Category Archives: Events

Hopping Across the Countries Coast to Coast

Another busy CSTS weekend with 6 events in 2 days.

Halifax is back with 2 back to back screenings of Serenity, as well as Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, a silent auction, merchandise for sale, trivia contest and door prizes. Come in costume and be immortalized by their very talented photographer! There will even be a Hero of Canton sing-along. Halifax is known for getting unusual auction items such as the Kaylee Special. (It runs on batteries);-). They will have a wide assortment of unique Tshirts and a comic signed by both Nathan and Adam. If you are in the area, it is not to be missed.

Sandy Utah is having its first CSTS event ever and it is already sold out! Serenity will be showing in an intimate 56 seat theater and will be accompanied by a raffle and an auction with shiny goods that have to be seen to be believed.… Read more…

Four very Different Events

The weekend of Sept. 13-14 sees a wide assortment of CSTS events. Montreal is back with its first event since 2006 and it promises to be worth the wait! It is happening within Montreal Comic-Con so if you weren’t going to attend, you might want to think again! Tickets are only $10.00 to get in CSTS Montreal but you do need to be attending Montreal Comic Con already. There will be a showing of Serenity, a costume contest, prizes for trivia, an auction, Dr. Horrible’s Singalong Blog and a few special things for sale.

The Beeston Browncoats can always be counted on to run a fun Affiliate event.This year they even have their event on the same day that SyFYUK is showing Serenity. Coincidence? Maybe. Or maybe SyFyUK recognizes the perfect time to show the film!… Read more…

From Rhode Island to Utah

It’s been a long time since Rhode Island had their very own Can’t Stop The Serenity Screening, so be sure not to miss it on Saturday Sept. 6th! It’s being held in the Columbus Theatre, an historic Opera House in Providence. Just imagine how great people cosplaying Captain Tightpants and Kaylee in her dress will look in a setting like that! Besides showing Serenity, the RI Sci-Fi Club will also be hosting a food drive – bringing food items gets you a free raffle ticket! And what a raffle! Prizes will even include something signed by Joss Whedon himself.
Tickets can be bought here.

The Utah Browncoats are bringing an Affiliate event to Salt Lake City Comic Con. Dr. Horrible will be shown on Saturday, Sept, 6th.… Read more…

Why Can’t Stop the Serenity, Part V

(Moon, who has been running Denver’s CSTS since the beginning tells us why.)

I’ve been asked many times over the last nine years, why I organize the Denver CSTS screenings. My stock answer is something along the lines of, “I’m a Browncoat,” “It’s for Joss’ birthday,” or “Equality Now is a wonderful charity that fights for the rights of women and girls all over the world!” While these statements are true and I always say them with a smile, it’s only part of the story that drives me to continue working with CSTS and Equality Now. Personally, I do it for my mother, the strongest and bravest woman I’ve ever known.

My mother, Sim Chae Yop, was born 1943 in a small fishing village in what we now call South Korea.… Read more…

CSTS In the Southern U.S.

On Saturday Aug 23, the SRF Browncoats are hosting a screening at the Hurricane Bar & Grill in Miami Springs, Florida. There will be raffles, Dr. Horrible, Serenity and a local fan group will be hosting a Firefly themed Wheel of Fortune Game. The Hurricane has a full menu and bar. There is no admission for entry but hey – this is a fundraiser, so donations will be gladly accepted in cash, checks, paypal and credit cards. There will be special gifts for all who donate $25.00 or more.Even more details here.

On Sunday, the North Texas Browncoats are back with Can’t Stop The Music, an evening of awesome live music, burlesque and a showing of Dr. Horrible. The fun starts with Dr. Horrible at 6:00 with the last musicians starting at 12:30.… Read more…

Nine Events in only Four Days

Minneapolis is never content to do a screening like most other cities. Instead, for many years now, they have three screenings in a row. Everything starts on Thursday Aug 14 with Dr. Horrible at 7:45 and Serenity at 9:35. On both Friday and Saturday the events starts later – with Serenity being shown at 11:30 both nights. Please note that this is a cash only event so bring lots! Which screening will you attend?

