Anyone casually strolling through the crowds has witnessed them: Costumes–bright ones, wild ones, exotic ones, cute ones, scary ones, and everything in between. Spaces in the crushing crowd are usually reserved for photographers to capture posing cosplayers in all their glory. Of course, this means the Hallway Costume Contest is a large, exciting event, where fans can both participate and vote for their favorites. Contestants’ photographs were on display on large white poster boards, and all attendees of Dragon*Con could select their favorites.
Draco Starshine perused the costumes on display, trying to decide which one he would choose. “Costuming is part of Dragon*Con. It’s one of the top reasons to come,” he said. “I love the costumes. I love all the costumes!” He confessed some disappointment that there weren’t enough Steampunk entries in this year’s contest. While plenty of people were in attendance in Steampunk attire at Dragon*Con, it seems few entered the Hallway Costume Contest this year.
Burbach found the selection equally daunting. “So many entries… It’s hard to choose.” He was not only trying to select which costume to vote for, he was also competing with his Kigurumi, comfortable, pajama-like costumes from Japan which made him look like a grown-up version of Max in Where the Wild Things Are. They were a popular item this year, even if they were not homemade.
Young Alicia K, looking elegant as a beautiful elven princess, surveyed the costumes with her mother, and both were in agreement. When asked which they preferred, homemade or store bought, they responded, “Homemade for sure.” Alicia K, in a costume her mother had hand-made for her, were not competing in the contest, but surrounded by so many dedicated costume creators like Alicia K’s mom, I suspect the winner of this year’s contest will probably have spent some time crafting their costume.
This was a tough crowd to please. One man, looking dapper as a psychotic Mad Hatter straight out of American McGee’s re-imagining, picked out his favorite from across the room, when his daughter pointed at another Mad Hatter.
“Is it American McGee’s?” he asked. She nodded in the affirmative. She was in a blue dress and leather boots: a Goth Alice, ready to conquer all the levels of her favorite video game version of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale.
Contest staff shouted over the mingling crowd, “Please vote, or George Lucas will redo Akira!” We were all hopeful that enough votes would materialize to appease our Sith Master, who held us all hostage with his Galactic Empire of disappointing prequels and remakes.
Children’s Division:
- Honorable Mentions: Maggie A-D, Sherry Carty, Genevieve Desilets, Stephanie Goeppner, Jaydth Kerns, Lillie Kilgore and Wolvie, Emmieline McClean, Michael Michalides, Anna Rederick, Leon Rimondi, Conner Saunders, Marcus Sheldon, Mikala Steinbrock, Elizabeth Tony, Hunter Wagner (different costume than BiS), John Wiseman, Lindsey Wren, and Beau Brannigan, John Carson, Branson May, and Sam Newell (group).
- Most Adorable Toddler: Carmen Tong
- Third Place, Child: Kids of Linda Joy Gubur
- Second Place, Child: Michael Beebe
- Best in Show, Child: Hunter Wagner
- Best Star Trek Family: Javier Jimenez and Family
Adult Division:
- Strangest: Joseph Robertson
- Best “Woman”: Robert Gaines
- Best Group: Brian Pinella, Russell Brooks, Diedra Robinson, and Robert Carruth
- Best Sci-fi: Gareth Ellner
- Best Villains: Katherine Hall and Katrina Ketel
- Best Sesame Street: Trevor Groffar and Andrew Beard
- Best Use of the Smallest Amount of Material: Joan King
- Best Anime Character: David Bertrack
- Best Movie Character: Jamie Slomski and Thomas Jones (tied)
- Best Video Game: Sascha and Lance Blackburn
- Best Toy: Ryan Fried
- Best Graphic Novel: Cami and Jeff Roebuck
- Best Transformers: Cori Imundi
- Best Disney Character: Vera Campbell
- Best Humor: Kevin Coppa
- Best Steampunk: Tyler C. Althaker and Isack Scaggs
- Best Retro: Randy and April Vaughn, Cynthia Moore, and Turtle Amiri-Owgus
- Best Disney Villain: Cindy Lopresto
- Best Doctor Who: Sarah Hood and Ryan Jones
- Best Comic Book Character: Donna Ioannidis
- Staff Favorite: Rebecca Finch, Lindsay Stewart, Michael Stewart, and Wade Finch
- Best in Show: Trent Henson
