2-4 weeks depending on your bank.

Evanna Lynch at the Deathly Hallows Premiere

We’re so happy to announce that Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) will be making a return to LeakyCon this year! Alumni of previous LeakyCons know that we count Evanna a dear friend, and she has some special surprises in store for attendees this year! Evanna is even planning on her own special programming (details to come in the very near future) which will be free with registration. We will have details on other events – meet and greets and more – that will be special addons, but those who’ve been to a LeakyCon know that Evanna loves to be part of the special atmosphere to her fullest ability. Evanna has been busy since LeakyCon 2011: She’s moved to the United States and has recently been in Malta, filming her first post-Potter role! We are so proud to have her back with us!

Scarlett Byrne

We can also now confirm the extra lovely Scarlett Byrne, who played Pansy Parkinson in the Potter films and is a great friend to Leaky. Scarlett’s been hard at work for the past year, filming a number of roles, including a part in the upcoming Lake Placid 4. Scarlett joined us for LeakyCon 2011 and was a huge part of what made it so awesome. We’re so thrilled she’ll be returning!

We know when our teaser site went live all we told you is that Team StarKid would be at LeakyCon 2012. We haven’t said much else yet, because our plans are intense! There will be a whole StarKid track which is free with registration;  many autograph sessions (free, though subject to rules, which we will make available closer to the conference), a marquee StarKid event, content of which will be revealed closer to the conference (which will be a $30 additional ticket, free for RockStars), and MORE. We will have the ticket to A Very StarKid Event (II) open soon. Meanwhile, here are the StarKids we can so far CONFIRM will be at LeakyCon 2012. We say “so far” because the general idea is to get as many of them as humanly possible to the event!

• Julia Albain
• Jaime Lyn Beatty
• Brant Cox
• Brian Holden
• A.J. Holmes
• Matt Lang
• Nick Lang
• Lauren Lopez
• Corey Lubowich
• Devin Lytle
• Joe Moses
• Jim Povolo
• Joey Richter
• Brian Rosenthal
• Dylan Saunders
• Meredith Stepien
• Joe Walker

We’re having a party this August! We hope to see you there! Register now as ticket prices go up on February 1!

You will be able to catch up on all past issues of The LeakyCon Newsletter as well as posts to the LC12 Blog. Are you a first-time Leaky or the parent of a Harry Potter fan looking for details about LeakyCon? Check out our FAQ section for answers to your questions. You can see highlights from previous LeakyCons in our Past Conferences area. Are you looking for information on becoming a Vendor, a Sponsor, or a Volunteer at LeakyCon? Find answers and apply today!

Have a look around and discover the all-new LeakyCon.com for yourself!

PS: Registrations are going at an alarming rate so don’t wait! Register now!

This page was designed to be seen on mobile devices as well as your desktop browser so no matter where you are, you will always know how many seconds stand between you and an awesome weekend at LeakyCon.

Take it from us, it makes a great homepage!

If you haven’t already check it out! Share it with your friends on Facebook and help spread the excitement for LeakyCon! We’ll see you in no time!