Portland also feels that one screening is never enough, so they are holding 2 screenings in one day, Aug. 16th.
Both the afternoon and the evening events feature Dr. Horrible and Serenity as well as raffles with awesome prizes. Tickets can be bought online.

Browncoats all recognize the importance of Shindigs so Pittsburgh is starting their screening not at the theater but up the street at Fredo’s Market Deli from 3-5.… Read more…

Why Can’t Stop The Serenity, Part IV

Peepiecheep answers the question.

On July 6th this year, a team of dedicated volunteers ran a Can’t Stop the Serenity event in Leicester, UK. It was the first time since 2008 that an event had been held in the city. Last time we raised over $300 for Equality Now, this year we raised 4 times as much, both for EN and for our local women’s aid charity. It’s hard work, and it takes up a lot of our spare time, but it’s worth it.

Why? Because equality matters.

Equality, and the fight to achieve it for all, is important. For every woman who cannot fight, who finds her life and her choices dictated for her; for every girl who has been denied an education due to her gender; for every pre-teen who has been married off to a man three times her age; for every victim of rape and violence and oppression; we will help fight for them.… Read more…

Raleigh is Already a Hit

Can’t Stop The Serenity is still flying in Raleigh, North Carolina where it looks to be a sold out event for the 5th year running, on Sunday July 27.

This is their 9th year so you know they are doing something right! Those lucky enough to have a ticket are urged to come early and have food and drink with your fellow Browncoats before the raffle and costume contest get underway. Yes, costumes! Dust off your duds and come dressed as an inhabitant of the ‘Verse. Following the raffle and contest will be a showing of the big damn movie, Serenity.

But before you head over, if you don’t have a ticket, be sure to check the website to see if any are left.

UPDATE: Raleigh is sold out!… Read more…

Make a Weekend of It

As temperatures rise in North America, cities in Canada and the United States are adding to the heat. (Luckily all events are air-conditioned!)

On Friday night Halifax, Nova Scotia is showing Seasons 1-3 of the Guild. Tickets are only $5.00 and attendees will have their names added to the door prize draw at the main event in September – bonus chances to win some great stuff! Concessions will be available.

Down the coast Can’t Stop the Serenity is returning to Washington, D.C. on Saturday with doors opening at 11:00 AM.
This year’s event includes Serenity & Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along-Blog, a costume contest for best dressed Firefly/Serenity character & a second costume contest for best dressed as any character from any Joss Whedon production. There will also be raffles, door prizes, and a silent auction!… Read more…

Denver’s Ninth Season

Denver’s Can’t Stop The Serenity has the weekend all to themselves and with everything they have planned – they need that time & space! This is their 9th year and they have planned a shiny night full of “good works”, to benefit Equality Now.

The SIE Film Center will play host on Saturday, July 12th. Event activities include a pre-screening shindig in the Henderson Lounge, Serenity and Dr. Horrible on the big screen, a costume contest, and huge raffle for shiny items donated by generous Sponsors.

Last year’s Jayne’s Hat Mob was big but they are hoping to beat that so remember to bring your “cunning hat!”

Denver’s special ticket packages “Big Damn Hero” and “The ‘Verse” have sold out already, so you might want to buy your ticket in advance as the event normally sells out before the day of the screening.… Read more…

Three Countries, Three Screenings

The weekend of July 4-6 sees three shiny screenings in Canada, the United States and England.
First up chronologically is Toronto. The Royal Cinema once again plays host to an afternoon of Serenity, door prizes, and an auction full of unique items. Tickets are only $12.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door. The screening will be followed by a shindig at a nearby pub but RSVPs are neccessary for the shindig.

Albuquerque has a very full day planned on Saturday. Besides shiny shopping, raffles, an auction, a shindig, Serenity, catered dinner available for purchase at the theatre, there is also comedy and music! Comedians Drew Wayne and Genevieve Mueller will open the event and Mikey Mason will play right before the dinner break. Costume are encouraged and anyone who buys their ticket in advance gets a Fruity Oaty bar and other shiny swag!… Read more…

Bookending a Birthday

Continuing the celebration of Joss’s birthday, 3 U.S. cities are holding their events this weekend. Their names also all start with N but the similarities end there!

