Side Quests & Bonus Events
We have some awesome side quests and bonus events that are typically cool options to include in your Gary Con schedule if you have free time. A lot of folks put some hard work in to make these things available to attendees—and we are glad to include them in our list of things to do and see!
2026 Exclusives
Screening: Draw Your Weapons
Presented by Titmouse!
Saturday @10:00pm-11:30pm(ish) in Swinghurst.
A screening of an episode of Titmouse Studio’s new series Draw Your Weapons—featuring artists, voice actors, and gamers playing D&D and drawing in the Titmouse gaming room in Los Angeles. Introduced by the creators Josh Knapp and Chris Prynoski.
Dungeons & Dragons: The Tyrant’s Eye Pinball Machines
Presented by Stern Pinball!
There should be two of the D&D machines (one pro, one premium) and two other pinball games onsite starting Wednesday and remaining in the Main Lobby of the Grand throughout the duration of Gary Con XVIII.
The pinball machines will be on free play for all to enjoy! What’ll be your high score?
Opening Ceremony
Join us around 9:00am in the Main Lobby of the Grand Geneva Resort, where Luke Gygax will talk about what Gary Con means to him. We’re planning on having a Special Guest or two join us for the official opening of Gary Con XVIII, so don’t miss it!
After the opening ceremony, head down to the Forum Foyer for the first card pulling from the Deck of Gary Things around 9:45am, followed by official opening of the Exhibitor Hall around 10:00am!
Deck of Gary Things
Test your luck against Luke Gygax to win prizes or an ignoble end!! Happening in the Forum Lobby around 9:45am daily during the convention!
If you don’t have guts, you’ll never have glory—so why not risk it pulling from The Deck of Gary Things?! Maybe you’ll win a free badge, or maybe you’ll be compelled to volunteer some time to the convention. Anything could happen!
E. Gary Gygax Lifetime Achievement Award
Gary Con presents the E. Gary Gygax Lifetime Achievement Award annually to recognize the recipient as a person who has had notable contributions to the gaming industry. Gary Con CEO, Luke Gygax, and his wife, Bouchra Gygax, award this honor personally to show their appreciation and respect for the work the recipient has dedicated to keeping the spirit of gaming alive and thriving in our fantastic gaming community.
The most recent recipient of this award at Gary Con XVII in 2025 was Greg Stafford, an American game designer best known as the founder of Chaosium.
For Gary Con XVIII, join us in the Grand Geneva Lobby/Bar at 2:30pm on Saturday, March 21, just before the Gary Con Charity Auction, to see who will be awarded this honor in 2026!
Previous Recipients –
- Greg Stafford awarded posthumously in 2025 for GC XVII. Accepted by Jeff Richard.
- Mike Pondsmith awarded in 2024 for GC XVI.
- David Zeb Cook awarded in 2023 for GC XV.
- Lou Zocchi awarded in 2022 for GC XIV.
- Jeff Easley awarded in 2021 for GC XIII.
- Tom Wham awarded in 2020 for GC XII.
- Larry Elmore awarded in 2019 for GC XI.
- Margaret Weis awarded in 2018 for GC X.
- Tim Kask awarded in 2017 for GC IX.
- James M. Ward awarded in 2016 for GC VIII.
Hawaiian Shirt Picture
Gary Gygax, Father of Role Playing Games, co-creator of D&D and Founder of Gen Con was often seen sporting a Hawaiian Shirt. To honor his memory, many attendees wear Hawaiian shirts on Saturday and gather to be part of the annual Hawaiian Shirt picture.
Sport your Hawaiian shirt and join us at 2:00pm on Saturday in the Grand Geneva Lobby to be part of the annual picture!
Don’t have something tropical and fantastical? You can stop by the merch booth to grab the Dragon Hawaiian Shirt from last year or this year’s NEW Demogorgon Hawaiian Shirt (never thought we’d be saying that) or even both! After this year, neither shirt will be available for purchase again.
Board Game Library
If there’s a game you love that isn’t listed and/or you’re interested in contributing a board game donation to our library, please e-mail [email protected]. We appreciate your support in improving the collection of board games available in our library.
The fabulous folks of InnRoads Ministries who coordinate this fun library do it to be of service—since that’s what it’s all about for them. You can learn more about the Ministry here!
You can click the dropdowns below to browse our quick reference list (updated in 2025) for the games library.
Play to Win Contest
Sponsored by Tom Wham Games!
Sponsored by InnRoads Ministries!
Now you have even more reasons to visit the Board Game Library and discover a new favorite! No need to sign-up, just visit Thursday through Saturday during open hours to play.
How does the Gary Con Play to Win work?
Featured Titles
There will be 8-10 different games featured in the contest from participating sponsors including: Asmodee North America, Grod Games, Rio Grande Games, Twogether Studios, and Tom Wham Games.
Play to Enter
Simply check out and play any of the designated contest games from the Innroads Ministries Board Games Library while it’s open between Thursday and Saturday.
