DemiCon typically hosts a wide range of contests to suit many interests, and all are welcome to participate.

Some contests require advance preparation before the convention, while others have no pre-work and can be completed entirely during the weekend (e.g., Play-to-Win games and the Scavenger Hunt).

Don’t see details yet for the contest you’re looking for? Check back later—we’re still finalizing information for some activities.

Part of the fun of any con is the freedom to dress up as your favorite character, or archetype, or as some completely unique and original concept spawned from your own very creative brain. We at DemiCon like to encourage that freedom further by offering you the chance to show off your clever ideas and talented handiwork through our costume contest events.

On Friday, the Hall Costume Contest allows you to immortalize your amazing apparel via our fabulous official photographer’s portrait service (it’s free!), while our mystery judges mingle among the attendees to quietly select the best-of-the-best.

HOW TO ENTER:

All you need to do is come to the lobby starting around 9:30-ish and have your photo taken. That’s it! That lets the judges know you want to be a part of this competition. Now go and enjoy your Friday evening.

When you have your photo taken they will take some of your contact information and will contact you if you have won a prize. For latest news and announcements please join our Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/demiconmasqueradeandcosplay/.

Part of the fun of any con is the freedom to dress up as your favorite character, or archetype, or as some completely unique and original concept spawned from your own very creative brain. We at DemiCon like to encourage that freedom further by offering you the chance to show off your clever ideas and talented handiwork through our costume contest events.

On Saturday, the main stage masquerade and cosplay event lets you thrill our audience with not only your spectacular costume creations, but your skilled (or not-so-skilled – we don’t care, we love just watching everyone try!) mini-performance.

So what happens?

Unlike the Friday night “Hall Costume” contest, the Saturday evening event gives you a chance to strut your clever and cunningly-crafted attire in front of a captive (although voluntarily so) audience. Prizes will be awarded for the costumes deemed by our judges to be the best of the best.

If you’ve participated in masquerades before, then you’re already familiar with the thrill of hearing the “oooohs” and “aaaahs” of an audience eager to appreciate your handiwork and presentation skills. If you’ve NOT tried your hand as a contestant in the past, then get ready for one of the biggest endorphin rushes one can experience at an SF con. Once you’ve walked across that stage in your jaw-dropping Renaissance garb, or Steampunk finery, or as your favorite anime character, or wherever your creative muse has taken you, you’ll be hooked — we promise!

Stuff to know (aka Rules and Procedures)

The masquerade will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday evening. Adult participants should report to the green room (Ballroom D) by 7:15; junior participants (ages 13 and under) should report to the green room by no later than 7:30. [Times subject to change]

You must have a DemiCon 37 membership to take part in the Masquerade and Cosplay. If you have not registered for DemiCon 37 yet, please visit the Registration page.

There is no private dressing facility in the green room — so if modesty is an issue, you’ll need to don at least your lowest layer either in your hotel room, or in the nearby hotel restroom facility, before reporting in.

DemiCon recognizes four entry categories: Apprentice (a.k.a. Junior — for contestants aged 13 years and younger), Artisan (ages 14 and up), Exhibition (for show only; not entered for judging consideration), and Assembled (consisting primarily of commercially manufactured or “store bought” elements). There will be “Best of Apprentice” and “Best of Artisan” awards presented, as well as a “Best of Show” that can be selected from either category. In addition, the judges will be given leeway to present a few “honorable mention” awards, which may include things such as: Best Presentation, Best Media Recreation, Best Use of Materials — or whatever else they deem fit in order to recognize our contestants’ outstanding work. There will also be a “Best Workmanship” award bestowed by a separate panel of judges, who will examine costumes up close and personal in the greenroom area. The workmanship judges may also elect to give out some honorable mention awards for special detail work, as they deem appropriate.

For those opting to avail themselves of a tech rehearsal, you will be granted a 10-minute slot to practice with the emcee and tech crew on Saturday afternoon. You can sign up for your tech rehearsal time when you submit your entry paperwork — but in order to be granted tech rehearsal time, we will need your paperwork no later than noon on Saturday. (Remember: if you like being super-efficient, you can get your “paperwork” to us in advance by including it in your Masquerade and Cosplay registration.) It is not necessary to come to your rehearsal in your full costume — but for best results, we do recommend bringing along any special props, headgear, and/or footwear that are part of your ensemble, as those are the items most likely to cause unexpected challenges during a presentation.

Persons scheduling a tech rehearsal should bring any special music or audio files with them if the presentation requires it. Preferred format is .mp3 or .aif files on a flash drive or CD. Our sound crew may or may not be able to accommodate other formats, so deviate from these guidelines at your own risk. With or without a tech rehearsal, however, we can provide you with some kick-ass background music if you need it. Just let us know the general type of mood you want to set, and we’ll select something great for you accordingly.

We will have a photographer available to take studio-quality pictures of you in your masquerade garb. You should plan to be prepared for your photo shoot during the pre-event green room time, although our photographer MAY be available for a brief period after the conclusion of the masquerade if you don’t get around to having your portrait snapped earlier.

