KansasFest 2018, the 30th annual Apple II convention, is open for registration. Users, programmers, hobbyists, and retrocomputing enthusiasts are invited to Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri, from Tuesday, July 17, through Sunday, July 22, for six days and five nights of sessions, demos, announcements, contests, and camaraderie.
The keynote speaker will be Roger Wagner. In 1978, Wagner started his own software publishing company and sold popular titles such as the Merlin assembler and ASCII Express. He wrote for many major publications of the day but is best remembered for his long-running Assembly Lines column in Softalk, teaching 6502 assembly language. Later, he made his most famous contribution to the 16-bit Apple IIGS with HyperStudio, a foretaste of the hyperlinked web that was to later arrive in the 1990s.
Because KansasFest 2017 sold out, this year’s event capacity has been expanded by 20%. Registering early is still a good idea; do so by May 31 to guarantee a price of $385 for a double room or $455 for a single, which includes admission to all sessions as well as most meals. After that, prices rise. Official KansasFest shirts are extra and optional and must be ordered by June 18; registration for staying on-site closes July 1. To register, please visit the official registration form.
To celebrate this year’s event Steve Weyhrich created a new music video, “The KFest Show”, in his own funny and inimitable style. As the lyrics say, “don’t fight it, registration’s open, runnin’ at ya!” You can watch the video now.
KansasFest invites any and all Apple II users, fans, and friends to attend the largest and longest running annual Apple II conference. For photos, videos, schedules, and presentations from past year’s events or to sign up for the email list and for inquiries, please see the menu at the left side of this site.