Imagine, if you will, stepping out of a normal, if commonplace, day in your everyday life and entering a fantastical and glittery world of magic that only existed in your daydreams before. Imagine losing yourself to fantasy and romance, surrounded by those who truly understand and appreciate your passions and dreams. Imagine getting to finally meet the authors who have created the worlds in which we can disappear for a few hours and let our imaginations roam to distant, fantastical lands populated with the beings and creatures of fairy tales, the wordsmiths who can whisk us away from the drear and drudgery of reality through the magic of their pens … or, nowadays, their keyboards.
Well, dear reader, imagine no more.
Thanks to Rachel Silberman of Adventure Awaits Events, an utterly enchanting event known as the Fables and Flames Romantasy Gala awaits you. This magical weekend is part convention, part gala and all immersive experience that will carry you away from the mundane and ho-hum as surely as Aladdin’s magic carpet. Think best-selling authors, ball gowns, burlesque, aerialists, mermaids and even a fire show. It is three days of respite from tasks like spreadsheets, laundry or sitting in commuter traffic on the crosstown and of losing yourself in an array of activities that will set both your mind and soul free for a few glorious hours.
Silberman told me that one of her great passions is “curating experiences — bringing people together, creating spaces where they felt seen and building community through creativity and joy.” She wanted to create an event that would truly enchant those attending, enthrall their senses and allow people to “connect in ways that feel truly special,” something that certainly seems to be the case with Fables and Flames.
With the success of the inaugural Fables and Flames in 2025, she has only built upon that concept and is anticipating the second gala to be even more spectacular. Silberman wants to give attendees the chance to feel as if they have “walked straight into the pages of their favorite story.” She said that a person who came to the event last year told her that “Fables and Flames is filling a niche that I don’t think any other con or book event has filled. It is combining two of the great loves of the geek community; both a book event with a three-day convention.”
Many of the writers attending or being featured speakers at the gala will be members of the LGBTQ+ community, writing stories and creating worlds where being LGBTQ+ is not marginalized or looked down upon. Silberman says that one of the things that she loves most about romantasy “is how much of it has been shaped and driven by women and LGBTQ+ voices. These are genres that have historically been overlooked or dismissed, but in reality, they’re some of the most innovative, inclusive and community-oriented corners of publishing.” Oftentimes, these writers tend to push boundaries and societal norms as they create their worlds, and in these worlds, “representation, identity and agency matter. You see themes of empowerment, chosen family and diverse relationships woven into the narratives, which really resonates with readers who might not have always seen themselves reflected in traditional fantasy or romance.”
Attendees will be able to wander the spacious venue and peruse numerous vendors with wares such as book-themed merchandise, handmade crafts and collectibles, and other unique treasures. Some of those scheduled to be at this year’s gala will include Briar and Spindle, Deciduous Stitchery, Out of the Woods Art, Floraemancy, Bookish Endeavors and many others to delight your senses and fuel your imagination and creativity. Silberman and her team have ensured that there will be something for everyone when it comes to shopping for mementos to take back home after a fantastical weekend. There will also be the opportunity to bring books from home to exchange for new ones, and to reconnect with old friends and make new ones at the Fables and Flames Tea Party on Saturday. Live classical music by the Bards String Quartet will set the tone for the afternoon of teas, pastries and chatting with your favorite romantasy authors. Feel free to dress in your fantasy finery if you wish!
Panels and discussions will also abound, as well as writing workshops to help aspiring writers hone their skills and ask for advice about entering the world of romantasy publishing. Mingle with authors such as Amanda Meuwissen, Alora Carter, Cassandra Medcalf, Evi James, Sable Hellebore and many more. Silberman has said that giving fresh new voices a platform to be heard is very important, as well as helping the community as a whole to grow, thrive and evolve. Bringing together established authors, aspiring authors and fans — especially those new to the genre — will play an important role in bringing the romantasy world more fully into the mainstream.
Tellingly, the gala is as much enjoyed by the participants as by the attendees! Author Amanda Meuwissen told Silberman that “this is the most fun I’ve ever had at an event. All of the activities you can partake in stand out from any other bookish events,” while author Melissa Lam said frankly that “I will riot if I don’t get to be an author in 2027.”
There will even be various themed rooms such as the Puppy and Kitty Room where you can snuggle with adorable adoptable animals, get your future read by a professional tarot reader, swim with mermaids in the hotel’s pool area, enjoy a spicy Friday night burlesque performance or be dazzled by aerialist performances by two troupes, Astral Bodies and Pinnacle Aerial Arts. If fire is what sparks your passion, Fandazzi Fire Circus will put on a blazing performance as they showcase their command of this element.
You will also have the opportunity to channel your inner artist at the Dragon Paint & Sip, to try to figure your way out of an escape room hosted by the Lodge of Lazarus Crowe, to treat yourself to some new body ink by the amazing tattoo artists from Weird Ink Society, to get your glam on with an on-site salon featuring hair stylists and makeup artists from Zensai Spa or to indulge yourself with an exquisite portrait session by Heidi Marie Photography. Fancy a chance to finally learn how to do ballroom, tango, swing or quadrille dancing? Talia Tan will be there to instruct, and you can use your newfound skills at the Fantasy Ball on Saturday night, where you can dance the night away in your finest attire to the sounds of Theology Music!
If you find yourself overwhelmed by it all, a quiet room is available all of the days to provide a tranquil space for attendees to unwind and recharge before diving back into the flurry of scheduled activities.
So, if you are looking for a weekend of magical escape, a literary world filled with fantasy and romance shared with like minds, come out for the Fables and Flames Romantasy Gala and let your dreams soar!
For tickets, visit the gala’s website at fablesandflames.com. Tickets can be purchased as a Day Pass (Friday, Saturday or Sunday), Realm Seeker (standard three-day pass) or Valiant of the Realm (VIP three-day pass).
Fables and Flames Romantasy Gala
Nov. 6-8, 2026 • Hilton Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport Hotel, 3800 American Blvd. E., Bloomington, MN 55425 • Ages 18 and older
