26th World Science Fiction Convention


The 26th World Science Fiction Convention, also known as Baycon, was held August 29-September 2, 1968, at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, California, United States.
In 1968, Worldcon, annual World Science Fiction Convention, was combined with Westercon, the annual West Coast Science Fantasy Conference, sharing guests of honor and chairmen. The chairmen were Bill Donaho, Alva Rogers, and J. Ben Stark. Author Philip José Farmer was the professional guest of honor, and Walter J. Daugherty the fan guest of honor.. The toastmaster was Robert Silverberg. Total attendance was approximately 1,430.

Awards

Hugo Awards

This Worldcon was the first one that was attended by large numbers of people in the hippie subculture. A psychedelic light show was presented in the main ballroom of the hotel. Robert Silverberg gave a speech about using LSD to attain a mystical experience. Harlan Ellison read a story he had written about a hippie commune.
Poul Anderson emceed a presentation by the Society for Creative Anachronism.
Long-time president of DAW Books, Betsy Wollheim remembers:
The high point of my childhood experience at conventions was Baycon 1968 in Oakland. I remember the excitement of it all – sliding down the fire slides, the big eucalyptus forest behind the Claremont Hotel...the tournaments on the lawn.... And I remember at the age of 16 thinking, "No convention can ever be this wonderful again, so I should never go to another." Famous last words!