Just one month until Howard Days 2010, REH fans. REHupa and the REH Foundation are working with Project Pride to prepare for the most important annual gathering of REH fans in Cross Plains, Texas. Since 1986, people have come from all around the world on the second weekend in June to render homage to the life and writings of Texan author Robert E. Howard.

Here’s a summary of the schedule:

FRIDAY JUNE 11

8:30 – 9 am: Coffee and donuts at the Pavilion, compliments of Project Pride

9 am – 4 pm: Robert E. Howard House Museum open to the public.

9 am – 4 pm: REH Postal Cancellation at Cross Plains Post Office

9 am – 11 am: Walking Tour of Cross Plains

9:30 am – 12 Noon: Bus Tour of Cross Plains area

10 am – 5 pm: Cross Plains Public Library open

Noon: Lunch hosted by Project Pride. Donations Welcome.

Noon to 4 pm: Pavilion available for REH items Swap Meet

1:00 pm: PANEL: The Illustrators of REH

3 pm: PANEL: The Evolutionary Heroes of Robert E. Howard

5:30 – 6:30: Silent Auction items available for viewing & bidding at Banquet site

6:30: Robert E. Howard Celebration Banquet at the Cross Plains Community Center, featuring Guests of Honor Jim & Ruth Keegan

Following the Banquet & Silent Auction: The First Annual Robert E. Howard Foundation Awards at the Cross Plains Community Center

SATURDAY JUNE 12

9 am – 4 pm: Robert E. Howard House Museum open to the public.

9 am – 4 pm: BARBARIAN FESTIVAL in the large lot North of the Dollar Store on Main St.

9 am – 11 am: Walking Tour of Cross Plains

9:30 am – 12 Noon: Bus Tour of Cross Plains area

10 am – 3 pm: Cross Plains Public Library open

10 am PANEL: The Jim & Ruth Keegan Hour

Noon to 4 pm: Pavilion available for REH items Swap Meet

Lunch & Festival Activities at your leisure during the day

1:00 pm PANEL: Paul Sammon: 51 Years in Cimmeria

3 pm PANEL: What’s Happening with REH

5 pm: Sunset BBQ at the Caddo Peak Ranch

Here’s a link to the REH Days 2010 Information Page, frequently updated by Bill “Indy” Cavalier, who recently asked Robert E. Howard fans to help out Howard Days by donating Howard and Howard-related items to the Silent Auction.

To my knowledge, at least two Cimmerian bloggers are supposed to attend, managing editor Deuce Richardson and the Venarium Award nominee Alexander Harron –whose rival in the category is none else than another Cimmerian contributor, our own Barbara Barrett.

Howard Days’ Guests of Honor will be the artists Jim and Ruth Keegan. Paul Sammon, author of Conan the Phenomenon will be there (he also attended in 2006), as well as Justin Everett and Deirdre Pettipiece, co-authors of the upcoming critical volume More Than Human: The Evolutionary Heroes of Robert E. Howard.

Also, there will be a presentation of the donations to Project Pride in the name of Dan “Painbrush” Goudey, late Robert E. Howard fan and artist. The goal was to reach $1,000 donated and we’re close. Please help if you can –even only a few bucks in these tough times– every bit counts and it is not too late. It would help to keep Howard’s legacy alive. Paypal donations can be made through the REH Foundation thanks to Paul Herman who will forward the money to Project Pride. You just need to make sure to make a notation on the payment that your donation is in the name of Dan Goudey. Here’s the link.

Since this year’s theme is “The Illustrators of Robert E. Howard,” the fine people in charge of organizing the event will also be doing something to honor the greatest of them –the best fantasy artist of the last century– the recently departed Frank Frazetta, with an appropriate tribute.

DEUCE ADDS: Our own Jeffrey Shanks just informed me that he will also be attending Howard Days this year.