While Spiel is one, if not the biggest board game convention, local conventions are a great opportunity to check out new games and finding new people
For those in Spain, Dau Barcelona is at the end of Novemeber, Malagas board game convention starts in two weeks and Madrid is at the begining of December! How about other countries? Please share :)
Next weekend is the biggest one in the Netherlands: Spellenspektakel.
Other thans that there are smaller ones throughout the year, from the top of my head: Zuiderspel, Noorderspel, Speelwarden & Ducosim.