2012 Potter Conferences: An Unprecedented Menu of Options

Wow! There are Eight (8) Harry Potter conferences in 2012 that a simple Google search turns up. I assume that there are several more I haven’t heard of, though this lot is a mind-boggling set. I have listed them after the jump in chronological order for lack of an easier parameter; the set covers the complete spectrum from fandom madness blowouts to egghead academic conference, from private college affairs to a wide-open totally online smorgasbord, from adventures in the United Kingdom to Universal Studios to University student centers in the States…

Really, there should be something here (below the jump) for everyone! Enjoy the surfing and please share in the comments box the conferences you know about that I have overlooked.

It All Ended: Harry Potter and Popular Culture — 29 February, De Montfort University, Leicester (UK)

• Special Event: One day conference on all things Harry Potter

• Formal Programming Deadline: No information available on registration, venue, etc.

Harry Potter Childrens Literature Conference — 23 March, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Special Event: Profs. Karin Westman and Philip Nel, Kansas State University

• Formal Programming Deadline: Open only to Pitt students (?)

A Brand of Fictional Magic: Imaginative Empathy in Harry Potter, — May 17-18, St. Andrew’s University, St. Andrew’s, Scotland

• Special Event: First International Academic Potter Conference of note, Quality of Presentations and Panels

• Formal Programming Deadline: Closed, only 30 spaces left for registrants

Expeditious 2012 — 2 June, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan

• Special Event: John Granger

• Formal Programming Deadline: Call for Papers open until 1 May

Ascendio 2012 (HPEF) — July 12-15, Loews Portofino Hotel, Orlando Florida (Universal Studios complex)

• Special Event:  The Quill Track!

• Formal Programming Deadline Extended to 29 February

Magic is Might 2012 — 23-24 July, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

• Special Event: An International Academic Conference Exploring the Cultural Influence of the Harry Potter Books and Films

• Formal Programming Deadline: Closed, Registration open until 9 July

LeakyCon 3, (LeakyCauldron.com) — August 9-12, The Hilton Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

• Special Event: LeakyCon Lit Track

• Formal Programming Deadline: March 11

PotterCon 2012 (Wizarding Life Networks for Harry Potter Alliance) — 7-9 September, In Your Home, Office, or Preferred Wi-Fi Hot Spot, the first Entirely Online Potter Conference

• Special Features: Inexpensive, Accessibility, Variety of Programming, see FAQ

• Formal Programming Deadline: Proposals not currently being accepted, Registration open until August