Prepping for GenCon, January: Event Schedule

Exciting news for worldbuilders, gamers, and crafters! January marks event submission time for GenCon, and Haly has an incredible lineup ready. Get ready for an unforgettable convention experience!

Feb 01, 2025

New Year, New Adventures!

The last Friday in January is Big Announcement Day in the world of the Moonlight Bard! For many of you, this is your favorite newsletter of the year! For others, you might be wondering, “what the actual is going on, Haly?”

Every year, I attend GenCon, North America’s largest convention for board and tabletop games. Have done since 2009. For more than a decade now, I’ve also been running my own events where you can come and hang with me, live and in person! These events cover a spectrum of my own interests — worldbuilding, games, and crafts — and so there’s sure to be something for you, too!

So, what’s the big announcement?

I Have Submitted My Event Schedule for Approval!

This marks a huge point in my year because it means that I’m locked into those events; I have to host them. And it’s a daunting prospect! It means writing a new worldbuilding class. It means stocking up on expensive dyeing supplies. It even means new friendship bracelet designs for trinket trading!

It’s a time of excitement and anxiety, with a lot of work to be done behind the scenes. It’s also one of my favorite times because I never have to wonder what to work on next; there is always something that needs my attention.

Buy me a coffee on Ko-fi!

My Planned Schedule

Worldbuilding for Writers and Gamers

Friday 10 am - 2 pm
Tickets: 10
Price: $18

This all new 4-hour workshop will cover the essentials of worldbuilding, including geography, cultures, technology, and history. Through interactive exercises and collaborative projects, attendees will learn to develop unique magic systems, integrate worldbuilding elements into their narratives, and create vivid characters that bring their worlds to life. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced worldbuilder, this workshop offers practical techniques, hands-on exercises, and valuable feedback to help you create rich and engaging worlds for your stories and games. All materials are provided, so come ready to unleash your imagination and explore new realms of creativity!

Crafty Villainous

Friday 2 pm - 6 pm
Tickets: 20
Price: $18

Join us for the annual "Crafty Villainous” sit-and-stitch, a unique 20-person event where the focus is on creativity and camaraderie. Bring your favorite small craft project—whether it's knitting, crochet, or embroidery—and enjoy a relaxed atmosphere while playing the board game Villainous. With plenty of time between turns, you'll have the perfect opportunity to chat, make new friends, and work on your crafts. This event is all about the joy of crafting and socializing, so come ready to stitch and have a fantastic time!

Haly’s Hand-Dyed Yarn Workshop: Rosé & Roquefort

Saturday 10 am - 2 pm
Tickets: 20
Price: $80

Join Haly, the Moonlight Bard, for an exclusive yarn dyeing adventure with the delightful theme: Wine & Cheese! Perfect for those who love to craft and explore new techniques, this class offers a mesmerizing rosé pink ombre (wine) and a unique naked blue speckle (cheese). All supplies are included: one 100 g skein of 75/25 BFL/nylon (fingering weight, 484 yds) for the wine color and one matching mini 20 g skein (92 yds) for the cheese color, dye, gloves, etc. Important Note: While we've taken every precaution to protect your hands and surfaces, we recommend wearing dark, cotton clothing as the dye will not stain cotton. Don't miss out on this fun and engaging class—secure your spot today and bring your creativity to life.

Haly’s Hand-Dyed Yarn Workshop: Merlot and Muenster

Saturday 2 pm - 6 pm
Tickets: 20
Price: $80

Join Haly, the Moonlight Bard, for an exclusive yarn dyeing adventure with the delightful theme: Wine & Cheese! Perfect for those who love to craft and explore new techniques, this class offers a mesmerizing merlot purple ombre (wine) and a unique naked orange speckle (cheese). All supplies are included: one 100 g skein of 75/25 BFL/nylon (fingering weight, 484 yds) for the wine color and one matching mini 20 g skein (92 yds) for the cheese color, dye, gloves, etc. Important Note: While we've taken every precaution to protect your hands and surfaces, we recommend wearing dark, cotton clothing as the dye will not stain cotton. Don't miss out on this fun and engaging class—secure your spot today and bring your creativity to life.

A Final Note

Make sure to bookmark moonlightbard.com/gencon2025 for detailed information on my events and the two meet-ups I’m hosting: a wine-and-cheese get together for crafters and a food-and-fun meetup for gamers/worldbuilders!

Of course, many of you will remember last year when one of my classes didn’t get added to the event catalog until six weeks after the catalog launched. My event coordinators at FITSS and I have taken measures to make sure that doesn’t happen again. On the off chance it does…please hold space in your schedule! I promise that either the events will be there, or else you will hear from me that they cannot be scheduled.

And don’t forget, if you would like to opt out of these GenCon notices, you can do so in your Rhapsody by Moonlight account settings. Just click the toggle next to Haly at GenCon and they’ll skip right past you.