Participate in the Dragon*Con Hall Costume Contest, the only Dragon*Con costume contest decided by popular vote!

Come in costume to the contest registration table in front of the Centennial Ballrooms in the Hyatt (in the alcove to the right) on Friday and Saturday from 10AM to 5PM to have your picture taken.  Children welcome!

Pictures will be posted for everyone to vote for their favorite on Sunday from 10AM to 5PM.  Winners will be announced at the Masquerade on Sunday.

Last year, the Dragon*Con Blood Drive issued a challenge to the attendees to beat Comic-Con’s donations for that year. And we made history when we were the single largest blood drive ever at a science fiction related convention when 1,165 individuals registered to donate blood, with 938 of them successfully doing so and 75 double red donations using the ALYX machines, for a total of 1,013 units collected. Victory was ours!

This year, Comic-Con answered the challenge and replied by …

Sunless Dawn of Auchendoun will be hosting a World of Warcraft scavenger hunt at Dragon*Con. Be on the lookout for quest givers and hidden items that will be scattered throughout the convention from 10AM to midnight, Friday through Sunday.

Quest givers and takers will be clearly marked with giant exclamation marks and question marks over their heads, just like in the game! One quest giver can (nearly) always be found around the Hanover room or the Writing track (Hyatt), one …

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution warns that there will be crews surveying sewer lines in downtown Atlanta on the weekdays before and after Labor Day weekend.

The work is scheduled to occur from 7AM to 5PM on weekdays now through Sept. 9. The impacted roads are Courtland St., Ellis St., Irwin St., Jackson St., and Peachtree Center Ave.

If you’re driving in to Dragon*Con, use caution and other routes if possible.

Update:

Further traffic issues to be aware of:

The PDF version of the 2009 Pocket Program is available for download, either in full or two parts:

• Full 2009 Pocket Program (7 MB Includes Maps)
• Pocket Program-Main Section (1.5 MB No Pull-Out Section)
• Pocket Program-Pullout Section (6.5 MB Includes Maps)

The PDF version of the 2009 Schedule Grids are available for download (these are fitted to a standard page size):

Show your Dragon*Con badge at Zoo Atlanta on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday (Sept. 5-7) and enjoy Super Heroes Weekend for only $20.99!

Admission includes all Super Heroes Weekend special activities, including the legendary Marvel Comics™ characters Spider-Man™, Wolverine™, Storm™, and Green Goblin™ in six live-action shows at 11AM and 2PM each day. Attendees will also get to enjoy an exclusive meet-and-greet with the heroes after each show.

As many as 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, which destroys brain cells—causing problems with memory, thinking, and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies, and social life. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, and it is fatal. The most common form of dementia, accounting for 50 to 70% of dementia cases, it is currently the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.

There is no cure yet, but treatments for symptoms, combined with the right services …

This year, Steve Jackson Games is holding the 2009 U.S. Southeast Regional Munchkin Tournament at Dragon*Con. Expect swarms of Men in Black to invade the gaming area! Will you be one of the three craftiest munchkins at the con competing at the finalists table?

The tournament for the three remaining seats will take place on Friday at 2PM, 4:30PM, and 7PM. The Final Round will be held Sunday at 6PM. Registration is free. Sign up at Board Gaming, Galleria (Hil).

Related events …

Be part of the 8th Annual Dragon*Con Parade!  Come to our table just outside Convention Registration in the Sheraton Thu 4-9:30PM or Fri 9AM-9:30PM to sign up, check in, and pick up your parade ribbons.

The parade starts at 10AM Sat.  The route will go from Woodruff Park (Peachtree and Auburn Ave., about 4.5 blocks south of the Hyatt’s front entrance) and march north on Peachtree, back to the Hyatt, onto Baker St., and take a final turn onto Courtland St. …

Breaking news: Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actor and novelist William Shatner will be at Dragon*Con 2009! See him on Friday and Saturday. (Download the press release.)