For anyone that doesn't know, it is basically a long weekend (Friday to Monday) of Queen music, plus all the solo ventures and groups, videos, competitions and fancy dress. Oh, yeah, and alcohol or as it is known over the course of the weekend, Convention Water.
The very first convention was back in 1986 in Great Yarmouth, I believe it was just held on one day. It has since been held in Camber Sands, Southport - where my first convention was in 1993 - Prestatyn, back to Great Yarmouth, and this year we were back over to Prestatyn.
It has also extended to the current 3 nights.
It is a very full on weekend, although lots of activities have been dropped along the way, mostly due to Health and Safety, apparently alcohol and It's A Knockout type activities do not go well together.
This is a programme from 1995, I can't find an earlier one.
And this is this year's.
This year's official fancy dress themes were - Friday, Black & White; Saturday - Sheer Heart Attack and Sunday - Freddie Mercury. There are also the unofficial themes too, if someone has a special birthday then their group may decide to have their own theme. In the past, tables have been decorated for convention goers birthdays or anniversaries.
You can be involved in as much or as little as you like.
There is also the fun of catching up with people that you have not seen since the previous weekender.
It isn't a cheap weekend, but sharing caravans can reduce the price a lot, some will sleep 8 people and the more you have in the caravan, the more the price per person reduces, this year started at £79 per person. I stay on my own and this year I had a fab caravan for £180, it even had an en suite in the main bedroom.
If you are a fan of Queen, it is a weekend that you need to attend at least once. you have to be a member of the fan club and each member can take up to 2 non members as guests.
Next year is the 30th convention so we are hoping for something special. Maybe that should be the year you become a Convention Virgin and try it.
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