“If you call him Shrek, he’ll beat you senseless.” —Bryan Thompson, King of the Trolls (as quoted by Grant Imahara)

The Masquerade is a bittersweet moment at Dragon*Con. It’s always a fantastic show, arguably the best at Dragon*Con, and this year was no different. Masters of Ceremony Grant Imahara and Kari Byron from the Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters were among the best that have ever served in that position, with quips and reactions that will be long remembered in the annals of the convention. The costumes themselves were, as always, incredible, and the 501st evictions few.

Director Marilee Coughlin and her crack staff have once again put on a good show.

And yet, the Masquerade marks the climax of the convention. Every concert or panel brings us that much closer to the moment where we must leave the Paradiso Geek and return to our lives beyond.

Judges: Michael Winslow, Vic Mignogna, & Dave Tango.

Best in Show: McKayla Butym, Angie Duplis, Vanessa Heaton, Shannon Hunnicutt, Tracy Hunnicutt
Concept: Moulin Rouge Meets Sailor Moon
Costumes: Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, Sailor Venus, Sailor Mercury

Best in Show—Masters: Brian Frey, Holly Frey, Stephanie Phillips, Heidi Pritchett, Lisa Lang
Concept: Adventures of Wallace and Gromit
Costumes: Various characters from the Wallace and Gromit claymation films

Best Journeyman: Bryan Thompson
Costume: King of the Trolls

Best Novice: Chris Lee
Costume: Robotech Cyclone

Best Movie Character: Ian Hales
Costume: Jack Skellington

Best Humor: Ashley Byram, Jennifer Duchavne, Mike Sanders
Costumes: Witches from the Broadway show Wicked

Best Fantasy: Marjan Peltier
Costume: Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland

Best Horror: Chip Malinowski
Costume: Goliath the Gargoyle

Best Animation: Jim Jones
Costume: Gossamer

Best Comic Book: Chip Hackler
Costume: Man-Thing

Best Harry Potter: Alex Meyer, Chelsea Kitchens
Concept: Tonks and Padfoot Dance-Off
Costume: Tonks, Padfoot

Best in Show—Children: Tevfik and Kayli
Costume: Darth Teffet and Master Hayli Jade

Best Toddler: Katerina Fletcher
Costume: Queen Amidala

Children—Second Place: Benjamin Mason
Costume: Sora from Kingdom Hearts

Children—Third Place: Tommy Thomas
Costume: 14th Century Crossbowman

Honorable Mention: All children who competed.