What’s a brony convention without a some kickin’ concerts?

We certainly aren’t going to let you find out, because the return of our Aurora concerts means awesome parties like we saw last year.

Our Friday night Aurora Borealis concert will feature progressive sets from several artists. It starts at 8PM with F3nning kicking things off, followed by d.notive at 8.45, Michelle Creber and Black Gryph0n at 9.30, and a dj powerhour at 10.30 featuring Hollowpoint and The Savory.

Saturday night you can catch Aurora Australis, a high-energy rave packed with even more excitement! Once again, you’ll get to see Michelle Creber and Black Gryph0n at 8.30PM, followed by FrozenSound at 9.15, Art Attack at  10, Garnika at 10:45, Additive Subtractive at 11:30, and--ending the night with a bag--Tetsuo will be bringing down the house at 12.15.

And if that isn’t enough music for you, how about a private concert with Michelle Creber, Black Gryph0n, and Monique Creber? You can sit in on their Music & Madness concert Friday at 5.30PM! Tickets are $40 and are available on EventBrite or at our registration table. You can catch them in the lobby signing CDs and posters afterwards, as well as after their sets Friday and Saturday night!

Haven't bought your badges to MLP-MSP 2015 yet? Well you'd better hop to it! Especially because the first 50 3-Day badges purchased after 12AM Central, May 23rd (tonight) will be automatically entered for a chance to win a free Triple Diamond Sponsor pass! You can gift this to a friend, or we can simply upgrade your 3-Day badge for you.

Ladies and germs, the announcement you’ve been waiting for since we wrapped up guest announcements: Our weekend schedule!

There are still some last minute tweaks to be made, so the schedule you see here might have some slightly different times or panel names than our official weekend schedule, but you can expect them to be mostly the same. You can expect descriptions for everything listed within the next few days as well!

You can check our Events page for the schedule, but the most up-to-date information will directly on our Google Spreadsheet here.

And it’s not too late to pre-register! Get those registrations in by the 25th to get your name printed on them. Badges will still be available online after the 25th and at the door, but will only have stickers and will cost $55 for 3 days.

Do you hand-sew fine details onto costumes to make them as accurate as possible? Do you hunt for weeks for the right accessories to get the complete look? Do you just like to fill the shoes of your favorite characters? Do you just want to be fabulous on stage?

If any of those sound like you and you're going to be at MLP-MSP 2015, sign up for our cosplay contest! Please print out and fill in this submission form and bring it with you at the time of the contest.

Rules:

Due to time constraints, only walk-on entries will be permitted. This way we can accommodate as many entries as possible.

This is a family friendly con, so costumes must maintain a PG-13 rating. No profanity/inappropriate gestures/nudity/etc. will be permitted.

NO LIVE STEEL OR REAL WEAPONS PERMITTED.  Props with a firing mechanism must be disabled/not loaded. This includes water pistols, airsoft guns, Nerf guns, etc.

Nothing messy and/or dangerous on stage. This includes confetti, glitter, silly string, water, etc (I’m lookin’ at you, Pinkie Pie…). If it goes on with you, it comes off with you.

Staff members are not permitted to compete in the competition. Also, if your costume has previously won awards in other competitions, please refrain from entering it. We would like for this competition to be fair to all entries.

It is recommended that young children be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Please be courteous to your fellow competitors. No bullying/name-calling/etc. will be permitted.

All judges’ decisions are final. Please don’t argue with the judges.

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

Workmanship

Youth

Best likeness

Best in show

Super secret award (to be announced at competition)

All contestants will receive a special MLP-MSP button for participating in the contest. Any entries or contestants that do not follow the rules will be removed from the line up.

We're just under two months out from con time, so now's the time to get those cosplays together! Don't forget to pack your submission forms, either!

Do you want to learn how to put words in bubbles in a series of tiny squares? How about how to fast-track your way to fame? Are you worried about when the deadline for panel submissions is? We've got you covered.

To start, we'd like to welcome Ralph Streich of RED Managemet and MLP:FiM comic writer Ted Anderson to our lineup! You can see them on various panels dishing out valuble advice during MLP-MSP!

Speaking of panels, there are a flurry of con-related deadlines coming up! We've put them together in a neatly compiled post, just for you!

Our closest deadline is panel submissions, which will be closing May 1st. If you haven't sent your panel idea in yet, you can still do so here! All responses will be sent out by May 15th the latest, so keep an eye on your email! If you have any questions about panel submissions or programming, contact us at [email protected].

For those planning on staying at the Ramada Bloomington, the last day to use our hotel discount codes is May 14th! For more information on how to use the discount codes, you can check our venue page here.

Just a day after that brings the close of Vendor registration on May 15th. But don't wait! We're almost out of spots, so register your table here today!

Another fast-approaching date is the end of Pre-registration. If you want your badge to have your name printed on it, be sure to purchase it here before May 25th. Badges will still be available for purchase online after the 25th and at the door, but will not be printed.

Do you enjoy brunch? How about acoustic concerts? Apples? Gryph0ns, maybe?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, please seek the nearest link to MLP-MSP’s registration page, which is, coincidentally and conveniently located right here.

