Complete the pre-registration form on our website.
Purchase a ticket to the con with registration. Various options available, see below.
Once the event date arrives confirm registration on-site at the service kiosk. The kiosk will be open Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
All participants will then need to be in the designated area at least 30 minutes prior to stage time.
Pre-judging will occur between 2:00pm and 4:00pm in the cosplay lounge area. Required to participate.
Competition will begin at 5:00pm on Saturday.
At least 25 entries/slots should be available in each category. All entries are taken on a first come, first serve basis.

Cosplay has three categories: Competitive, Junior & Exhibition. Entries may choose to compete in the competitive category if they qualify by meeting the requirements, or they must appear as an “Exhibition” if they do not qualify, or do not desire to participate in the Competitive category. There will be one winner chosen per skill level as well as a “Best in Show.” There may also be honorable mentions, however they will not receive any official award or prize.

A non-professional costume competition inspired by comic books, movies, Japanese animation or videogames. All costumes in the competition are skillfully constructed and worn by the contestants themselves (no store bought costumes!) and presented on stage in a short skit or performance.

Purchased costumes may not compete in this category.

Costumes will be judged on a 1-5 system during the pre-judging before the onstage presentation. Prejudging will score a cosplayer on Accuracy/creativity, Workmanship and Detail. This will give the cosplayer a base score of 3-15 before stage time.

During the on stage, the judges will score the “performance” out of 5 to complete a 4-20 score. Audience applause will be added into the scoring based on a non-biased view of the costume. (not friends or just a favorite series)

Judges will be required to know about multiple aspects of costume and prop creation for judging. Judges will not be able to judge their friends. A impartial judge will be given for that situation.

Accuracy to character, series or genre. Meaning the finished costume is fitting to what the character, series, or the genre it is set in.

ex: steampunk genre characters are all steampunk. Time period are of that time period, etc..

Creativity, this replaces accuracy for original works

Workmanship. This is the overall “construction” of the full costume and props. This will cover the quality of how it was assembled, its duribility (is it still together) and overall quality of the entire work.

Detail. The amount of detail put into the overall costume. Nothing is clean and flat. Armor and props to be detailed and weathered, etc.. ligths and sounds, etc..

Performance. Not a requirement for your walk on, but adds into your final score if you have something to show. Note: microphones will not be available.

Scoring:

1 – Poor

2 – Below average

3 – Average

4 – Above average

5 – Amazing / Professional

Novice: If this is your first Cosplay experience or you have never won a Cosplay award.

Journeyman: If you have competed in costume contests (winning or not) or choose to enter this division as a novice.

Artisan: If you have competed in the Journeyman category or choose to enter this level of competition.

Master: If you have competed in masquerades and won in the intermediate (journeyman, artisan) categories.

If you have questions about which category you should enter, please ask the masquerade staff and judges.

We will make an effort to have scores kept.

 

Contestants are to bring/email reference pictures and in-progress photographs to show the judges during the prejudging before the on-stage presentation to show the costume and props were made by the cosplayer.

If an outfit includes a combination of created and purchased items, any purchased pieces must be disclosed to the judges on your entry form. Judges will determine your eligibility, which generally requires that at least 75% of your costume, or 90% if master class, has been created or altered in a significant enough of a manner. Judges have the exclusive ability to determine a costumes eligibility in the workmanship contest. Note: This does not include undergarments, wigs, small jewellery or other small things of little relivance.

Junior devisions will be able to compete with costumes created by their parents if they are not able to create their own.

If you costume has a main prop (eg: lightsaber) which has been bough, this will be accounted as a large percentage of your costume being bought.

Eg: steampunk cosplayers simply painting a Nerf gun copper or gold, is still a bought item and not considered made.

Eg: Having a professional apply prothestics, hair, beards and/or body paint does not constitute your own work.

Please remember we do not supply participants with any of the following: make-up, make-up applicators and/or removers, paint, etc. Please come to the convention with everything you need to complete and/or assemble your cosplay. You must be in full costume for pre-judging.

Note of costumes:

Costumes are worn on a person. They are movable and do not require aid in their movement from one place to another. If a cosplayer cannot move under their own power (excluding wheelchairs or aids), it is not considered a costume and is a prop or stage piece and will be judged as that.

