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Long Island Doctor Who Convention Outgrows Venue

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Fans of the British hit sci-fi TV show Doctor Who dressed up as their favorite characters at the second annual Long Island Dr. Who Convention at the Clarion Hotel in Ronkonkoma Nov. 7-9, 2014 (Photos by Joe Nuzzo)

Hundreds of Doctor Who fans packed the Clarion Hotel in Ronkonkoma for the second annual sold out convention on Long Island dedicated to the long-running British sci-fi hit TV show this weekend.

Growing pains were evident this year with the convention filling all three floors and all meeting rooms in the hotel on Veteran Memorial Highway. The convention even expanded beyond hotel grounds, with some events held in heated outdoor tents. And fans are already eagerly awaiting the third installment next year—tickets for which go on sale this month.

“Looking forward to #LIWho 3,” Gallifreyan Gazette, a New England-based sci-fi blog website specializing in Doctor Who, said in a post on Twitter. “Bought tickets before I left the convention and now the long wait till next year.”

Dr. Who, has aired on the BBC since 1963, taking a break only between 1989 and 2005. Over the years the main character, Dr. Who, a time traveling alien whose personal mission is to protect the human race, has been portrayed by a total of 13 different actors.

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Fans of British hit sci-fi TV show Doctor Who dress up as their favorite characters at the second annual Long Island Dr. Who Con at the Clarion Hotel in Ronkonkoma Nov. 7-9, 2014 (Photos by Joe Nuzzo)

Fans of the series crowded into rooms to hear featured guests such as Colin Baker, the shows sixth doctor, joke around and share stories with his former costar, Nicola Bryant. Also on hand was Dr. Who’s eighth doctor, Paul McGann, along with many other notable guests.

Once again, fans of the show engaged in cosplay—short for costume play—by dressing up as their favorite heroes and villains from Dr. Who. The cosplayers were happy to stop to take pictures, act out scenes with one another and prepare for the various costume contests held over the three-day convention.

Of course, no convention would be complete without a vendor floor filled with Dr. Who and other sci-fi genre merchandise. However, the longest line seemed to be the line for the pre-sale of tickets to next year’s show.

The Long Island Dr. Who convention is scheduled to return Nov. 13-15, 2015. The show is also moving to a larger venue, the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge. Tickets go on sale online Nov. 23 via the convention website, longislanddoctorwho.com.