LOTR Events in your area?

Hey guys,

We'd love to hear about LOTR or gaming events in your areas. Let us know what's coming, when it's happening and what kind of event it is. Be sure to tell us where is it as well.

Oh! As an admin at TheOneRing.net I know a bit about this :)

Every year we host a Baggins Birthday picnic the weekend day closest to September 22nd in Griffith Park, LA, CA. There are smaller events run by a group called 'Tolkien Forever' that is also based in the LA area, such as the annual Tolkien dinner toast every January 3. I think we're close to 10 years now... the toast is by no means a new concept, the Tolkien Society has been hosting an online database for it for years, and has been carrying it out in their official branches for longer than the internet has existed, I believe.

For the last several years TheOneRing.net has also always brought a bit of Tolkien to the San Diego Comic Con, and in the last three we've had panels absolutely filled to the brim with people. I know Warner Bros is going to do something huge for the Hobbit for 2012 (or, at least, I imagine they will), so we'll see if we still have a panel or not. Even if we do not we'll definitely be on the floor, staff members bouncing between the WB, Weta, and Sideshow collectibles booths.

From 2005 to 2007 TheOneRing.net, alongside Creation Entertainment, hosted 'One Ring Celebrations' in the Los Angeles area. They were incredibly successful with several Tolkien elements- games, books, and the films of course. With 'The Hobbit' coming to theatres, there is a chance that you will see these once more for a couple years. There was also ELF, the East coast version, during these years as well.

Cheers.

Sons of Numenor has three activities coming, two of which are certainties, the third, still very much a project in progress.

Summer 2012, likely July/August, we are gathering at Cedar Point, in Sandusky, Ohio. More of a purely social gathering, something family friendly, and in place with a full range of accommodations and modes of entertainment. There have been some considerations given to how many days, and/or modes of specialized entertainment, but I'm not going to share those just yet. In any case, there will be fireworks at Cedar Point, this is a SoN gathering after all!

We are also planning some gatherings in conjunction with the debut of The Hobbit, An Unexpected Journey, in December 2012. Since we are spread from Argentina, USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Michigan, how many local gatherings we'll have, is being discussed. However I know I will focus on doing our "flagship" gathering in Columbus, Ohio. We are thinking in terms of working with some local theaters for pre-movie gatherings, post movie fellowship. Maybe even using wireless and laptops to have a virtual gathering of people in-line, or at a gathering across the USA, in-game.

January 2013, there is still lose talk among a few of us, of having a "LOTRO Cruise." That has much to do with several of us likely going on a cruise, and considering pooling numbers, etc. That requires about 32 people able and willing to take the same cruise, in order to make the numbers work for discounts, and enough suck with the Line to get a cabin for a VIP perhaps. I've had some offline chats with some English profs that might be tempted to do Tolkien lectures, and there are a few other ideas that could work for "thematic" travel content.

All three events may well include our fellow Kinships as part of gatherings, and honestly I'd encourage groups to join us, since it can only add to things overall.

Now my question gets to be more practical however. If a group does demonstrate an acceptable level of legitimate organization, and even certainty, whom do we email/contact, about extending invites to Turbine types, or possibly getting some kind of "spiffs" for attendees?

Just updating. We have very strong response from our Kinship members for the Cedar Point even in July. We are targeting the weekend of July 21, with informal gatherings the 20th and 22nd.

The next phase is touching base with some of those who can or will form the backbone of some Tolkien and LOTRO related activities at the event.