There will be no assistance from staff or handlers to bring costumes, contestants or props on stage. Unless specified under AODA regulations for those with disabilities (wheelchair, power-chair, walkers, etc…)

Exhibition is for those who do not wish to compete, or for those with purchased/commissioned costumes/props that do not desire to perform.

Because convention staff members may not win, they are included in this category. Contestants in this division are ineligible for any awards.

Exhibition costumes will be presented at the end of the judging not to confuse with the contestants.

Audio Guidelines:  Audio is not an option for this year’s competition.

There will NOT be audio editing software/machine on site. 

Stage time:

As there may be a large number of contestants for the masquerade, cometitive and non, there will be a limmit of 30 to 90 seconds for all cosplayers.

All cosplayers must be on stage for a minimum of 30 seconds for everyone including judges to get a full view on stage.

Presentations may not exceed 90 seconds in duration, this is to have enough time to get every entry on stage. Plan ahead. If your skit is affecting the flow of the program, or is running excessively long, we reserve the right to interrupt and end your performance. If your skit is so interrupted, it will not disqualify you from winning any of the awards, unless you refuse to leave the stage.

Permissions:

Participants will be required to sign a liability release and a release for use of video and photo images.

As cosplayers, you will be having photos and videos of you taken constantly. As a participant you are required to verify that photos and video may be used containing your image.

Onstage usages:

There will be no microphones available. Any and all music and/or skit audio must be pre-cut, pre-recorded and turned in (in MP3 format) on a USB Flash Drive at sign-up. Bringing back-ups is strongly encouraged to ensure you have working audio.

It’s okay for participants in the junior category to have help from a relative/friend on stage if they are not comfortable to be on stage by themselves.

Those with disabilities are allowed to have assistance from family, friend or worker to assist them with mobility and safety on stage. this does not include performing.

Rules & rule changes:

As stated above, The judges reserve the right to change rules to make adjustments or modifications to the rules at any time to improve the clarity of the rules or the operation of the cosplay events. In no way will this be used to give favor to any participant.

The cosplay director has the right to change your division to a higher division to create a fair competition. Consider this an honor.

The Cosplay Director has the right to eliminate any entry from the competition on the basis of taste, danger to the audience, building or yourself, violation of any of the above rules, or any other reason deemed sufficient.

Every contestant can only get on stage once during the masquerade. However, anyone can present as many costumes he wants; he/she can only wear one of them. The other costumes must be presented by other contestants.

Contestants must be in the waiting room (Green Room) at the required time. Ask the masquerade booth for any details. If you are not present on time or you are not ready to go on stage when it is your turn, you will be disqualified. Any exceptions are at the direction’s discretion only. 

The masquerade is a non professional competition. Costumes bought online or rented are not eligible for any award, same as professional or theatrical costumes. However, these costumes can be presented on stage in the “Exhibition” category. Please note that priority is given to the costumes created by the non professional contestants. The “Exhibition” applications will be allowed only if not all the slots are taken.

Commissioned costumes will be allowed IF and ONLY IF the costumer (the one who made the costume) filled out the application form himself. He or she doesn’t have to appear on stage, but his or her presence in the waiting room is mandatory. They MUST provide documentation showing they are the creator of the work being shown. Wigs, little props and jewels are exempted.

People can only enter as part of one costume or group. If a person has made multiple costumes, they must be entered as a group, otherwise you must select only one to compete in the Competitive contest.

If your costume is made almost entirely by someone else, they MUST be present to win in Competitive and the prize will go to them.

Judges decisions are final. Categories, award type and mentions are at the judges’ and masquerade direction’s discretion only.

Section A – Liabilities

No pyrotechnics! Open flames, liquid, powder or “flash” paper are allowed on stage or in the convention. If you want to use an electronic flash or any other visual effect you need to mention it on your application form so the host can warn the audience. No laser pointers are allowed.  No glitter.

No slippery or messy substance allowed on stage. In any doubt, ask the masquerade direction as you submit your form. The stage must be the same before and after your number.

Leave the stage the way you found it, coordinate with someone to remove any props from the stage area after your performance

No nudity! The masquerade is rated Family. Children will be in the audience. Any excessiveness will not be permitted on stage.

No weapons. Please see prop rules following contest rules.

Entries with electric power requirements need to be self-contained. There will be no access to electrical outlets on stage.

Be careful onstage! Running-tackle-hugs (glomping) might not be very safe.

