Over Labor Day weekend 2016, Dragon Con, the world’s largest fan run multi-genre convention, will be celebrating 30 years of geeky fun and camaraderie. Beginning in 1987, Dragon Con has grown steadily over the years, in large part due to the diversity of panels, events and activities it offers.
Background
Including science fiction and fantasy (movies, TV-shows, and literature), actual science, comics, gaming (board based, card based, live action, digital), engineering, robot battles, S.T.E.M. and other activities for children and teachers, career workshops (costuming, make up, photography, voice acting, etc…), anime, zombies, concerts, parties, parades, and of course, cosplay, Dragon Con has something for everyone! In fact, the idea of establishing a multi-genre convention stemmed from the fact that the founders had multiple interests. Rather than attend several genre specific conventions, they wanted to have it all in one.
Starting out at the Piedmont Plaza Hotel, within just a few years Dragon Con became successful enough to gain a contract with the Atlanta Hilton Towers. After moving around a bit and always adding more space, it ended up with the Hyatt Regency as its headquarters. Now, Dragon Con events and activities are spread across the Hyatt, the Hilton, the Marriott Marquis, the Westin Peachtree Plaza, the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, and the AmericasMart Building One and Building Two.
As Dragon Con grew, it incorporated many yearly events. On Friday evenings you can enjoy an undead stroll in the Zombie Walk and then dance your limbs off at the Zombie Prom. Saturday nights also have their own special events. Dragon Con Night at Georgia Aquarium, the Heroes and Villains Ball and the Lips Down on Dixie presentation of The Rocky Horror Picture Show are just a few.
In 2001, Dragon Con hosted its initial Saturday morning parade, an event that has possibly become more well-known than the convention itself.
Related: Dragon Con 2015 parade
Cosplay
Cosplay is a major part of Dragon Con. There are main costuming contests, as well as fan track contests throughout the convention. What started as the Bettie Page Look-A-Like Contest, became the Dawn Look-Alike Contest from 1998 – 2010, and is now known as the Page to the Stage: Comic Book Pageant is one of the main events. The Masquerade costume contest is another (accompanied by the Hall Costume Contest for those a little too shy for the stage). Dragon Con Night at Georgia Aquarium attendees are treated to a separate costume contest titled The Chôsen. Popular fan track cosplay contests include the Miss Klingon Empire Beauty Pageant, Miss Star Trek Universe Pageant, Star Wars Costume Contest, and Tolkien Costume Contest. You don’t have to enter a contest to get dressed up, though, and you certainly don’t have to go to one to see those who are.
Giving Back
As if all this infectious fun and geeky love wasn’t enough, Dragon Con has also established effective ways of giving back to the Atlanta community that embraces them. Each year, Dragon Con supports an official charity. Last year, over $100,000 was raised for the Lymphoma Research Foundation. Throughout the year, fans join together to form the Superheroes community service program. Just in the past year, they were able to provide over 900 hours of service. Dragon Con also hosts the Robert A. Heinlein “Pay It Forward” blood drive, the largest convention-based blood drive in the country.
What’s new in 2016?
Although the parade route will be the same as last year, there is an exciting new addition. The parade will be broadcast live on Atlanta’s CW69.
This year’s official charity is the Atlanta Center for Self-Sufficiency.
Funko is releasing a Dragon Con Pop! exclusive Dragon Ball Z collectable.
The first annual Dragon Awards to recognize notable contributors in science fiction and fantasy books, comics, games, movies, TV shows and more will be held Sunday, Sept. 4 at 2:30.
Gaming
Perhaps the biggest change this year comes in gaming. According to one of Dragon Con’s press releases:
Already one of the largest gaming conventions in the nation, Dragon Con has expanded its gaming space by more than 60 percent for its 30th Anniversary convention. This year, Dragon Con’s gaming programming will move to the Westin Peachtree Plaza and the adjacent AmericasMart Building One, where it will take up a combined 140,000 square feet. Panels, contests, and parties will be held in the Westin while free gaming, paid tournaments, and similar events will be held in AmericasMart. As always gaming will be open to all Dragon Con members 24x7 for the convention.
“The strength of gaming has been a pillar at Dragon Con since our first convention in 1987. Just as the convention continues to grow, our ability to offer programming and gameplay does too,” convention co-chair Dave Cody said. “We are able to offer our fans more games, more gameplay, and more and better opportunities to talk with voice actors, game designers, and other guests from the worlds of table top and video gaming.”
For more information about Dragon Con, check out their website, and their Facebook page.
Related: Behind the scenes with Dragon Con’s Media Relations Director, Dan Carroll