BayCon is the San Francisco Bay Area's longest-running fan-run science fiction and fantasy convention. It is held over Memorial Day weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. BayCon draws many attendees from throughout California and also as far away as Oregon, Washington, and Arizona. The most recent BayCon was held from Friday, May 24, through Monday, May 27, 2019, in San Mateo, California. The conventions in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The next BayCon is scheduled for July 1–4, 2022. Guests Some of the better known regular attendees include Howard Hendrix, Diana Paxson, Lee Martindale, and Irene Radford. Past Writer Guests of Honor include Peter S. Beagle, David Brin, Orson Scott Card, Harlan Ellison, David Gerrold, James P. Hogan, Larry Niven, Spider and Jeanne Robinson, Brandon Sanderson, Harry Turtledove, and Gene Wolfe. Past Artist Guests of Honor include Bob Eggleton, Frank Kelly Freas, Stephan Martinière, John Picacio, Rick Sternbach, and Michael Whelan. Past Fan Guests of Honor include Forrest J Ackerman, Mike Glyer, and Art Widner. Past Special Guests include Poppy Z. Brite, Mike Jittlov, and Jerry Pournelle. Toastmasters have included Kent Brewster, Raymond E. Feist, Laura Brodian Freas, Richard A. Lupoff, George R. R. Martin, Seanan McGuire, Frank M. Robinson, and Scott Sigler. Previous Conventions The name was previously used by the 1961 Westercon, 1968 Worldcon, in Berkeley and Oakland, and a San Francisco Bay Area comics convention from 1975-78 in Berkeley. History Co-founded by John McLaughlin and Randall Cooper, the first BayCon in its current existence as "The San Francisco Bay Area Regional Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention" was held over Thanksgiving weekend in 1982. BayCon '83 was also held over Thanksgiving weekend. To avoid conflicts with Southern California's annual regional convention, Loscon, BayCon moved to Memorial Day weekend, skipping Thanksgiving in 1984. For most of its history, it was held at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose (formerly the Red Lion). In 2007, it was held at the San Mateo Marriott Hotel. Beginning in 2008, and through 2015, BayCon was held at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara and Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, California. Conventions Past BayCon '82 was held in 1982, in San Jose, California. BayCon '87 was held May 22–25, 1987, at the San Jose Red Lion Hotel. BayCon '88 was held May 27–30, 1988, at the San Jose Red Lion Hotel. Honored guests included writer Somtow