NewsfromBree
spymaster@theonering.net
Feb 19 2017, 7:21pm
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TORn joins Wizarding Dayz event in Salt Lake Friday and Saturday
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Geekery can be fun and it can also be educational. In the case of the two-day Wizarding Dayz near Salt Lake City, it hopes to be both while helping with literacy and charity as well.
TheOneRing.net will be join what promises to be a magical event Friday and Saturday Feb. 24 and 25, presenting panels and representing Tolkien in the realm of the wizard-themed gathering. It takes place in the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy, Utah.
The three charities, the Utah Parent Center, Canines With a Cause and the Human Rights Education Center of Utah, get a portion of the proceeds according to co-organizer Valerie Walker.
"We threw it out to the community to nominate the charities. We came up with these three charities because they are all based on kids, kids' needs and kids that don't belong. That is Harry Potter", she said.
Walker, heading up Wizarding-Dayz with Carrie Rogers-Whitehead, hopes the first-year event brings out those who love Potter, Tolkien and fantasy in general, and especially those who enjoy reading.
"This event is made definitely for book lovers, people who love reading, people who want to go to a place where there are the things they love. It is good for all ages but for adults you are going to get to go and have good discussions," Walker said.
TheOneRing will be included in those good discussions with three official TORn presentations:
How To Travel to Middle-earth
J.R.R. Tolkien vs. George R.R. Martin
Tolkien and the Great War
There is other Tolkien content as well, including an over-the-internet panel for Tolkienites (or TORnadoes) to ask expert Michael Martinez ANY Tolkien Question. In fact, if there is interest, perhaps TORn will do a Facebook Live for portions of some of these panels.
Wizarding Days has no shortage of educational material, including from sponsors Utah Humanities and the STEM Action Center of Utah.
For those not aware, STEM is a science-based curriculum based on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics taught all together in an applied approach. In the wizarding world that means discussions and interactive panels rather than just lectures.
"We are not calling them panels. We want people to come and have discussions about these things they like or dislike. We have great topics that dive deep," Walker said. "We aren't skipping a rock across the surface."
There are also a lot of hands-on items patrons can make and take home including wants, wizard pouches, rune pouches and of course, spell books.
Walker said she took extra care creating a space that isn't mundane, including the vendor areas, which including roaming performers, but is all planned with a pleasing, welcoming, fantasy theme.
Tickets start at $5 for kids with family passes available and single tickets on sale for Friday and Saturday. A two-day adult ticket is only $25. Click here for more information and to buy tickets.
Donations are also accepted on the ticketing page with all donated funds going directly to the charities according to Walker.
(This post was edited by entmaiden on Feb 21 2017, 2:31pm)
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