How to Enter

RSVP and arrive on the event, Nov. 11th, 2023 before 3pm (winners announced at 3pm). Please fill out the entry form linked below.

CLICK HERE for to Return to RSVP form

FAQ

What are the rules?
All participants in the Veteran Comic Con Cosplay Competition must adhere to the official rules found here.

How much of the cosplay has to be made by me?
At least 50% of your cosplay should be your own work, this allows for supporting items like basic suits for under armor or smaller items like shoes and basic wigs.

I have a combination of techniques in my costume, which category do I choose?
 Don't worry about getting it wrong, this is just a guide to help us organize entries and is not binding. All entries will be assessed using the same criteria.

I want to cosplay an original character, is this allowed?
Your cosplay must represent an existing and recognizable character or element from within pop culture. This includes comic books, movies & television, video games, anime & manga, fantasy, etc. and a reference image will be requested during registration. Exceptions can always be made, contact us and ask before entering.

How will I be judged?
Our Judges will determine whether your Cosplay Application is accepted and you are eligible to participate. We will notify you before the event takes place with further details. Once your costume makes it past the initial process and on to the "floor," it is entirely up to the judges as to who will win!

Can children enter?
All contestants must be at least 18 years old. Younger contestants must have a parent's permission and contact us at albert@veterancomiccon.org to see if we can make an exception.

The Rules

Participants in the Cosplay Competition must adhere to the following:

• Costumes that you have entered other competitions with may enter! 
• Contest Entry is free, however a General Admission Ticket ($10) is required to enter the venue.
  
• All entrants must be 18 or older to compete in Veteran Comic Con's Cosplay Competition unless with a parent.
  
• Costumes must represent an existing or recognizable character or element from the pop culture realm, including comic books, movies & television, video games, musicals, literature, anime & manga or fantasy.
• All costumes must be made by the wearer. A portion of the costume (such as leotard or similar base layers, tights and shoes) may be from purchased, finished goods, but the majority of the visible costume elements should have been constructed by the entrant: at least 50% should be their own work.
  
• Pre-fabricated, store-bought costumes, commissioned costumes or unaltered, store-bought assemblies of clothing to represent a character or “costume” cannot be used in the  Cosplay Competition.
• Entrants must not register multiple times with multiple costumes. A contestant can only enter once and only wear one costume.
• Cosplayers are free to select the category which they submit to but, but we reserve the right to reclassify entries at their discretion, to ensure a balanced contest.
• No nudity. All costumes should provide enough coverage to be worn in public and should be in good taste and appropriate for a family-friendly show.
• Costumes cannot be obscene or offensive or endorse any form of hate or hate group.
  
  Legal Jargon:
  Release: By accepting a prize, each winner agrees to release and hold harmless Veteran Comic Con and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, suppliers, distributors, advertising/promotion agencies, and prize suppliers (if any), and each of their respective parent companies and each such company’s officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any claim or cause of action, including, but not limited to, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, arising out of participation in the contest or receipt or use or misuse of any prize.
  Veteran Comic Con reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the Competition, or any part of it, if any fraud or technical failures or any other factor beyond reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Competition, as determined by Veteran Comic Con in its sole discretion. Veteran Comic Con reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the contest or to be acting in violation of the Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Competition may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Veteran Comic Con reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Veteran Comic Con’s failure to enforce any term of these Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.Limitation of Liability: Veteran Comic Con is not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, typographical errors, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest; (2) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the contest or the processing of entries; or (5) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from an entrant’s participation in the contest or receipt or use or misuse of any prize (provided always that Veteran Comic Con or its employees or contractors are not negligent in any way in relation to such injury or damage). If, for any reason, an entrant’s entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, that entrant’s sole remedy is another entry in the contest, if feasible. If the contest, or any part of it, is discontinued for any reason, Veteran Comic Con, in its sole discretion, may elect to hold a random draw from among all eligible entries received up to the date of discontinuance for the prize(s) offered herein. Employees, staff, crew or guests of Veteran Comic Con or any paid group or paid associated company and paid persons connected with the Competition, e.g. prize sponsors or judges and their agents are not eligible to enter the Competition the event of any dispute arising, these Rules are to be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the United States.
  
  
• Rules subject to change before contest begins, all applicants will be notified if this occurs.

Weapons Rules

Entrants will not be permitted to carry any kind of functional projectile weapon. This includes individuals who possess a weapons permit or concealed weapons permit. Keep them at home.

Anyone found in possession of such a weapon will immediately asked to leave. Individuals caught in the illegal possession of a functioning projectile weapon will be reported and turned over to the proper authorities. All other items that could be used as a weapon MUST be peacebonded.

You must have your props submitted for peacebonding. Complete this action BEFORE entering convention space or you may be disqualified or asked to leave. Peacebonding will be conducted at the peacebonding table. Government issued photo ID is required at peacebonding to have your prop peacebonded. Entrants 18 and under must have their guardian or accompanying adult with them to have their prop peacebonded.

Bladed Weapons: All weapon props made out of metal and designed to represent a blade (including, but not limited to, swords, daggers, kunai, and scythes), with an edge a quarter of an inch in width or narrower and/or a sharply pointed tip) must remain sheathed. Additionally, it must be possible for peace-bonding staff to securely zip-tie the prop into its sheath so that it may not be drawn. Ribbons, cloth, or tape wrapped around the blade do not qualify as sheaths.

Weapons should never be waved around in a manner that may be construed as use of the weapon (this is considered brandishing).

Gun props or other prop projectile weapons should not be pointed at anyone at any time. Prop pistols need to remain in a holster; prop rifles need to be slung. Permanently disabled cap guns and permanently disabled water guns are permissible.

Paddles (all varieties-including “yaoi paddles”) are not allowed.

Drawing a weapon in the convention space, including parking lots, may result in immediate removal. Keep in mind, police will assume all drawn weapons are functional, and will act accordingly. If you are unsure whether your weapon is acceptable in the convention space, please e-mail albert@veterancomiccon.org and ask ahead.

Exotic weapons will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Do not bring weapons that Staff cannot tell are fake from ten feet away.

No functioning or previously functioning projectile weapons, or functional portion thereof, including, but not limited to, Air Soft, Nerf, or pellet guns will be allowed.

Bows: All props designed to represent a stringed weapon must be unstrung, regardless of the manner in which they were constructed. ‘Unstrung’ means that no length of cord, string, rope, or other flexible material may be connected from one limb of the prop to the other.