Category: CoCoFEST!

34th Annual “Last” CoCoFEST Update

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

We are now less than 30 days away from the 34th annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST. I want to provide some last-minute updates for the fest. Like always, I am always open to suggestions to make this the best CoCoFEST. Remember, we are doing this for you, the CoCo community.

VENDOR TABLES

As of writing this update, we still have a few tables in the ballroom. We have five 8-foot tables, and three 6-foot tables left in the ballroom. We also have several tables in hallway. If you have been thinking about getting a table, now is the time to get one. The last day to get a table will be April 6th.

HOTEL

The hotel has added additional rooms to our room block. They’ve also extended the deadline to book the rooms at discounted rates to April 13th. Now is the time to book your hotel room for CoCoFEST before time runs out. Remember to use the group code G22 when you book your hotel room online, or you can call the hotel directly.

SPEAKERS

I still have a couple of slots available if someone wants to give a presentation at this years CoCoFEST. If you are interested, please contact me at cocofest@glensideccc.com. I will be releasing the final schedule soon. This year’s headliners will be Jim Brain, and

DINNER

We are asking everyone to pre-register on Tandylist. This will allow us to have your name pre-printed on the badges, and your name will be entered for a cash prize to be used at vendor at CoCoFEST. Plus, if you want to join us for the Saturday dinner, this is where you can purchase it. The dinner is $42 a person, and we will have a limited number of extra tickets to sell on the day of the dinner, so make sure to purchase now to secure your dinner.

Menu:

  • Caesar Salad
  • Meat Lasagna
  • Pasta Alfredo
  • Roasted Vegetables
  • Tiramisu
  • Rolls and Butter
  • Soda, Tea, and Coffee

AUCTION

We are still looking for items for the BIG auction. If you want to donate items for the auctions contact myself at cocofest@glensideccc.com and I will arrange to have the items shipped. Remember, we will reimburse shipping fees. We will find a good home for your old Color Computers and we will keep them out of the landfills. This also helps fund future CoCoFEST.  

If anyone has any questions or concerns, you may reach out to me at cocofest@glensideccc.com. I am looking forward to seeing you all in a couple of weeks in Chicago at CoCoFEST!!!!!

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The 34th “Last” Annual Chicago CoCoFEST Official T-Shirts and Other Items

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

Make sure that you get your official t-shirt for this year’s CoCoFest. Please visit https://glensideccc.myspreadshop.com to order your t-shirt today. You can also order several other items other than T-shirts. They are having a promotion this weekend, February 28 – March 1, they are giving 30% off your order. Remember that each purchase that is made helps fund CoCoFest.  I want to thank Ron Delvaux for creating the great design for this year’s CoCoFest.

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34th Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFest! Update

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

I hope everyone is having a great new year and enjoyed watching the virtual CoCoFest last weekend. Now it’s time to start planning for the 34th Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFest. This year we will be celebrating 40 years of the Tandy Color Computer 3. So, the theme this year will be the CoCo 3.

 TABLE REGISTRATION

Table registration will open for everyone on February 15th, at 3PM CST at Tandylist. The prices of the tables will stay the same as last year.

                Hallway Table                 6ft          $30

                Ballroom Table              6ft          $40

                Ballroom Table              8ft          $50

 One big change that we are making this year is if you decide to mail in your payment, it must be received by the treasurer within three weeks of registration. This will prevent the problems that we had last year of people reserving tables and paying at the door and then not showing up.

SPEAKERS

I am currently looking for people to give presentations at this year’s CoCoFest. If you are interested in giving a presentation, please reach out to me, Grant Leighty at cocofest@glensideccc.com, or on Discord.