Boost Your Odds
You earn an entry for a specific game in the contest each time you play it. Play any or all of the featured games as many times as you wish to increase your chances!
Individual Drawings
Each game has its own drawing for contestants, so you can focus on the games you love most.
The excitement doesn’t stop with the individual games! All entry tickets will be consolidated into one final Grand Prize Drawing. One lucky winner will receive a FREE Entry to receive of the upcoming Tom Wham Games Kickstarter: Search for the Emperor’s Treasure: Level 3 (expected to ship later this year).
Gary Con Play to Win Contest
Event Details
- Location – The Board Games Library (Evergreen 1)
- Dates/Times – Thursday at 9:00am – Saturday at 8:00pm
- Drawings – Saturday night at 8:00pm
- Claiming Prizes – You don’t need to be at the drawing to win, but you’ll need to pick up your prize before leaving Gary Con, as they will not be shipped. If you’re unable to pick up your prize on Saturday night, it will be held at the Convention HQ until it closes on Sunday. Please do not include your name in the contest if you’ll be unable to pick up your prize.
Don’t miss this chance to play great games and take them home with you.
We’ll see you at the Games Library!
Paint-and-Take
Sponsored by The Army Painter!
Paint-and-take is back at Gary Con this year! This is a completely FREE event with no tickets required on TTE. If you’ve ever wanted to try miniature painting, this is the place to be!
Every Gary Con attendee is welcome to participate—from beginners who have never picked up a brush before to heavily seasoned painters! All supplies will be provided along with a free miniature that you can take home… there’s no reason not to jump in and start painting!
Take a moment to slow down, introduce color and style to a miniature, and let the paint dry. We’ll be in the Grand Ballroom Foyer, by the Registration/Help Desk and just past The Army Painter booth, all weekend!
Official Paint-and-Take Hours for GCXVIII (2026):
- Thursday – 9:00am-6:00pm
- Friday – 9:00am-6:00pm
- Saturday – 9:00am-6:00pm
- Sunday – 9:00am-1:00pm
Gary Con Fan Favorite Paint-and-Take Miniature Contest
The Army Painter presents, Gary Con Fan Favorite Paint-and-Take Miniature Contest!
Saturday Schedule
- Entry Deadline – 2:00pm
- Open Voting – 2:00-4:30pm
- Winner Announcement – ~4:45-5:00pm
- Miniature Pick-up – ~5:00-6:00pm
Sunday Schedule
- Miniature Pick-up – 9:00am-1:00pm
General Rules:
- Entrants must be Gary Con attendees, who participated in Paint-and-Take.
- Entries must be original work painted personally by the submitter at this year’s Paint-and-Take.
- Entries are limited to one (1) entry per person.
- All entries must be a miniature provided by Paint-and-Take.
- Entries must be submitted by the deadline on Saturday afternoon.
- Voting will begin once the deadline for submissions has been reached and will continue for ~2.5 hours.
- We will tally votes and announce the winner at ~4:45-5:00pm.
Our Paint-and-Take winner will be awarded with a prize from The Army Painter. Huzzah!!
Grand Ballroom Foyer Painting Events for GCXVIII (2026):
Thursday
- Event 724 – 9:00am (2 hours): Miniature Painting for Beginners
- Event 643 – 9:00pm (2 hours): Craft your Own RPG Fantasy Themed Wooden Sign Decor
Friday
- Event 725 – 9:00am (2 hours): Miniature Painting for Beginners
- Event 649 – 6:00pm (2 hours): Make Your Own Terrain (For Any TTRPG)!
- Event 645 – 7:00pm (2 hours): Craft your Own RPG Fantasy Themed Wooden Sign Decor
- Event 646 – 9:00pm (2 hours): Craft your Own RPG Fantasy Themed Wooden Sign Decor
Saturday
- Event 726 – 10:00am (2 hours): Miniature Painting for Beginners
- Event 641 – 7:00pm (2 hours): Craft your Own RPG Fantasy Themed Wooden Sign Decor
- Event 642 – 9:00pm (2 hours): Craft your Own RPG Fantasy Themed Wooden Sign Decor
Sunday
- Event 644 – 8:00am (2 hours): Craft your Own RPG Fantasy Themed Wooden Sign Decor
Legends of Wargaming
Are you curious about the history of wargaming and role-playing? Visit the Legends of Wargaming space to get in touch with the classics!
Visit tables filled with history in the form of facts and items to get a glimpse of how the heart of our favorite hobby was started. You can learn about games like AD&D (1e), Braunstein, Chainmail, Dawn Patrol, etc.—old school gaming and tournaments abound here!
In search of adventure? Join the Legends of Roleplaying as they play games like AD&D (1e) and Braunstein!
Trying your hand at strategy? Join the Legends of Wargaming as they take to the skies in Dawn Patrol or partake in the Chainmail Joust!