Celebrate HP Lovecraft’s 125th Birthday Citywide in Providence August 20-23

 NecronomiCon Providence 2015 marks the 125th birthday of HP Lovecraft August 20 – 23, drawing in more than 2,000 fans across the globe. The world’s foremost celebration of author Howard Phillips Lovecraft and the many authors and artists he continues to influence returns to Providence at the Biltmore and Omni hotels. With Lovecraft’s hometown as a backdrop, this four-day conference and festival will serve as a tribute to his influential writing, as well as the city’s celebrated culture and history. The amazing part of this celebration is the opportunity for Lovecraft fans, not attending the convention, to enjoy four days of public events at a very nominal price. It is truly a citywide celebration to commemorate the 125th birthday of HP Lovecraft.

This year the directors of NecronomiCon have created a multitude of daily citywide events for fans everywhere to enjoy and celebrate the life of HP Lovecraft. The celebration kicks off with a welcome party, “Hiding Under the Covers” at Aurora, 276 Westminster St., on Wednesday, August 19 from 6:00 p.m. to midnight.

The Lovecraft Grand Emporium officially opens on Thursday at the Rhode Island Convention Center, running through Sunday. Open to the public for $5, fans are invited to see a stunning array of more than 60 of the best booksellers, publishers, print artists, sculptors, jewelers, and general purveyors of top-tier weird. This one of kind experience brings in vendors from across the globe, an opportunity to purchase and view items related to the life and works of HP Lovecraft and his influences in the literary world. Daily hours vary each day, and can be found on the official NecronomiCon website www.necronomicon-providence.com.

Opening ceremonies to celebrate Lovecraft’s 125th birthday begin on Thursday August 20, 5:00 p.m., at the First Baptist Church. Hosted by Waterfire’s Barnaby Evans, and guests of honor Ramsey Campbell, Leslie Klinger, and Ann Schwader officially commemorate the birth of HP Lovecraft in the historic landmark. The event is free to the public, until capacity is reached, and features music by internationally renowned organist Gigi Mitchell-Velasco. Directly following the ceremony, fans are invited to the opening reception of the Ars Necronomica exhibit featuring world-class Lovecraft inspired works. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and takes place at the Providence Art Club. In addition there will be an Ars Necronomica print exhibit at Julian’s on Broadway. Fans have the opportunity to purchase print pieces after viewing the samples at the restaurant. Both exhibits will run from Thursday August 20 through August 23.

The official Lovecraft Birthday Bash takes place Thursday August 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the Façade Lot at 35 Weybosset St. Sponsored by Narragansett Beer, the event is open to the public for free, and will feature musical acts, movies, food and fun. Musical acts will feature Alec K. Redfearn & the Eyesores along with the Big Nazo Intergalactic Band. On the big screen, there will be a music/video mashup by Frank Difficult and a special 10th anniversary screening of HPLHS’s Call of Cthulhu. Happy Birthday Mr. Lovecraft!

There will be film screenings daily along with live theater shows running Thursday August20th through Sunday August 23rd. There will be a combination of Lovecraft inspired feature films, short cuts and live theater productions open to the public for $5 beginning daily between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. Full feature films will be screened at the Providence Public Library while short films will be shown at the AS220 Black Box Theater. The live theater productions will take place at the AS220 Black Box Theater and feature the first ever script reading of the newly developed NecronomiCon TV Pilot, currently being pitched. Details on the schedule of films and theater can be found at www.necronomicon-providence.com.

The Rhode Island Historical Society will be offering a special HP Lovecraft tour commemorating his 125th birthday on Saturday August 22 at 12:00 p.m. The tour admission fee is $10, and will depart from the John Brown House. Reservations are highly recommended, and can be made by contacting [email protected].

There will be two other unique events open to the public Saturday and Sunday evening at the Columbus Theater. Saturday evening features an epic night of sonic upheaval and pulsating, swirling heaviness with four bands including Earth, Elder, Assembly of Light Choir and Owlfood. The concert begins at 9:00 p.m. with a $20 ticket price in advance or $23 at the door. Sunday evening will bring a Rocky Horror Picture Show-style send-up of the 1970 film, The Dunwich Horror. The event will feature a live band, stage actors, audience participation and of course lots of weirdness! The show starts at 9:00 p.m. with a $5.00 admission fee. Before you head to the picture show, head over to the NecronomiCon closing party at Aurora beginning at 8:00 p.m. The Story Laboratory of Providence will be showcasing some of the city’s best and brightest telling their tales, with the theme “Truth, Weirder than Fiction.” Music by Analog Underground will follow the story telling, and admission fee is a sliding scale donation up to $10.00.

The Lovecraft store is open in the Arcade Providence, located at 65 Weybosset St. Hours of operation run Monday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. The Love Craft Arts & Science headquarters can be reached at (401)264-0838. To view the complete schedule and lineup of events go to www.necronomicon-providence.com.

NecronomiCon Providence is presented by the Lovecraft Arts & Sciences Council, a nonprofit educational corporation that serves as a networking center for scholars, writers and fans of the literary world of H.P. Lovecraft and associated authors. Founded in Providence in 2012, the organization develops public programming that explores the life of Lovecraft and the fictional universe he created. By working with academics and enthusiasts, the council fosters a critical review of related research, literature, art and the cultural impact of Lovecraft’s writings on the modern world. For more information, email [email protected].