DINNER

This year’s dinner will be a taste of Italy. The price will be a little cheaper this year at $42. This year’s menu is:

  • Caesar Salad
  • Meat Lasagna
  • Pasta Alfredo
  • Roasted Vegetables
  • Tiramisu
  • Rolls and Butter
  • Soda, Tea, and Coffee

DONATIONS

This is a great time to start cleaning out closets and seeing if you have anything that you want to donate to the auction. The auction is how we fund the CoCoFest each year, and your donations help us put on a great show each year. If you cannot attend this year, but you have items to donate please email me at cocofest@glensideccc.com. We do pay for shipping items or arrange to pick up items.

We are still in the planning stages of this years CoCoFest, so if you have any questions or ideas, I want to hear them. This is your show, so if you want to see or do something different this year, then let me know. Just email me at cocofest@glensideccc.com. I look forward to see everyone in a few short months at the 34th  annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFest.

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CoCoFEST 34 Hotel Information

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

I am happy to announce that we have signed the contract will the hotel for next year’s CoCoFEST. We will be having it at the same location as the past several years. They have kept the room rates at the same prices as last year, and you can start booking the room today. I will be updating the CoCoFEST website page later this week, but I wanted to get this out to everyone this weekend. This year’s code to get the in the room block at the discount rate is G22. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to myself, Grant Leighty at cocofest@glensideccc.com.

The room block dates are Wednesday April 22, 2026 – Sunday April 26, 2026

King Bed Deluxe Room: $124.00 +tax a night

Two Queen Beed Deluxe Room: $124.00 +tax a night

Two Room King Beds Suite with pull out Sofa: $144.00

Two Room Queen Beds Suites with pull out Sofa: $154.00

The last day to book your room is March 30th at Midnight

Click the picture above for additional information about the hotel.

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CoCoFEST! Eve

Posted on | by Jim Brain

‘Twas the night before CoCoFEST, when all through the hall
The prez had just closed the room with “last call!”;
The computers were arranged on the tables with care,
In hopes that there would be some power to spare;

The faithful’d arrived via drive, ride, or flight,
Enjoying the chatting far into the night;
The emcee had long ago left for some sleep,
To get up early for a show time to keep.

We’ve projects aplenty, for attendees to view,
And relevant talks from voices both old and new.
There’s vendors in spades, with something to sell,
I may’ve snapped up bargains, I’ll never tell.

If you can’t come Friday, don’t you dare start to fret,
We’ve a complete second day, so time you have yet.
With double the fun, and double the talk,
I dare you to find a reason to balk.

The auction’s the highlight of our second day,
Jason’s back to drive up prices, in his special way.
The meal has been catered, if you paid for your share,
Then back to the hall and music jam if you dare.

Now, CoCo! now, MC-10! now, Dragon! and Alice!
Choose your favorite, but don’t harbor malice.
All are good friends with a passion to show,
We hope you’ll leave here much more in the know.

So, come to the fest, in person or on line,
Your presence alone will make the show shine,
But, take all your stuff, pack it out as you dash,
We’d hate to render precious items into the trash.

Have a great time, with friends new and old,
Try something new, go big and go bold.
Learn something new, go from not knowing to clear
Do this again, at about this time next year!

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10 TODAY = CoCoFEST – 3

Posted on | by Jim Brain

I’m writing this as I pack up for the show, and I assume others are as well, especially if they have long drives. It’s 2025, the 45th anniversary of the birth of the CoCo (unless you count the proto CoCo units), and all the snow has melted, so it’s time for the fest.

With our expanded Friday/Saturday schedule this year, I’m excited about our schedule and having more time to exhibit, visit with friends, and hopefully catch a few more presentations (I’m always running around and so have trouble catching them live.) Where you are attending physically or virtually, I hope you enjoy the new format. As always, though, these things are experiments, so let us know how you get on with the 2025 show.

It’s not every year that a piece of history shows up at the fest, but 2024 saw Brian Wieseler and L. Curtis Boyle show off a working rare Color Computer Deluxe. Seeing a boot screen that gives TI 99/4A boot vibes is a bit unnerving, but it’s interesting to think of what might have been:

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