The 2026
International Buster Keaton Society
Convention
Friday & Saturday, October 2nd & 3rd, 2026
Members Discount Save Now!
2026 International Buster Keaton Society Convention
Muskegon, Michigan
October 2nd & 3rd, 2026
Join the International Buster Keaton Society in Muskegon, Michigan on October 2nd & 3rd, 2026 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the movie Orson Welles called “the greatest film ever made”, Buster Keaton’s The General!
One of the screen’s greatest comedians, Keaton’s work remains as fresh and funny as it did when it first premiered in the silent days, and continues to delight audiences AND filmmakers and performers to this day, including legends like Mel Brooks, Wes Anderson, Dick Van Dyke, Johnny Knoxville, Tony award winner Bill Irwin, Jackie Chan and Steve Martin. Buster even makes cameos in the John Wick franchise and the upcoming Minions sequel, Minions & Monsters!
Each year, the members of the IBKS (known affectionately as The Damfinos), present a convention loaded with one of a kind experiences for both Keaton devotees and casual fans, culminating in a Roaring 20’s-themed speakeasy on the stage of the historic Frauenthal Theater, a fully restored grand movie palace built in 1929!
Schedule of Events
Friday, October 2, 2026
| 8:00 am – 10:00 am | Registration – The Shoreline Inn |
| 10:00 am – 11:30 am | Welcome Ceremony – Muskegon Depot / Visitor Center Greet old friends and make new ones at the train station that welcomed Buster to Muskegon back in the day. Refreshments will be available and an overview of the convention activities will be presented. |
| 11:30 am – 1:00 pm | Lunch on your own Experience some of the local fare. Your registration packet will contain some recommendations. Delight in the town of Muskegon and it’s wonderful selection of merchants, dining and entertainment! |
| 1:00 pm – 2:35 pm | Screening of Buster Keaton: Home – Muskegon Museum of Art Filmmaker Ron Pesch presents his documentary on Buster’s relationship with Muskegon, the closest thing he had to a home town. Q&A with Ron to follow the screening. |
For those taking the Bluffton tour:
| 2:35 pm – 3:15 pm | Break; Travel to tour start point at the parking lot at the end of Lakeshore Drive. https://maps.app.goo.gl/MLSYUp79oD9nKPZV6 |
| 3:15 pm – 6:15 pm | Bluffton Tour – Bluffton Take a step back in time as historian Ron Pesch leads you on a walking tour of the very streets Buster strode as a boy as you explore the site of The Actor’s Colony, a home away from home for legendary Vaudeville performers! Walking distance approx. 2 miles. Moderately strenuous. |
For those NOT taking the Bluffton tour:
| 2:35 pm – 2:45 pm | Break |
| 2:45 pm – 3:15 pm | The Birds That Fly Backwards – Muskegon Museum of Art David Weddle is an Emmy and Peabody-winning screenwriter, producer, and author whose new book focuses on his formative experiences, including first meeting Buster at age 8. “It all started with Buster,” says the longtime Damfino. |
| 3:15 pm – 3:45 pm | Buster Trivia Competition – Muskegon Museum of Art Live Keaton Trivia Game Show! Volunteers “compete” live on stage answering Buster Trivia for “valuable” prizes! |
| 3:45 pm – 4:15 pm | Analysis of Battling Butler (pre-recorded) – Muskegon Museum of Art Author David Macleod provides insight into one of the convention’s featured films. |
| 4:15 pm – 4:25 pm | Break |
| 4:25 pm – 5:00 pm | A Modern Review of Sherlock Jr – Muskegon Museum of Art Presented by Molly Greer |
| 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm | Buster Releases in Russia (pre-recorded) – Muskegon Museum of Art Rare alternate takes and camera angles from the Russian export print of The General, complete with comparisons and commentary by Russian Buster scholar Olga Egorova. |
| 5:30 pm – 6:15 pm | Medium Rare Buster – Muskegon Museum of Art Candid Camera, education shorts, and TV appearances. Content to be determined. |
For all:
| 6:15 pm – 8:00 pm | Dinner on your own Experience some of the local fare. Your registration packet will contain some recommendations. |
| 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm | Gasoline Gus screening – Muskegon Museum of Art World premiere of a restored Roscoe Arbuckle feature! |
| 9:00 pm – 10:30 pm | Paul’s Cavalcade of Stuff! – Muskegon Museum of Art Incredible Keaton rarities curated by one of the film industry’s top preservationists, Paul Gierucki! Every year Paul finds never before seen examples of Keaton’s work in film and television, many of which cannot be seen outside of the convention! |
| 10:30 pm – ??? | After Hours in the Damfino Den – The Shoreline Inn Late-night bites and big-time chatter! |
Schedule of Events
Saturday, October 3, 2026