Michelle Creber, Gabriel Brown (Black Gryph0n), and Monique Creber have joined our June lineup! But they didn’t come alone: they brought along a brand new sponsor badge for purchase today through May 25th!

For $650, you can become a Star Diamond sponsor! This includes everything in the Sapphire, Fire Ruby, and Triple Diamond sponsor packages as well as free admission to the private Music and Madness concert with Michelle Creber and Black Gryph0n and a Sunday morning, off-site VIP Brunch with all expenses paid and included transportation.

Music and Madness tickets will be available to attendees for $40, however the Sunday brunch will only be available to Star Diamond sponsors.

Michelle Creber is a 15-year-old Canadian actor, singer, dancer, musician, song-writer and voiceover artist. She is known internationally as the speaking/singing voice of Apple Bloom and the singing voice of Sweetie Belle on MLP:FiM – Michelle was only 10 during season one, when she recorded her epic gospel vocals for Hush Now Quiet Now. Her onscreen credits include Supernatural, Disney’s Search for Santa Paws, Hallmark’s Smart Cookies and The Hub’s Haunting Hour. Michelle’s music has been embraced by fans worldwide and feature vocal skills and style beyond her years. A frequent collaborator, she has recorded songs with Andrea Libman, Daniel Ingram, The Living Tombstone, MandoPony, Steffan Andrews and even a duet with Billy Joel. After a successful cover of Michael Jackson’s Beat It with Gabriel Brown (Black Gryph0n), Michelle and Gabe have continued to work together; recording, performing, touring, creating comedy sketches and releasing original co-written songs. Website -- IMDb -- Twitter -- YouTube -- Facebook

Gabriel Brown (aka Black Gryph0n) is a 25-year-old American singer, actor, voice actor, songwriter and animator and one of the MLP fandom’s most popular artists around the globe. He first became known for songs like Proud To Be A Brony and Paper Sky, for his “licious” animation series and as a “reactor” on Bronies React. At 18, Gabe joined the US Navy in special operations before touring the Eastern Hemisphere as lead singer, 7th Fleet Band Orient Express. He has sung on season five of MLP and lead vocals for Pac-Man. After a successful cover of Beat It with Michelle Creber (voice of Apple Bloom), Gabe & Michelle have continued to work together; recording, performing, touring, creating comedy sketches and releasing original co-written songs. Gabe has also recorded with Andrea Libman and released IMmortal, a collection of original songs with his brother Baasik, including hits like Crusader, Academy and Zero Gravity. Website -- Twitter -- Facebook -- YouTube -- SoundCloud -- DeviantArt

Monique Creber has a diverse entertainment career. She is an engaging performer with a rich alto voice, described as “eerily similar to that of the late, great Karen Carpenter”. Studio and TV vocal credits include MLP:FiM (Smile Song, Hearth Carol, Super Speedy Cider Squeezy, At the Gala), Martha Speaks, George of the Jungle and The Collector. Monique has produced songs for film & TV as well as projects featuring artists like Michelle Creber, Gabriel Brown, The Living Tombstone, Daniel Ingram and Andrea Libman. Performance highlights include symphony guest vocalist appearances, TV/ radio shows and NHL anthems. Monique has taught vocals, piano and musical theatre extensively and enjoys coaching and career consulting for singers, actors and voice actors. She currently divides her time between the studio, stage and set; plus managing the busy careers of her daughter Michelle (voice of Apple Bloom) and Gabriel Brown (Black Gryph0n). Website -- IMDb -- Twitter

What do baby dragons and pies have in common? Wings! Wings that you can’t blame M.A. Larson for. In what is the biggest MLP-MSP announcement of the year, we’ve got guests, charity, and a SALE!

First things first: charity. For those who may remember, last year we partnered with Give Us Wings located out of St. Paul, MN, an organization dedicated to eradicating poverty in Kenya and Uganda. In 2015, we’ve partnered once again to help those in less fortunate countries! Those looking to submit charity auction items can bring them along to the convention or mail them in (Care of MLP-MSP, 2300 East American Boulevard Bloomington, MN 55425), so long as they are received by Saturday, June 13th the latest.

In addition to our charity involvement, we’ve got TWO lovely guests to announce! Both Cathy Weseluck and Ingrid Nilson will be joining us this June!

We all know and love Cathy as Spike and The Mayor in MLP:FiM, but she is also known for voicing Butter Cream Sundae in Littlest Pet Shop, Cybersix and Adrian in Cybersix, Near in Death Note, and many, many more! In addition to her continued success as a voice-over performer, Cathy's noted accomplishments also include her work as a TV actor, instructor, consultant, guest speaker, casting director/director, associate producer, writer, composer, performer and photographer.

Ingrid was skeptical 10 years ago when a mystic told her that her life's work would be all about her voice. Since then, she has been heard as Maud Pie in MLP:FiM, as Raspberry Torte in 4 seasons of Strawberry Shortcake, as punk rocker Sloan in an upcoming Barbie movie and more. A classically trained singer (Royal Conservatory of Music), actor (UBC Honors Degree in Theatre) and dancer, Ingrid was raised on The Sound of Music and old school musicals. She lives in Vancouver, BC where you can find her teaching yoga + meditation, biking around town and promoting positive body image in schools with non-profit, Project True.

