Howard Days Starts in 7 Weeks!`

 

Yep, we've got seven weeks left until the "official" start to Howard Days! We say "official" because, in truth, we've got a bunch of activity happening on Thursday June 11 that "unofficially" makes Howard Days 2026 a 3-day event.

As always, the Robert E. Howard Museum is open on the Thursday before from 2 to 4. (Maybe even earlier). It's hard to say if this is an "official" opening, as there is not any registration or are there any docents on duty in the house. However, the Gift Shop is open, so get a jump on new Howard stuff! And the grounds and Pavilion are open all day to everyone - and help is always needed setting up tables and chairs. (Thanks in advance - cokes are on us!)

A lot of us hang at the Pavilion starting on Thursday - it is a great time for REH Fellowship, meeting up with old and new friends and just being content with having made it to Cross Plains! We have a number of foreign visitors this year, along with a big ol' number of first-time attendees - and this is a wonderful way to get to know them and welcome them to the Howard House. Plus we can help out the local stores and restaurants!

While trying not to use "official" or "un-official" to death (too late) Thursday is also the inaugural kick-off of The Emerging Writers Workshop. This will be held at the Cottonwood Downtown Cafe at 240 Main Street in Cross Plains on Thursday, June 11th from 10am to 3pm. There are preliminary requirements for this workshop, due by May 10, so get crackin'! All of the exact details can be found here: https://heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?id=1180.

So, whether "official" or "un-official" (sorry) is the word, Thursday has become the third day of Howard Days. And it'll be here in a blink of an eye!

Speaking of dates, do you have your Celebration Banquet ticket yet? Now's the time to REALLY GET MOVING: there's less than a dozen left as of today. Paypal or Venmo your $35 RIGHT NOW to projpride@yahoo.com.

The Cross Plains Review has got the Howard Days merchandising machine up and running. They've created these two gorgeous promotional signs for us and are now offering a nice variety of Howard Days souvenir items at conanincrossplains.com. The Review will also be open for a tour on Friday June 13th from 9 to 12 and for a shorter time Saturday morning. Thanks to Teri Brown and her great crew!

More to come soon. We're updating the schedule and more surprise guests and info are popping up every day!

It's never too late to come to Howard Days! Hope to see you there!

TWO MONTHS to Go!!!

 With only two months until Howard Days, time's a-wastin' to start finalizing plans to join us the the Robert E. Howard Museum in Cross Plains, Texas, on June 12th & 13th (and now to include Thursday the 11th).

First and foremost here: Remember that the Friday night Celebration Banquet, held at the Cross Plains Community Center, is limited to 150 reservations. AS OF APRIL 11, THERE ARE ONLY 30 SEATS LEFT!!! This year is the fastest we've ever sold tickets, so just be warned that you need to get on the stick and place your reservation TODAY!!!

Use Paypal or Venmo to reserve your seat at projpride@yahoo,com. For only $35.00, you will be seated with interesting Howard Fans from all over the world, enjoy a great chicken-fried steak dinner, hear a talk from Rusty Burke, the founder of Howard Days, bid on exciting REH items in the Silent Auction and enjoy The Whole Wide World movie afterwards. This is the highlight of Howard Days!

So, DO NOT procrastinate, as those reservations will be gone before you know it!

For all you early birds coming in on Thursday the 11th, you can sign up for the Emerging Writers Workshop now at  https://heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?id=1180. Take advantage of Mark Finn, Jason Waltz and Adrian Simmons to provide you with an outlet for your creativity from 10-3 at the Cottonwood Downtown Cafe. Plus, it's an extra day at Howard Days! Sign up now and join the fun.

We've got more info to impart about panels & guests in our next posts. For now, here's this year's Postal Cancellation artwork, which looks suspiciously like the poster. This Rusty Burke feller may have had something to do with The Best Two Days in Howard Fandom!

10 Weeks Until Howard Days!

 Howard Days is usually a two day affair chock full of all things REH, but this year we're including Thursday, June 11th as the "unofficial" start to all the festivities. For all you aspiring authors, it's time to sign up for The 2026 Emerging Writers Workshop, to be held on Thursday at Howard Days!

All of the exact details can be found here: https://heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?id=1180

The workshop will be held at the Cottonwood Downtown Cafe at 240 Main Street in Cross Plains on Thursday, June 11th from 10am to 3pm.

Your instructors will be Mark Finn, Adrian Simmons and Jason Waltz, notables all in both the World of REH and fiction writing. 

The cost is only $50.00 for the workshop, discussion and written critique. And the bulk of this fee is going as a donation to the ongoing Howard House Preservation Project. Info for this can be found at www.rehfoundation.com.

So get those Underwood No. 5's clacking away and sign up today. Onward to Howard Days!

The Cottonwood Cafe is an ideal location for a writer's workshop!