Given the festival is 9 months away this might be a bit premature but the 20th anniversary of the HP Lovecraft Film fest in Portland is this October. I have been going off and on for 12 years and it has always been a good time. I saw some great movies and some terrible movies and some movies that were terrible but great. In the last few years they have expanded the non film track and I was able to attend a few seminars with Ken Hite and Sandy Peterson so it is just not strictly movies. Plenty of panels and art shows and side events. Plus you get to check out Portland and witness the epic sea of beards and hipsters and bearded hipsters that is this city. Plenty of good places to eat and drink as well for those looking to do something other than consume massive quantities of movies and seminars and beard watch.
The guest of honor this year is Charles Stross. I expect the lineup to swell with plenty of great guests and events as we close in on the event.
They have done a kickstarter the last few years and if attending I highly recommend doing that so you don't have to wait in the line to get your ticket opening night. It is not gencon levels of crazy but it also not a walk in the park.
http://hplfilmfestival.com/portland-or