For more information on who you’ll get to see alongside these lovely ladies in June, visit our guest page here! The lineup includes Tabitha St. Germain, M.A. Larson, and community guests ACRaceBest and Saberspark, with more to come. Keep an eye on social media as we steadily announce more community guests and musicians!

Another reason to keep an eye on social media will be to track our fire sale! What would an announcement this big really be without a sale!?

Are you psyched about the return of pony this Saturday? We are! In fact, we're so psyched, we're hosting a photo contest that could win YOU a free 3-Day pass to MLP-MSP 2015!

If you're hosting or attending a viewing party of the season premiere this Saturday, snap some pictures and tweet them @MLPMinnesota using the hashtag #MLPTunedIn. You can also post them on Facebook using the same hashtag! We'll be retweeting and sharing some of the best ones throughout the day, and will choose TWO winners at random to receive free 3-Day passes to MLP-MSP 2015!

The contest will be running from 5am to 1pm Central Standard Time, so tweet/post your photos then! Winners will be announced at the end of the day Saturday, April 4th. You can enter more than once, however, if the selected winners have already purchased 3-Day passes, we cannot provide a refund. The prize pass can be given to a friend or forfeited to a runner-up. Winners will be contacted via direct messages, so make sure you're following @MLPMinnesota!

We believe in M.A. Larson, do you? Well, you can believe that he'll be returning to our convention once again this year!

While he currently resides in Los Angeles, CA, Larson is a Minneapolis native. He's written for several animated series including Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends and Sym-Bionic Titan, and has the express ability to bestow powers of flight upon his characters. His first novel, Pennyroyal Academy (October 2014), has an expected sequel coming early 2016, and a Lionsgate movie adaption currently in development by producer Reese Witherspoon.

For those who attended last year, they may remember Larson's appearances on several writing panels throughout the weekend. However, whether you did or didn't see him last year, come see him endorse RedBull this June!

Couldn’t think of last minute Hearts and Hooves Day plans? We’ve got you covered. Surprise your Special Somepony with a 3-Day badge to MLP-MSP 2015! Between February 13th and 15th, buy one 3-Day badge and get the second one $10 off and get free premium lanyards!

All you have to do is buy one badge through our registration page and keep an eye on your email for a special promo code to get another one for $10 off. Do NOT select premium lanyard, as you WILL be charged! For anyone who has already registered, you’ll receive the same promo code via email, so keep a look out!

And while you’re there, come see everyone’s favorite power couple ACRaceBest and SaberSpark! They along with Tabitha St. Germain and other special guests yet to be announced will be in attendance, so come say hi and sit in on some of their panels.

ACRaceBest is a Mechanical Engineer best known for his Youtube series “Bronies React.”  He specializes in destroying cars, trying to be funny and wishing he had any friends.  With an accumulated 12 million views online, he continues to produce comedy sketches, vlogs, and more, while entertaining live audiences on multiple stages and venues. Tumblr – Twitter – Youtube – Facebook

Saberspark is a YouTuber with a bad case of A.D.D. From documentaries to comedy skits, this guy can never stay in the same place for too long and is always on the move with random ideas.  Saber is also a frequent guest on ACRacebest’s series “Bronies React.” He is also hot and can bench press 500 pounds.Tumblr – Twitter – Youtube – Facebook

We know you've been anxiously awaiting to hear our who our first guest will be for 2015.

And now, we can proudly tell you that Tabitha St. Germain will be our first victim! Uh, guest, we mean guest...

Tabitha is a very talented voice actress who got her start in Toronto, Canada at a young age. She's since moved westward to Vancouver and continued her career. We know and love her as Rarity, Princess Luna/Nightmare Moon, Granny Smith, and many other background characters in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.However, she's voiced lots of characters for other cartoon series including Kootie Pie Koopa in the SUPER MARIO BROS. cartoons, Spryte the fairy in THE LEGEND OF ZELDA, Miss Demeanor in C.O.P.S., and then some! Besides MLP: FiM, Tabitha is currently working on Nerds and Monsters, Littlest Pet Shop, Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch, and other series.

So whether Luna is best princess or you just think Tabitha is simply fabulous (like we do), come see her this June!

Stay tuned as we announce more guests in the coming weeks!

Do you want to host an open discussion on an aspect of the Brony community? Do you like to host games or talk about the show? Do you have a really awesome, underrated headcanon that must be shared with the world?

If the answer is yes, then you should consider submitting a panel! Sometime after we close submissions, we will review each submission and email everyone on the acceptance or denial of their panel. The closing date of panel submissions is still undecided.

The panel submission form can be found on our panel page here. You can submit more than one panel, but only one per form: multiple panels must be submitted in individual forms.

For anyone thinking of purchasing a vendor table at MLP-MSP 2015, you'd better hurry! We are currently half way through our maximum number of available tables.

For those already registered as vendors, we will be opening the hall some time in the evening Thursday, June 11 for set up.