Viewed by someone with no involvement, the Association for Science Education (ASE) Annual Conference will seem like an impossibly ambitious task, relying significantly on volunteers (though increasingly supported by a small permanent staff) to organise and run it. Developed from events already established in the former associations, it offers a tremendous choice of lectures, workshops, discussions, practical sessions and exhibitions. A typical young member visiting for the first time will find an incredibly large choice of things to do. This article explains some of the details in planning and running the event, indicates the contributions of some of those having significant involvement, and illustrates some of the changes that have occurred in half a century. (Contains 1 table and 6 figures.)