Winter Fantasy has a long and storied history. TSR launched D&D in 1974 – there were various things that came out before that contributed to, and influenced, what would be known as the ‘Brown Box’ but D&D officially became a thing in 1974. TSR already owned, and was running Gen Con (1968) at the time and in the mid-70’s started 3 other shows. Spring Revel (1979), Autumn Revel, and Winter Fantasy (1977). This gave TSR an event in each quarter of the year. Through the years some of those would merge together, not run one year and then come back the next, and eventually fade away. Two of them would stand the test of time – Gen Con and Winter Fantasy. In 1997 TSR declared bankruptcy which started the process of Wizards of the Coast (Wotc) acquiring TSR and D&D. Gen Con was eventually spun off to Peter Adkinson in 2002 (they seem to have done okay with it). Winter Fantasy was taken over by Baldman Games in 2005 but was still funded/owned by Wotc through 2012. In 2013 Winter Fantasy was handed over to Baldman Games fully as Wotc fully moved into “we attend events we don’t run events”.
Through the decades everybody that is somebody in the D&D sphere has probably attended Winter Fantasy at one point. Open any edition Player’s Handbook and the names in the front were on a guest list. The first Official Invitational AD&D Master Tournament was held at Winter Fantasy 2 in 1978. In 1980 the Role Playing Game Association (RPGA) was formed and promptly staked its claim on Winter Fantasy as its home base. From the RPGA sprang the idea of a ‘Living’ campaign which lead to Living City, Death, Jungle in the 90’s and the launch of Living Greyhawk in 2000 alongside 3rd edition of D&D. First preview of Living Greyhawk – Winter Fantasy 2000 with the creators of 3rd edition in a back room.
Organized play quickly took over the RPGA, and Winter Fantasy. Living Greyhawk lead to Living Forgotten Realms, Green Regent, Living Force, D&D Adventurers League, and the latest incarnation Legends of Greyhawk. Through all of those the premieres, sneak peeks, special events, campaign meetings, and awards have all run through Winter Fantasy.
Winter Fantasy has always been setup as a smaller intimate show. It is for the super fans. The core D&D organized play fanbase. The movers and the shakers – the ones who get things done – the heartbeat of organized play – they’re all here.
So as we like to say – Welcome Home – your current and future family is waiting for you in the cold of Winter.
| Show | Year | Location | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Fantasy 1 | 1977 | Legion Hall – Lake Geneva | Organized by Rob Kuntz |
| Winter Fantasy 2 | 1978 | Legion Hall – Lake Geneva | First Official Invitational AD&D Master Tournament |
| Winter Fantasy 3 | 1979 | Legion Hall – Lake Geneva | Second Official Invitational AD&D Master Tournament |
| Winter Fantasy 4 | 1980 | Legion Hall – Lake Geneva | Third Official Invitational AD&D Master Tournament |
| Winter Fantasy 5 | 1981 | Legion Hall – Lake Geneva | |
| Winter Fantasy 6 | 1982 | Legion Hall – Lake Geneva | |
| Winter Fantasy 7 | 1983 | Legion Hall – Lake Geneva | |
| Winter Fantasy 8 | 1984 | American Resort – Lake Geneva | Combined with Spring Revel |
| Winter Fantasy 9 | 1985 | American Resort – Lake Geneva | |
| Winter Fantasy 10 | 1986 | American Resort – Lake Geneva | |
| Winter Fantasy 11 | 1987 | ||
| Winter Fantasy 12 | 1988 | ||
| Winter Fantasy 13 | 1989 | Becomes the ‘Home’ show for the RPGA | |
| Winter Fantasy 14 | 1990 | Ramada Inn Airport – Milwaukee | |
| Winter Fantasy 15 | 1991 | ||
| Winter Fantasy 16 | 1992 | MECCA – Milwaukee | |
| Winter Fantasy 17 | 1993 | MECCA – Milwaukee | |
| Winter Fantasy 18 | 1994 | Hyatt Regency – Milwaukee | |
| Winter Fantasy 19 | 1995 | Hyatt Regency – Milwaukee | |
| Winter Fantasy 20 | 1996 | MECCA – Milwaukee | Living Death Premiere |
| Winter Fantasy 21 | 1997 | Wisconsin Center – Milwaukee | Canceled – TSR Bankruptcy |
| Winter Fantasy 22 | 1998 | Chicago, IL | |
| Winter Fantasy 23 | 1999 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 24 | 2000 | Fort Wayne, IN | 3rd Edition Previews |
| Winter Fantasy 25 | 2001 | Fort Wayne, IN | Return to the Temple Previews |
| Winter Fantasy 26 | 2002 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 27 | 2003 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 28 | 2004 | New Jersey | Sea of Dust Living Greyhawk Special |
| Winter Fantasy 29 | 2005 | Crystal City, VA | Baldman Games takes over Organizing |
| Winter Fantasy 30 | 2006 | Crystal City, VA | |
| Winter Fantasy 31 | 2007 | Crystal City, VA | Renamed to D&D Experience |
| Winter Fantasy 32 | 2008 | Crystal City, VA | D&D 4th Edition Public Preview |
| Winter Fantasy 33 | 2009 | Fort Wayne, IN | Living Forgotten Realms Launch |
| Winter Fantasy 34 | 2010 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 35 | 2011 | Fort Wayne, IN | Ashes of Athas Launch |
| Winter Fantasy 36 | 2012 | Fort Wayne, IN | D&D Next Public Playtest |
| Winter Fantasy 37 | 2013 | Fort Wayne, IN | Renamed back to Winter Fantasy |
| Winter Fantasy 38 | 2014 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 39 | 2015 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 40 | 2016 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 41 | 2017 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 42 | 2018 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 43 | 2019 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 44 | 2020 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 45 | 2021 | Fort Wayne, IN | Online Only |
| Winter Fantasy 46 | 2022 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 47 | 2023 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 48 | 2024 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 49 | 2025 | Fort Wayne, IN | |
| Winter Fantasy 50 | 2026 | Fort Wayne, IN | ???? |