SALT LAKE CITY — The World Fantasy Convention is coming to the Beehive State in 2020.

At the conclusion of San Antonio’s 2017 event on Sunday, organizers of the WFC announced Salt Lake City would host the 45th annual convention — the first time a Utah city has been chosen to host the convention since its 1975 inaugural year.

The convention will be held at the Little America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City beginning Oct. 29, 2020.

“We’ve been working on this bid for more than a year,” said Dee Ann Larsen, co-chairperson for the 2020 convention, in a press release. “To say we’re thrilled is an understatement.”

Ginny Smith, co-chairperson for the 2020 convention, said she wanted to bring the convention to Utah because the state has a large demographic of fantasy supporters and enthusiasts.

“We’re excited to introduce the WFC members to our state,” Smith said in the press release. “And because Utah has a huge number of fantasy lovers, we think it’s a perfect match.”

Smith will be conducting the 2020 convention with the support of the Utah Fandom Organization, a nonprofit that works to bring science fiction and fantasy events to Utah.

Prior to the Salt Lake City convention, the WFC will hold its 2018 event in Baltimore, Maryland and its 2019 event in Los Angeles, California.

The WFC is a yearly convention for professionals, collectors, fantasy lovers and anyone interested in fantasy art and literature. The convention is typically held the weekend closest to Halloween and likewise, also caters to horror fans.

The first WFC convention in 1975 was held in Providence, Rhode Island.