| ??? – 10:00 am | Breakfast on your own Join us after breakfast so you don’t arrive hangry! |
| 10:00 am – 10:50 am | The General 100th Anniversary in Cottage Grove, OR – Muskegon Museum of Art A recap of August celebrations and events at the filming location of The General, presented by Lloyd Williams. |
| 10:50 am – 11:00 am | Break |
| 11:00 am – Noon | Memories of Grandpa Buster – Muskegon Museum of Art Learn amazing facts and gain insights into Buster’s private life via personal photos and reminiscences from his granddaughter, Melissa Cox Talmadge. |
| Noon – 2:00 pm | Lunch on your own Experience some of the local fare. Your registration packet will contain some recommendations |
| 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Live Auction – Muskegon Museum of Art Take part in the annual auction and possibly become the proud owner of authentic Keaton memorabilia! |
| 3:00 pm – 3:40 pm | Analysis of The General (pre-recorded) – Muskegon Museum of Art Author David Macleod provides insight into one of the convention’s featured films. |
| 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm | Rest and prepare for dinner on your own. |
| 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm | Dinner Banquet – Frauenthal Lounge |
| 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm | Feature Film Screenings – Frauenthal Theater Celebrate the 100th anniversary of two of Buster’s classic films, The General and Battling Butler, accompanied LIVE on the Frauenthal Center’s historic Barton Organ by world-renowned organist Dennis Scott! 7:30 pm – 8:45 pm – Battling Butler 8:45 pm – 9:00 pm – *Intermission* 9:00 pm – 10:15 pm – The General |
| 10:30 pm – Midnight | Speakeasy! – Frauenthal Center Stage Enjoy a wrap party with fellow Damfinos to bring the convention to a close. |
| Midnight – ??? | WAAAY-After-Hours in the Damfino Den – The Shoreline Inn Late-night bites and extra banter! |
Convention tickets are available NOW at this link, or by clicking the button on the bottom of this page, with discounts available to members of the IBKS, so why not join today! Discounted hotel information is available below. ALL are welcome to the event, so purchase your tickets today, and join us for “a little dinner and a show!”
Lodging & Accommodations: 2026 Damfinos Convention
VERY IMPORTANT CONVENTION ANNOUNCEMENT!
Registration is available for our 2026 gathering! While the convention committee finalizes the schedule of events to celebrate the centennial year for The General and Battling Butler, we want to ensure our members don’t miss out on our discounted lodging block.
A block of rooms has been reserved for the Damfinos at our host hotel. Please review the registration guidelines below to secure your accommodations early.
Group Room Rates & Availability
Discounted group rates are available to convention attendees on a first-come, first-served basis for standard room types (a mix of standard rooms with one king bed or two queen beds):
- Wednesday, September 30th: $129 / night + tax
- Thursday, October 1st: $129 / night + tax
- Friday, October 2nd: $149 / night + tax
- Saturday, October 3rd: $149 / night + tax
Please note: There is no minimum night stay required to access the Damfinos group pricing.
How to Book Your Room
To guarantee you receive the negotiated society rate, you must use one of the two following registration methods:
- Book Online: Visit our Exclusive Reservation Page to book directly through the hotel’s portal. (Note: Dedicated group booking links can occasionally be finicky on mobile devices; using a desktop web browser is highly recommended).
- Book by Phone: Call the hotel directly at 231.720.4200 and use prompt ‘5’ to speak to the front desk. When speaking with the agent, you must explicitly state that you are booking with the “Buster Keaton | Damfinos Convention” block over the weekend of October to receive the discount.
All reservations require a valid credit or debit card at the time of booking to confirm and secure your reservation. You will not be charged up front if you are concerned with immediate travel costs.
Room Block Cut-Off Deadline
- The room block closes on September 5th.
- Reservations MUST be made on or before this date to guarantee a room at the block rate. If you miss the cutoff date, unreserved rooms will be released from the block back to the general public, and regular hotel pricing will apply pending availability. Please book early to ensure your spot alongside fellow fans.
Cancellation Policy
- We understand that travel plans can derail. Guests should cancel any group room reservations by 4:00 PM local hotel time at least 2 days prior to arrival to avoid a cancellation penalty fee.
We hope you can join us in Muskegon for this year’s Damfamily reunion!
