The Baltimore Comic-Con and Stylin Online “Tower of T-shirts” proudly present the highly-demanded and hugely popular Annual Costume Contest.
This year, the adult costume contest is being held on Saturday, September 26th at 3:00pm. All participants must be in the prejudge room by 1:30pm or their deposit will be forfeit. Prejudging will start at 2:00pm and will be split into amateur and professional contests.
The children’s costume contest will be held on Sunday, September 27th at 2:30pm. All participants must be in the prejudge room by 1:30pm.
Categories
- Adult – “Professional” ($10 Entry Fee)
- Those working a job involving building or fabricating costumes.
- Those who make costumes or pieces for casual sale (eBay, etc.).
- Those who have won an award at a costume contest at any convention.
- Those that have been invited based on Cosplay.
- Adult – “Amateur” ($5 Entry Fee)
- Any adult 18 years or older that does not meet the above requirements.
- Kids (Free)
- Ages 17 and under.
PRIZES
Overall Best Costume
$1,000 Grand Prize in Cash for Professional and $500.00 in Cash for Amateur
Prizes in each of the streamlined Professional Adult categories:
$250 in cash for 1st Place
$150 in cash for 2nd Place
$100 in cash for 3rd Place
Prizes in each of the streamlined Amateur Adult categories:
$150 StylinOnline.com Gift Certificate for 1st Place
$75 StylinOnline.com Gift Certificate for 2nd Place
$50 StylinOnline.com Gift Certificate for 3rd Place
Group category (winning groups divide prize amount between members):
$200 StylinOnline.com Gift Certificate for 1st Place
$150 StylinOnline.com Gift Certificate for 2nd Place
Fan-Favorite as voted on by those in attendance for the Costume Contest:
$150 StylinOnline.com Gift Certificate
Kids Prizes in each of the Newborn to Age 11 and Age 12 to Age 17 categories:
$100 Grand Prize in Cash
$75 StylinOnline.com Gift Certificate for 1st Place
$50 StylinOnline.com Gift Certificate for 2nd Place
$20 StylinOnline.com Gift Certificate for 3rd Place
Each winner will also receive free admittance to the Baltimore Comic-Con in 2016 and both Adult Grand Prize Winners will be asked to judge the 2016 contest!
RULES
- All participants must have Baltimore Comic-Con admission wristband or badge (this includes Associate, Dealer, Press, and other specialty badges). Members of Baltimore Comic-Con staff are ineligible to compete.
- Participants can register at any time up to 1pm on Saturday or Sunday for the respective Costume Contests by visiting the Costume Contest Booth located in the lower Pratt Street lobby.
- All participants will be required to sign a permission/release/waiver form to participate in the contest. Minors under 18 years of age may participate only if a permission/release form signed by the minor’s legal guardian is provided. Forms are available at the Costume Contest Booth (see #2 above).
- Pictures will be taken during judging of all participants and throughout the costume contest and will be the property of Baltimore Comic-Con.
- All costumes must abide by the rules of Baltimore Comic-Con, including but not limited to the Baltimore Comic-Con Weapons and Harassment policies. If a policy violation is discovered, that entry will be disqualified.
- Professionally made or rented costumes are prohibited.
- Costumes that have won any major awards at any convention may not be entered in the Hall Costume Contest unless major (50% or more) work has been improved or worked over with photographic proof of the changes.
- No glitter, confetti, pyrotechnics, live flame, or smoke generators of any kind are allowed in the Baltimore Convention Center.
- No electrical power connections will be provided. If your costume requires power, it must be part of your costume design.
- Groups from the same series are welcome to enter, but random characters from different series are discouraged. Groups will be considered as one entry and the winners will receive one prize to share.
- Each contestant may present (wear) only one costume, or a group of people may wear one costume at the same time (i.e., a large costume that requires several people inside to move it).
- All entrants are encouraged to bring reference material for their costume. Not all judges know all characters, so it is in everyone’s best interest to bring a color picture (or several) if possible. The reference should depict the details of the costume you are presenting. Please do not ask to e-mail or print out references at the convention.
- Costumes will be judged on a variety of criteria, including craftsmanship and overall effect.
- All judges’ decisions of the costume contest are final.
TICKETS
General Admission and VIP Package tickets for Weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as the Harvey Awards, are now on sale! Visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets/ for more information and to purchase your advanced tickets now, and as always, kids 10 and under get into the show free with a paid adult General Admission!
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
While they are available, be sure to take advantage of discount rate arrangements we have made with hotels near the Baltimore Convention Center. For all the details, see:
Hotels – Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con will be providing information about partner hotel discounts in the months leading up to the event.
In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.
About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 16th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry’s oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 10 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.
