The Alternate and Historical Fiction Track is the destination for all things bygone and never was. It covers everything from fan discussions of period films and tv, speakers on overlooked history and society milestones, to even demos of period costuming techniques.
There is fun for all who fancy festive frolics through factual and fictional former times. The flux capacitor is set to give a peek into the past and future: fan panels on shows like Our Flag Means Death and The Gilded Age; maker panels on recreating vintage hair, makeup, and fashion; historical dives into spiritualism, powerful women, sea shanties, and even the cults of our beloved Dragon Con itself!

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In addition to fan discussions of historical fiction shows and period pieces, panels on overlooked history, and deep dives into genre-specific topics, this year, our etiquette lesson will include dances and flowers, a psychologist’s look at Oppenheimer, and an exploration of the Roman Empire. If you’re looking for a chance to be shouty, 2023’s surprise hit – the Boasting Contest will be back, along with a reformatted Things You Should Have Learned in History Class, and the wildly popular Theatre on the High Seas (Pirate Improv). We’ve been watching Lessons in Chemistry, For All Mankind, Bridgerton, Outlander, Bass Reeves, Masters of Air, and Our Flag Means Death and we are ready to chat about them all. If cosplays are on your to do list – we’ve got tips and tricks to pull together a historical look along with some historical cosplay how-tos and learn a few tricks and tips to pull together a historical look of your own.

We’ve extended our programming beyond the track room to include two brand-new events. The Dragon Con Cotillion is the opportunity to break out your favorite Regency formal wear or fashion-forward Cosplay and compete to be crowned the Dragon of the Con. And we’re introducing the Con to a brand new side of the Splendid Teapot Race – the Demitasse League, a race specially developed for kids with the Robotics and Makers and Kids Track.

2025 Schedule

All panels are in the Courtland Grand unless specified otherwise.

Thursday

• 7 PM – Dragon Con 104: Tips & Tricks from Con Elders to Newbies – Augusta
• 7 PM – Three’s Company: Who’s Mrs. Roper? – Macon
• 8:30 PM – Dragon Con History 105: An Overview of Historical Events & Obscure Lore – Augusta
• 8:30 PM – The All-Ages Boasting Contest: May the Best Storyteller Prevail – Macon
• 8:30 PM – Geeky Sea Shanties – Hyatt Hanover C-E

Friday

• 8:30 AM – Salon du Cospl-AID – Augusta
• 10 AM – Passport to Trouble: Scavenger Hunt – Augusta Hallway
• 10 AM – 2025 Kick Off with the Alternate & Historical Fiction Track – Macon
• 11 AM – Charity Book Fair: Blind Date with a Book – Augusta
• 11:30 AM – Introduction to Splendid Teapot Racing – Macon
• 11:30 AM – The Gilded Age: Looking at the American Victorian Era *Spoiler Warning* – Augusta
• 1 PM – Victorian Clothing: A Primer to Creating a Period Look – Augusta
• 1 PM – A Master Class: The Importance of Research in Historical Fiction – Macon
• 2:30 PM – Herstorically Speaking: Women Who Changed The Tide of History – Augusta
• 2:30 PM – Where Do You Find Sewing Basics? – Macon
• 2:30 PM – Psychotherapy Throughout History: Anger & Activism – Valdosta
• 4 PM – The Whimsical & The Macabre: The Art of Edward Gorey – Augusta
• 5:30 PM – There’s Nothing Worse Than an Idle Pirate – Augusta
• 5:30 PM – Cozy Mysteries: Best Friends – Macon
• 7 PM – For All Mankind Fan Panel & The Colonization of Mars *Spoiler Warning* – Macon
• 8:30 PM – Outlander Trivia Night at the World’s End Pub – Augusta
• 8:30 PM – Radical Reuse: Wrangling Scraps into Cosplay – Macon
• 10 PM – The Adult Boasting Contest: May the Best Storyteller Prevail – Augusta
• 10 PM – Theatre on the High Seas: Pirate Improv -Macon

