This past Labor Day weekend, the streets of Atlanta were abuzz with geeky revelry. Elaborate costumes and photographers alike flooded the roads, and families milled about sidewalk camps constructed of folding chairs and blankets. In the lobby of the Marriot Marquis, a Star Trek red shirt paused to help a Mandalorian adjust his helmet.
At first glance, it’s easy to mistake these sights as the result of some great interdimensional rift in Atlanta’s heart, allowing the fictional realms to bleed into the real world. In all actuality, this is the norm for Dragon*Con—an annual science fiction and fantasy convention that takes Atlanta by storm. This year, over 52,000 attendees wandered around five massive hotels, meeting beloved celebrities and celebrating their shared passions.
A key component of this massive convention is the costumes. Each year, fans of all mediums dress up as favorite characters and original creations, and these works of art range from the fairly simplistic to the elaborate and extreme. Below is a sampling of some of the masterful costumes seen at Dragon*Con this year.