CALEDON -  Late summer seems to be the time for conventions and gatherings and the residents of Caledon have joined in the fun. The first CaleCon convention will be held the weekend of August 29 – September 1, 2008 in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.

CaleCon is planned to coincide with the annual Shakespeare Festival happening during that time in Stratford (http://www.stratfordfestival.ca/visitor/index.cfm ).  Most guests will be staying at the Stone Willow Inn (http://www.stonewillow.com/index.htm ).

Many events are being planned by participants including workshops (metal working, steampunk, bookbinding), teas and literary salons.  The current schedule includes:

Friday, August 29
•    Cocktail party/open house hosted by the Duchess of Loch Avie, Eva Bellambi
•    Romeo and Juliet (purchase tickets on your own, or contact Miss Scotti Lyle for group purchase)

Saturday, August 30
•    Taming of the Shrew (purchase tickets on your own, or contact Miss Scotti Lyle for group purchase)
•    Banquet and dance (DJ: Duchess of Carntaigh, Gabrielle Riel)
•    A simul-event is also being planned:  a dance in Caledon in-world with a live video feed of the partiers in Stratford.

Sunday, August 31
•    Pub crawl?

Monday, September 1
•    Check out and departure

Victorian and Renaissance dress is encouraged but not required.

Desmond Shang, Guv’nar of Caledon, regrets he is unable to attend this convention but wishes he could.  Shang may be attending the in-world simul-event.

CaleCon plans has been proceeding through the work of leaders Eva Bellambi and Otenth Paderborn as well as the efforts of Amber Palowaksi, Christine McAllister Pearse, Edward Pearse, Gabrielle Riel, Diamanda Gustafson, Diva Regina, Elric Merlin, Gilbert Sapwood and JJ Drinkwater.  Gryffin Hax designed the logo for the event as displayed on the Web site (http://calecon.net/ ).

Guests can expect to find Caledon and CaleCon memorabilia available via Cafepress and at the convention.

Bellambi credits Gabrielle Riel with the idea of this convention.  “Caledon has been such a close knit – although rapidly expanding – community, and there have been many strong friendships formed, it was felt that a real world meet-up was an appropriate next step.  Realizing that this is a grass