For various reasons there is no Fortean Times UnConvention this year so some of us may well be suffering withdrawal symptoms. Whilst the UnCon is definitely the biggest and the best there are plenty of other meet ups to give us our annual fix of Forteana.

CFZ's Weird Weekend: 17-19 August

One of the regular events on the Fortean calendar is the CFZ's Weird Weekend. There are still tickets available and the whole weekend looks fantastic. Having grown over the years the CFZ moved to new premises for Weird Weekend last year, Woolfardisworthy Community Centre, North Devon, and obviously pleased with the venue they return there for this years event. A range of speakers will appeal to all not just the cryptozoologists in the audience. From Weird Weekend regulars such as Nick Redfern, Ronan Coghlan and Richard Freeman through to new (for them) speakers such as Ian Simmons and Charles Paxton. The web site gives full details as well as information on how to get to Woolfardisworthy Community Centre.

Monster Weekend: 1-2 September

Monster Weekend takes place at the Life Centre in Newcastle and is very conveniently placed for Newcastle train station (ie. pretty much next door). The tickets are reasonably priced too - in fact they're free, although you do have to book in advance. Richard Freeman, Charles Paxton and Ian Simmons will be speaking making it a bit of a reunion for the Weird Weekend but there'll be plenty of UnCon stalwarts present as well - Gail-Nina Anderson, Jan Bondeson, Gordon Rutter (whoever he is) and even Loren Coleman, flying in especially from the States.

Edinburgh Fortean Society Day Event: 22 September

This event boasts such speakers as Caroline Watt of the Koestler Institute of Parapsychology, Ian Simmons (he gets everywhere), Gail-Nina Anderson, Gordon Rutter, Geoff Holder and Richard Freeman. Unlike the previous two events this has a more general theme - parapsychology, paranormal Scotland, mermaids and ET's to name some of the topics. All for a mere £10.

International Fortean Organization's Mediterranean Cruise: August 29-September 10

John Anthony West is a guest speaker on this one, and with an optional one week Egyptian tour at the end it should be excellent for those with the time and the money. From December the 9th to the 17th INFO will also be hosting a Caribbean Cruise.

Belgian Cryptozoology Conference

In the first weekend of November there will be a Belgian Cryptozoology conference

Sauniere Society events

The Sauniere Society are keeping themselves busy with a tour of Rennes-le-Chateau and surrounding area in the company of Henry Lincoln (10-18 September). October 13 sees them hold a one day symposium in Folkestone, Kent and a similar event over the weekend of 10-12 November in Edinburgh.

If you know of any more events that the rest of us should know about then post them on the Announcements section of the message board, and if you're going to any of these events let us know how they turn out.