After your time on stage, we recommend that you remain in costume until all entries have been presented (although you can certainly temporarily remove pieces if some “breathing time” is required), so that you may participate in the post-masquerade “photo run” across the stage for the photographers in our audience. This is optional — but after having gone to all that hard work to make the costume, don’t you want to give everyone else as much opportunity as possible to enjoy it?

After the photo run (or sooner, for those who opt not to do the “catwalk” thing), participants may remove any or all portions of their costume, and are invited to sit in the audience to enjoy the halftime show, and to be present when the judges return from deliberation to announce the awards.

Need more information?

Questions? Suggestions? The sooner you contact us, the better. Please direct all masquerade-related correspondence to Jeannette Roth — your humble DemiCon 37 masquerade/cosplay director — at masquerade@demicon.org.

And once again, if you’ve decided to join us with an onstage presentation – and we hope you have – you can help yourself and help us to make things run more smoothly and efficiently by registering online.

For latest news and announcements please join our Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/demiconmasqueradeandcosplay/.

Self-run programming is like a choose your own adventure. They are at your own pace, on your own schedule activities. 

DemiCon Adventure Multi Pass

Join on a weekend quest. Pick up your Multi Pass passport book from the Hub and collect stamps by completing quests. Get all the stamps and collect your ribbon. Add your name to the quest completed list and at closing ceremonies, you might win an extra prize. Don’t worry if you start later and one of the star quests is already done. There are always side quests that you can request at the Hub to fill that stamp spot. Must be present to win at closing ceremonies.

Korok Hide N Seek

A game like this can’t be confined to a couple hours. Come join the weekend-long hunt to find the Korok sprouts. The Korok Elder started a game of hide and seek with the Korok sprouts but can’t seem to find any of them. Will you help her? She will reward you for your efforts.

Game plays as follows:

• Find a korok sprout (green ribbon) hidden around the con and establish a connection. That one is your friend forever. Add it to your badge.
• Continue the game by finding three additional koroks. But don’t make your new friend jealous. Keep these three in your pocket until you find the Korok Elder (always easier to find when the sun is up; look for the hat made of leaves).
• Deliver the playful korok sprouts to the Elder and receive an upgrade to your stash (a new shiny for your badge). There are four upgrades available. Each upgrade requires 3 korok sprouts.
• The fun doesn’t stop when your stash is full. If you continue to find korok sprouts, you can return them to the Elder, in sets of three, for additional bonus prizes. Or leave them there for the next adventurer to find, because Koroks are exhausting, so you probably need a rest.

Shala-kala!

Puzzle Time

The puzzle table is back, where we will have a rotation of puzzles to solve. Stop on by, place a piece, or stay until it is done. Once one is done, we will start another one.

Cardio Loops

We still have three loops to cater to everyone’s challenge levels. Let’s travel some ships together!

“The Terok Nor” is the loop that is just on the first floor to keep things at a smooth pace.

“The Arcadia” is our standard loop where you start on the first floor, take the stairs all the way up to the 5th floor, cross to the opposite stairwell, and make your way back down to the 1st floor.

And finally, for those who are a glutton for punishment, we have “Babylon 5.” You will start on the first floor, take the stairs to the second, cross the second floor and take the opposite stairs to the third, cross the third floor and take the stairs to the fourth floor, cross the fourth floor and take the stairs up to the fifth floor. Once you have gotten to the fifth floor, you will cross to the opposite stairwell and zigzag your way back down to the first floor.

Read-to-Win Children’s Book Library

Check out children’s books from the Hub, read, and return. At closing ceremonies, those who checked out books will have their names put in a drawing to see if that book will follow them home. Must be present to win.

Duck Hunt

The hunt for cute quackers has returned. During the three days of the convention, a certain number of rubber ducks will be hidden each day. Each duck will have a number on the bottom as well as a sticker. Don't worry if you missed out before; there will be 100 ducks hidden this year. When you find one, go to the Hub and sign your name on the line that has your number from your duck. You are allowed only one duck. You get to keep the cutie but also get a ribbon showing you have succeeded in your hunt. At closing ceremonies, a few extra gifts will be given out to a few special numbers. Must be present to win. Will you be the lucky duck winner of the quacker hunt?

Let’s Color

There will be coloring books and crayons for children and adults to check out from the Hub. Let the stress flow away with every page you color.

Origami Paper Folding

DemiCon has a wide range of origami books and paper that you can take and explore this ancient art form in your own time frame.

Play To Win Games

This great activity is back and located in the gaming room. So many games to play and so many to win. See the gaming room for more details.

The year is 2035. All entertainment, from movies, to TV, songs, and even literature are generated by our AI overlords. For why should you pay actors, directors, crew, and writers, when you can tap out a few commands and have drivel that the masses will devour faster than ICE violates someone’s civil rights. But off in the distance can be heard the anguished cry, yearning for books and movies that are fulfilling, thought provoking, and not forgotten two minutes after they’re over. Thus was born, with great reluctance from The Network, The Running Fhan — a gameshow where aspiring writers have a chance for their words to reach more than just their closest friends. Join us at Opening Ceremonies for the latest episode of The Running Fhan.