Gussied up, duded out, and getting down where it’s at: The big list of BlizzCon parties

Whether this is your first BlizzCon or your eleventh, a big part of the convention for many people is what happens outside of the convention — namely, the parties and get-togethers. In general, the lounge of the Hilton Hotel (located right across from the Anaheim Convention Center) is the general gathering space. Some specific events take place on other floors of the Hilton, but if you’re just looking for a general socializing experience and some (presumably pricey) drinks, the main bar/lounge area of the Hilton Hotel is where you’ll want to go.

As for those specific events I mentioned, here’s a nice list (courtesy of Wowhead) of what’s happening in the coming week, as well as where and when. For those among you interested in meeting the Priests of Blizzard Watch, take a peek at Thursday night!

Wednesday Night

For the early arrivals among us, Wednesday night has a few offerings of social engagements. This is usually a more laid-back night in terms of drinking, dancing, and all that jazz. If you want to just find a place that isn’t the Hilton Hotel or one of the more crowded areas, this is the night to set something up. But if you don’t want to set up your own gathering, here are a few places you can go:

• DitchCon
  • 9:00 p.m. – 11:55 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel
• Washing off the road dirt
  • 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Clancy’s Restaurant
• BlizzCon Bonfire
  • 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at the Huntington Beach Fire Pits

Thursday Night

This is typically the biggest night for gatherings, since most everyone has arrived in Anaheim and isn’t worn out from a day of walking the convention center.

• Wowhead/ZAM party
  • 6:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. at the Hilton Hotel
• Con Before the Storm
  • 5:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel, 2nd Floor California Ballrooms
  • Please note: There are several different scheduled meet-and-greets. The Blizzard Watch crew will be there from 6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
• BlizzCon Benefit Dinner
  • 6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. for those who purchased tickets earlier this year.
• Warcraft Hunter Meetup
  • TBD
• TESPA Collegiate Meetup
  • TBD

Friday Night

Being the first day of BlizzCon, the Friday night festivities are slightly more limited. But trust me, the Hilton and surrounding areas are going to be packed with people discussing what’s surely to be an exciting first day. You can pretty much stand at the fountain, spin around a couple times, and walk in that direction — you’re sure to find some group or another just as excited to talk about the day as you are.

• The CTR Party
  • 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. at the Hilton Hotel
• Discord Party
  • 8:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. at the Heat Ultra Lounge
• Cosplay Photo Shoot
  • 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Fountain
• Costume Contest
  • TBD

Saturday Night

The night after everything has ended is in your hands. Last year, I spent this night being totally responsible and getting a solid 8 hours of sleep. Yes, that’s totally what I did.

However, if you want to plan ahead, there are a few things to attend, albeit a bit more niche than the previous nights’ offerings.

• Twitch Party
  • 9:30 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. at a TBD location
  • Exclusive party for select Twitch community members
• Goku Yell
  • 3:00 p.m. at the Fountain
• Squadron & Heroes Hype
  • 9:00 p.m. at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel
• Pepe Bird Gathering
  • 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. at the Convention Fountain

Sunday

For some of us, Sunday is going to be a day of — ahem — recovering. But that doesn’t mean everyone is going to be taking the day off. There are a couple options for post-‘Con gatherings, and if neither of the following is your speed (or within your price range), feel free to coordinate your own get-together!

• Disneyland!
  • Sort of an all-day thing, starting at roughly 11:00 a.m.
• KBBQ
  • 5:00 p.m., restaurant TBD

So far, that’s it for events. There’s a lot to do at BlizzCon, and I recommend just playing things by ear rather than trying to hit as many things as possible. Make it a fun, relaxing time, not a checklist. For those attending, which social events will you be heading to? Are there any we left off this list?

Let us know! And we look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible!