This may be a sad truth, but when Rose Beetem was growing up, she felt truly accepted only at the science fiction convention . And since the event started 45 years ago, Beetem has yet to miss the once-a-year pilgrimage.
“Like most fans … I was geeky. I didn’t have friends. But sci-fi fandom was my friend,” said Beetem, the event planner of the 45th annual MileHiCon, Oct. 18-20, at the Hyatt in the Denver Tech Center. “We can talk about stuff we like — quote things out of ‘Firefly’ while others are into building mock dystopias and hitting each other with (light sabers).”
A natural dreamer, Beetem’s passion for the fantastical has helped the event grow into one of the largest in the Rocky Mountain region. Since she took over planning a decade ago, MileHiCon has grown from 300 attendees to more than 1,500. Beetem’s secret: “It’s original. Unlike other conventions, we urge guests to share their opinions with authors and interact.”
For fans seeking a more hands-on form of entertainment, MileHiCon will feature 91 authors, sci-fi art, robot wrestling, 24-hour gaming, live music, a costume contest and a mix, munch and mingle dinner party.
Ultimately, MileHiCon is about the melding of pop culture and geek culture, and that’s what keeps Beetem coming back year after year.
“Yes, we have our religious differences about Star Wars, but in the end we are still all fans together.”
