Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Ozzy Things to do in 2017

Join or renew your membership to the International Wizard of Oz Club!
The International Wizard of Oz Club has been running since 1957 and has been the flagship for research into the life, world and works of L. Frank Baum and the other creators of the Oz series, as well as digging up information on MGM's The Wizard of Oz and many other Oz productions. Members receive three issues of The Baum Bugle a year, the journal that serves as a regular issue of research into the Oz phenomenon and communication from Club leaders about ways to get involved in the Oz community.

You can join online at http://ozclub.org. The Oz Club cannot guarantee you'll get all three 2017 issues of the Baum Bugle if you don't register before the first 2017 issue gets printed.

Attend an Oz event! 
There are many Oz events happening through the year. To hear about smaller events and exhibits, keep an eye on the Daily Ozmapolitan, which is in our blog roll to the right of the screen.

Oz-Stravaganza: Chittenango, New York June 2-4, 2017
Oz-Stravaganza is a festival that celebrates Oz with a parade, costumes, games, and presentations. What makes it special? Chittenango is L. Frank Baum's birth place. Information on how to attend may be found at their website.

Wizard of Oz Festival: Ionia Michigan June 16-17, 2017
I'm unfamiliar with this particular festival, but it seems there are several events had as well as a screening of the MGM film The Wizard of Oz. Information can be found on the event's Facebook page.

Oz Con International: Portland, Oregon, June 30-July 2
Okay, as I'm co-chairing this one, you know it's got my vote. We're celebrating the centennial of The Lost Princess of Oz and anniversaries of Ozma of Oz and The Gnome King of Oz with panels and presentations, plus several fans will be presenting on animated versions of Oz, including the 1987 PanMedia/Cinar anime series and the 1933 Ted Eshbaugh cartoon, as well as Doug Aberle talking about his Claymation work on Disney's Return to Oz. Saturday night will see a classic Jell-O Wizard of Oz radio script staged with a live cast for all to enjoy. Plus, we have our costume contest, auction, dealer's room, and a good number of free souvenirs for all attendees. Register (and our registration fees go up at the end of the month, so the sooner, the better!) at our website.

IWOC Annual Convention: Chicago August 3-7, 2017
And oh, I wish I could also attend this one! There will be several things to do not far from Chicago, Illinois, where L. Frank Baum originally came up with the story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and where the original Oz books were published. More details and how to register can be found on the event's Facebook page.

Midwest Oz Festival: Tinley Park, Illinois – August 4-6, 2017
This more general audience Oz-themed festival runs alongside the IWOC Convention, which will allow for time to visit the final day of this Festival. More information can be found at the website.

Wizard of Oz Festival:
Mapleton, Illinois – August 12, 2017
Looks like this festival had a rough start, but attendees say it rapidly improved into a great time! More information can be found on Facebook.

Day in Oz Festival: Clarksville, MO – August 27, 2017
Another Oz festival, and once again, its main source of information seems to be Facebook.

Autumn at Oz: Beech Mountain, North Carolina – September 2017

Dates are yet to be set for Autumn at Oz, the weekend event in which the famous Land of Oz park re-opens and allows visitors to tour its yellow brick trails once again, but keep an eye on the official website.

1 comment:

Eric said...

Another recommendation for this year: Go see the exhibit "Over the Rainbow: Toys from the Land of Oz" at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures" in Kansas City. It runs through August 20, so plenty of time if you are or are going to be in the area.Also, go see "Wicked" or some other Oz play.