The fifth annual CP Nassau Sci-Fi Mini-Con will return to Hicksville on Saturday, July 18, bringing celebrity guests, costumed fan groups, movie cars, vendors and interactive attractions to Levittown Hall for a five-hour fundraiser.
Admission is free. The convention will run from noon to 5 p.m. at Levittown Hall, located at 201 Levittown Parkway. Proceeds from raffles, activities and purchases will benefit the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County. Jovia Financial Credit Union is sponsoring the event.
The current event lineup includes Catherine Mary Stewart, known to generations of fans for The Last Starfighter, Night of the Comet and Nightflyers.
Damian Maffei, whose credits include The Strangers: Prey at Night, Haunt and Black Eyed Susan, is also scheduled to appear. He’ll be joined by actress and tarot expert Sasha Graham, whose work includes Bloodletting, Polymorph, Trivial and Magic of Tarot.
Other announced guests include:
- Brimstone, wrestler, actor, producer and host of The Grindhouse Radio
- Joe Zaso, actor and author whose credits include Virus X and The Wolf of Wall Street
- Elizabeth Shepherd, known for The Tomb of Ligeia and Damien: Omen II
- Michael Jan Friedman, longtime Star Trek novelist and comic book author
- Gina Falke, artist and author of Princess Djina of Rasnov Romania and Second Chances
- John Peel, author of novels tied to Doctor Who, Star Trek and the Diadem series
- Robin Channing, magician and performer
Interfleet Broadcasting is also scheduled to present a live Battlestar Galactica and science-fiction podcast during the Mini-Con. Star Wars costuming groups and other local cosplayers will once again help fill Levittown Hall with characters from across the galaxy. The event will feature members of the 501st Legion’s Empire City Garrison, Saber Guild and other fan groups. Featured cosplayers listed for this year include Ruby Rinekso, Abigail, known online as mcheretic, and Jacobella Luongo.
Fans can also expect DeLoreans, a Batmobile and additional movie cars, weather permitting.
Activities will include Blast-A-Trooper and Saber Guild Padawan Training, along with raffles, gaming, vendors and guest autograph opportunities. Music will be provided by Dan Kelly Disc Jockey Services.
Although admission is free, autographs, raffles, food, beverages, merchandise, gaming and some activities will cost extra. Those purchases help raise money for CP Nassau. One of this year’s featured prizes is a hard-to-find 7-foot animated Darth Vader decoration sold by Home Depot.
The Star Wars holiday decoration includes lights and sound. Entries are available through RallyUp, and the winner is scheduled to be selected automatically during the Mini-Con on July 18.
The statue can be delivered within the Long Island area or picked up at CP Nassau’s Roosevelt location. All proceeds from the raffle benefit CP Nassau.
The Mini-Con has continued to grow since its launch, both as a gathering for Long Island fans and as a fundraiser.
The 2025 event raised just over $7,500 for CP Nassau, according to Chris Feehan, development assistant at the organization. That was $1,500 more than the $6,000 raised in 2024. The 2024 total had also beaten the previous year’s fundraiser by $1,000.
Last year’s convention brought together celebrity guests, authors, artists, movie cars, costumed fan groups, vendors and raffles during the five-hour event. The fifth edition is building on that familiar formula while adding new guests, activities and one truly imposing Sith Lord.
CP Nassau Sci-Fi Mini-Con: When: Saturday, July 18, 2026, from noon to 5 p.m.; Where: Levittown Hall, 201 Levittown Parkway, Hicksville; Admission: Free, although some activities, autographs, raffles and purchases cost extra; proceeds benefit the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County; more information is available on the official Sci-Fi Mini-Con event page; entries for the Darth Vader raffle are available through RallyUp.
All photos: Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County Facebook Page.