The Nashville/Murfreesboro event is a concert featuring The Secret Commonwealth and Kasey Lansdale. There will also be a raffle and auction and probably a few surprises. Tickets will be available at the door.

Norfolk, Virginia is putting on a big damn shindig, also on June 28th. It starts at the Naro Cinema with a showing of Serenity in Hi Def. Doesn’t matter how many times you have seen Serenity. You owe it to yourself to see it digitally. You’ll see & hear content you never knew existed.There’s a costume contest and rumours of a silent auction; a showing of Dr.… Read more…

Make the World a Better Place (and Have Fun Doing It)

Morgan B, age 12 wrote this essay for school. We think you will be in awe at this young woman’s grasp of what is important.

We all know that sometimes terrible things happen in the world, but did you know that in many countries women have almost no rights? In places like Yemen, Sudan, and Pakistan, young girls may be beaten, married, or even sentenced to death by their own families with few or no legal consequences. However, human rights organizations like Equality Now are working to change that. Can’t Stop The Serenity is a series of movie screenings held annually to benefit Equality Now. Serenity is a Sci-fi movie created by Joss Whedon, so if you are a Whedon fan and care about women’s rights, you should definitely come to a CSTS event near you.… Read more…

Perth Sells Out

Perth S-F fans are keen! Despite getting a venue that is twice the size as last year’s, the Perth CSTS Affiliate event for May 15 sold out well before it is scheduled to run.

Those lucky enough to get a ticket are in for a treat. It is a Sci-Fi quiz night with loads of great prizes from local sponsors and a heap of swag including an item signed by Jewel Staite.
There is an auction and raffles to add to the fun.

We’re looking forward to hearing some of the quiz questions!… Read more…

The First Event of the Season – in South Wales!

It is always a great moment when CSTS starts up for the year. This year it is doubly exciting because it is a new event.

The Valley Browncoats in Wales are having a screening on April 14th. It’s being held in Blackwood and it promises to be great.
It is, of course, Easter Break and so this is an event for the whole family to begin with. For kids of all ages there are activities like Mask painting while the older ones can try out the new Serenity Board Game.

Firefly themed food will be available including Fruity Oaty Bars and Mudders Milk. (Non-alcoholic for the young’ns).

Join a team to challenge your knowledge of all things Whedon and Sci-Fi related and buy some shiny merchandise including hand crafted keyrings and earrings.… Read more…

Why ‘Can’t Stop the Serenity’?

Last May Vancouver Organizer Samatwitch wrote about why Vancouver holds CSTS events each year. Thanks to her for giving us permission to reprint this from their website.

Why do we do this? Why do organisers spend so much time and money for each event? Why do people volunteer, paying for their own tickets to do so? Why do Browncoats – and others – keep coming out to CSTS events?

Partly of course, because the events are fun. Each city is different and has ideas and plans that work for them. A lot of people come out to see Serenity on the big screen or to sing along to Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Some people come to spend an afternoon or day with their friends at a fun event – or to bid on an auction item they can’t find anywhere else, especially handmade items.

Read more…

Registration for 2014 Events is Open!

2014 marks our 9th Annual CSTS season and we are looking forward to welcoming our fellow Browncoats, whether veterans of the cause or new organizers! We are grateful and excited that folks are interested in holding their own CSTS events to raise money for Equality Now.

Registration is open now, so you can start planning a Can’t Stop the Serenity event for 2014. All the information you need to get you started can be found in the Host An Event section on the menu above.

Most CSTS events are known as “Screening Events” where Joss Whedon’s “Serenity” is shown on the big screen in conjunction with auctions, raffles, contests, merchandise sales and other multimedia (pending licensing arrangements).

If you’re unable to organize a Screening Event (due to funds, location or proximity to other Browncoats), an Affiliate event may be the answer.… Read more…

The Final Screening of the Season

Salt Lake City is seeing the CSTS event season out with style!

On Oct. 26th,the Utah Browncoats will gather to see Serenity once again. There will be an auction and raffle and some shiny swag for sale. Firefly/Serenity costumes are very much encouraged!

Tickets are $10.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door.… Read more…

Philadelphia has a Horrible Time

On Saturday, Oct. 12, CSTS Philly will be showing Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog. The fun starts at 2:00. $10.00 advance tickets are only for sale until the end of Wednesday Oct. 9th, then they are $15.00 at the door.