Surprise the audience, not the Cosplay staff. If you are planning something completely different, let us know well in advance. All information will be held in the strictest confidence. Also let us know well before the masquerade starts if there are any last minute changes to your performance!

No live animals

Section B – Participants

All Cosplay participants must be registered attendees of the convention.

Staff members are not eligible to win in any category, though they can earn honorable mentions.

Every contestant can only get on stage once during the competition. However, anyone can present as many costumes he wants; he/she can only wear one of them. The other costumes must be presented by other contestants (They can be in the same group or not). However only the creator is eligable to win.

The cosplay competition is a non professional competition. Costumes bought online, commisioned or rented are not eligible for any award, same as professional or theatrical costumes. However, these costumes can be presented on stage in the “Exhibition” category. Please note that priority is given to the costumes created by the non professional contestants. The “Exhibition” applications will be allowed only if not all the slots are taken.

Contestants must be in the Green Room at the required time. Ask the service kiosk for any details. If you are not present on time or you are not ready to go on stage when it is your turn, you will be disqualified without refund. Any exceptions are at the direction’s discretion only.

Commissioned costumes will be allowed IF and ONLY IF the costumer (the one who made the costume) filled out the application form themself. He or she doesn’t have to appear on stage, but his or her presence in the waiting room is mandatory. Wigs, little props and jewels are exempted.

Youth participants (ages 13 and under) can be accompanied by a parent/guardian (they must have a con badge). This isn’t a requirement, just a suggestion, especially for children 10 and under.

Microphones are not allowed. Using a pre-recorded soundtrack is highly encouraged. The required format is MP3 or MP4. To avoid any confusion, please have only one file on the USB drive/CD and double-check that it is working properly before handing it over to the masquerade organizing team. If possible, please write the entry title and the music file name on the USB drive/CD. It is also

Section C – competition and eligibility

The following may not be worn for competition in any Competitive division: purchased costumes or rented costumes. These may be entered on stage in the Exhibition Category but will not be eligible for Competitive awards.

Your entry must be finished before you get to the Masquerade room. No sewing, gluing, spray painting, welding, or other construction work is allowed backstage. However, final assembly of large pieces and/or props and unexpected repairs will be allowed.

Contestants are to bring/email reference pictures and in-progress (WIP) photographs to show the judges during the prejudging, before the on-stage presentation, to show the costume and props were made by the cosplayer

Judges decisions are final. Categories, award type and mentions are at the judges’ and masquerade director’s discretion only.

The judges have the right to disqualify anyone who doesn’t follow the rules and without refund

Section D – Props and “weapons”

ALL Props will be checked by staff. No exceptions.

Any replica weapon must have blunt edges, no points which can cause harm to person or property.

Prop weapons should not be made of metal. melee or firearm.

Prop firearms must have blocked barrels, false magazines/clips which cannot be loaded with any objects. preferable orange tipped.

No real firearms. This includes, not limited to explosive, gas, spring, and tension projectile systems, launchers, etc.. eg: firearms, paintball, airsoft, pelet, BB, bows and crossbows.

Exceptions for replica firearms – Airsoft. Decommssioned airsoft (not functioning) may be allowed if the convention can determine no functionality. Eg: blocked barrel, etc..

No cold weapons

Bow style props – If your costume needs a bow, the bowstring must be removed when not on stage

Any weapon during the competition must follow the Comic Con weapon rules. Exceptions are at the direction’s discretion only

ALL Props will be checked by staff upon entry to the convention. No exceptions.

Any replica weapon must have blunt edges, no points which can cause harm to person or property.

Prop weapons should not be made of metal. melee or firearm. 

Prop firearms must have blocked barrels, false magazines/clips which cannot be loaded with any objects. preferable orange tipped.

No real firearms. This includes, not limited to explosive, gas, spring, and tension projectile systems, launchers, etc.. eg: firearms, paintball, airsoft, pellet, BB, bows and crossbows.

Exceptions for replica firearms – Airsoft. Decommissioned airsoft (non-functioning) may be allowed if the convention security can determine no functionality. Eg: blocked barrel, etc..

No cold weapons

Bow style props – If your costume needs a bow, the bowstring must be removed when on the convention floor. A string may be added for the cosplay competition, when on stage only.

Any weapon used or brought on stage during the cosplay competition must follow the Comic Con weapon rules. Exceptions are at the convention’s discretion only.