Saturday

• 8:30 AM – Salon du Cospl-AID – Augusta
• 10 AM – Charity Book Fair: Blind Date with a Book – Augusta
• 11 AM – The Splendid Teapot Demitasse League – Capitol Ballroom
• 11:30 AM – Vintage Travel Accessories with Blackbird Finery – Augusta
• 11:30 AM – 1923: A New Season for the History of Yellowstone *Spoiler Warning* – Macon
• 1 PM – Make & Take Pouches: When You Don’t Have a Pocket – Augusta
• 1 PM – Weird Facts & Stories Hiding Behind Tea – Macon
• 1 PM – Souls on Film: How Post-Mortem Photography Pierces the Veil – Grand Athens
• 1 PM – An Echo in the Bone: The Outlander Series Fan Panel *Spoiler Warning* (Brit Track) – Hilton Galleria 5
• 2:30 PM – Tales of the Tartan: A Deep Dive on Scottish Kilts – Augusta
• 2:30 PM – Herstorically Speaking: Delving into the Margins – Macon
• 4 PM – Historical Etiquette Class: Cross Stitch Craftivism – Augusta
• 4 PM – Weird Wild West: The Mysteries of the Frontierland – Macon
• 4 PM – The Dragon Con Cotillion: Crowning Our Lapis Lazuli Dragon – Capitol Ballroom
• 5:30 PM – What Victorians Can Teach Us About Grief – Augusta
• 5:30 PM – 1632 & Its Impact on Alternate History – Macon
• 5:30 PM – Hamiltunes: The American Singalong at Dragon Con – Hilton Grand East
• 7 PM – Make & Take: Memento Mori, Victorian Mourning Jewelry – Augusta
• 7 PM – American Primeval & The Early Days of Utah *Spoiler Warning* – Macon
• 7 PM – 1632: The End of the World as We Know It – Westin Chastain H-I-J
• 8:30 PM – Outlander Prequel: Blood of My Blood *Spoiler Warning* – Macon
• 10 PM – Alternate & Historical Fiction Mad Libs: Historical Romance – Augusta
• 10 PM – Bodice Ripping After Dark: A Showcase of Smut & Steamy Literature – Macon

Sunday

• 10 AM – The 60th Anniversary of Sound of Music Singalong – Macon
• 10 AM – The Splendid Teapot Race – Courtland Grand Ballroom
• 10 AM – The Decennial Annual Tea Dueling – Courtland Capitol Ballroom
• 11:30 AM – 1632 25th Anniversary – Hyatt Centennial I
• 11:30 AM – The Medic Protectorate: Tools to Hide in Your Parasol & Other Neat Tricks – Augusta
• 11:30 AM – Our Flag Means Death – But WHY a Pirates’ life for Me? – Macon
• 1 PM – A Master Class: Introducing Technology to Alternate History – Augusta
• 1 PM – The Gossip from Lady Whistledown – A Bridgerton Fan Panel – Macon
• 1 PM – The Gashlycrumb Centennial: Edward Gorey at 100 – Westin Peachtree 1-2
• 2:30 PM – Navigating the Aether: Exploring The Cinder Spires with Jim Butcher – Courtland Capitol Ballroom
• 2:30 PM – Scandalous: Historical Gossip – Macon
• 4 PM – Historical Romance: Here for the Love, Not as Much the Spice – Augusta
• 4 PM – Regency Clothing: A Primer to Creating a Period Look – Macon
• 5:30 PM – Dearest Gentle Reader: An Exploration of Tropes in the Bridgerton Series & Why We Love Them – Augusta
• 5:30 PM – Midnight at the Crossroads: An Exploration of Hoodoo & the Blues in the World of “Sinners” – Macon
• 7 PM – Historical Fiction Face Off: Pride & Prejudice vs Jane Eyre – Augusta
• 7 PM – The 45th Anniversary of Les Miserables Sing-Along – Macon
• 10 PM – Temporal Formal: La Belle Epoque – Courtland Grand Ballroom

Monday

• 10 AM – The Path to Deliciousness: Food in Alternate History – Macon
• 11:30 AM – Behind the Seams: Balancing History and Art in Theater Costume Design – Macon
• 1 PM – Learning Session: Alternate History in Gaming – Macon

Interested in joining the Alternate & Historical Fiction Track? Email alternatehistory@dragoncon.org. Just want to lend a hand for a few hours? We’d love your help. Please email the track.