There will be a costume contest with two categories – come as a character from the show, or invent your own Super Villian, Hero or Side-kick! There are also games, snacks,& raffle items. … Read more…

Taking over the Weekend

The Rivers and Bridges Brigade of Pennsylvania just can’t let CSTS go! In one last big hurrah, they are having several events at the Pittsburgh Comin Con. They have a CSTS Pittsburgh table on the convention floor at the Monroeville Convention Center all three days, where you can play the “Badger’s Dodgy Dice” game from this year’s Serenity screening to win wicked cool prizes, purchase CSTS 2013 t-shirts, enter a raffle to win one of three great prize baskets and sign up to participate on a team at Sunday morning’s “Hammer vs. Horrible” games.

Immediately following the games on Sunday, they’ll be screening “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” at noon.
Admission to Sunday’s CSTS events is free of charge, but those who wish to attend must purchase admission to the Pittsburgh Comicon.… Read more…

A Busy Busy Weekend

It may be mid-September but Can’t Stop The Serenity shows no sign of slowing down! And in our typical display of Globalism, events are in 3 countries this weekend.

We’ll start with Nowra, Australia. The Shoalhaven Browncoats are back for their 2nd year with doors opening at 5:00 and the event starting at 6:00. There will be food, a best dressed competition, an auction and sales. The Shoalhaven zoo has donated a family pass, a $50.00 item right there & there will be other exciting items. The main features will be Serenity of course as well as Dr. Horrible’s Singalong Blog.

Speeding around the world, we land at Miami Springs who are holding their first CSTS event although the Organizers are old hands at making CSTS fun.The… Read more…

We need your opinion!

Currently, any Browncoat group that does a CSTS event, whether a full screening or an Affiliate event, donates at least 75% to Equality Now and up to 25% to other registered charities. A few events have expressed a desire to donate more than 25% to other charities. The CSTS Steering Committee and the 2013 Global team recognize that this is a big decision and everyone should be allowed to have their say.

There will be a discussion about this on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, in the CSTS Forums and on the website until the end of Sept at which time there will be a poll for all to vote.

Emotions can run high when it is something important to you, but let’s make sure the conversation stays civil.… Read more…

September Heats Up

We started September with an awesome event in London but this coming weekend sees two screenings and an Affiliate.

It is always a great time with the Chicagoland Browncoats and this year will be no different. The Screening this year is at the Genesee Theatre with ample parking, and public transit to get you there. There will be an stupendous silent auction (check the website for details and pictures), a costume contest, Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog and of course, Serenity. All Whedonverse characters are welcome for the contest. We hear rumours of a special video too- one which can only be seen at the Chicagoland screening.

The Alberta Browncoats are back with another Affiliate event, this time showing seasons 1-3 of the Guild at the Happy Harbour Comic shop.… Read more…

London brings back CSTS

Saturday, Sept. 7th, The Londinium Browncoats welcome all to the Jet Lag Bar. There will be a showing of Serenity & Dr. Horrible but that’s not all!

Put together your favourite Whedonite costume for the cosplay competition. Brush on your Firefly/Serenity facts for the Quiz and hold onto your tickets for the raffle. The Londinium Browncoats have been getting shiny prizes for the raffle from around the world.

And just when you think that will be it, there’s an afterparty!

Please note this is an over 18 event only. … Read more…

From the Atlantic Ocean to the Desert

Saturday Aug 17 is a busy busy day for Can’t Stop the Serenity with three events running.

First up, with the doors opening at 4:00, is a Mighty Fine Shindig put on by the South Florida Browncoats. There will be raffles, merchandise, Serenity of course and a lot of mixing and mingling. A costume contest is sure to please as will a screening of Dr. Horible.

Further up the coast, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, they aren’t satisfied to show Serenity and Dr. Horrible once! Nope, these Browncoats are offering a chance to see everything twice! Doors open at 4:30 with Dr. Horrible at 5:00, followed by Serenity at 6:00. Or you may prefer go to the later shows starting at 9:00. In between there will be a silent auction.… Read more…