What is Dragon Con?

Dragon Con happened between August 30 –Sept 3 2018 in downtown Atlanta GA. The event is one of the few conventions in the U.S. that focuses on almost every type of fandom. There are events about gaming, urban fantasy, Star trek, Alternative history, literature, writing and more.

According to their website the convention started back in 1987 as a way to bring multiple fandoms together and let people explore all aspects of nerdiness. This past year 80,000 people attended the Con.

“It’s a great way for everyone to get together and have just the best time. It doesn’t matter what you’re into, there will be something for you,” Samantha Langley, a cosplayer and Dragon Con attendee said.

There are many different types of activities during the event. During the day there are photoshoots for cosplayers, panels on various subjects, celebrity encounters/Q&A’s, a cosplay parade and an artist area where people can show off their work.

The event has even sprung up a sub culture all its own. The Marriott Marquis is the main hotel for the event and used to have an extremely noticeable carpet. While they changed the carpet, many con goers cosplay in different outfits with the pattern involved. It’s not unusual to see a Deadpool costume made of the pattern or a Quidditch Rope with the pattern in place of their house colors. There is also a famous trashcan called “trashie” that is extremely popular for pictures.

“It’s neat to see how all the different people work in the carpet. Unfortunatley I wasn’t an attendee before it was replaced but there’s an automatic connection when I see the pattern,” Langley said.

What also sets Dragon Con apart is that it is for all ages. During the day there are panels for kids and even a character encounter where kids can meet all their favorite childhood heroes and princesses.

“Dragon Con can be a bit overwhelming for kids, so it was really refreshing to be in a room full of cosplayers who were there just to make kids smile,” said Amanda Scruggs who cosplayed Princess Ana from Frozen at the event.

At night there are a ton of dance parties, copious amounts of alcohol and some pretty revealing costumes. There is also 24 hour programming so there is always plenty to do. At night they have movies playing and humorous shows around adult topics. Most attendees stay in one of the hotels hosting the event and there is a feeling of laid back safety surrounding the event.

"It's like Atlanta's biggest nerd sleepover. Everyone just has dun and looks out for each other... It's a huge celebration of nerd-dom" Scruggs said.