CORECON 2024 COSTUME CONTEST RULES

These rules are in effect so that all participants entering the Costume/Masquerade contest at CoreCon have a fun and an enjoyable time. Remember this is an all-ages show and we expect all behavior to be kept within the PG-13 or “family friendly” rating system. Any and all questions can be brought to CoreCon’s Costume staff. We want to make our Costume Contest an enjoyable event for everyone!

WHO CAN ENTER: Open to anyone in costume ages 13+
FEE: No fee to participate
EVENT DATE: May 25th, 2024 at 7:00 PM

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: May 24th, 2024 at 5pm

• Schedule:

• Workmanship Judging (Mandatory) – 10:00am – 12:00pm – Embassy B

• Final Lineup & Walkthrough (Mandatory) – 4:30pm to 6:30pm – Sterling Room

• Contest – 7:00PM – Sterling Room

AWARDS PRESENTED EACH YEAR:

• Best in Show

• Best in Class

• Novice

• Journeyman

• Master

ADDITIONAL AWARDS THAT MAY BE PRESENTED:

• Workmanship

• Representation of Theme

• Makeup

• Props

• Re-Creation

• Audience Favorite

• Homemade

Anyone wishing to participate in the contest must register before 5pm on May 24th, 2024. Registration must be done via the Google Form online. There will be no paper registration. If you have any questions or need assistance with registering, please contact the Contest Director or other CoreCon staff.

CoreCon invites anyone who is 13+ years old in a costume to participate. All entrants will be judged individually on their costume along with presentation. Award Categories are listed above.

1. Anyone wishing to participate in the contest must register before 5pm on May 24th, 2024, the day before the Costume Contest event. Registration must be done via the Google Form online, which can be found at the following web address: https://www.fargocorecon.org/costume-contest/. There will be no paper registration forms. If you have any questions or need assistance in registering, please contact CoreCon’s Costume Contest staff or a CoreCon staff member.

2. All contestants MUST show up for workmanship judging and walk through. If you do not attend both events, you will not be allowed to compete. NO EXCEPTIONS! We need to see your costume up close and how you will be presenting it. Both of these are important to judging.

3. The CoreCon Costume Contest, including Cosplay, is for costumers presenting themes from Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mythology, Anime, Theater, and other realms of the imagination. Costumes that are meant to accurately represent historical or cultural dress are also encouraged. If you are wearing street clothes, you will be asked to exit the stage. Questions can be directed to CoreCon’s Costume Contest staff. All costumes and presentations must be family friendly. If you think your performance or costume might be interpreted by others as offensive or risqué, we ask you to re-evaluate it. Costumes judged prior to the contest as indecent or inappropriate will be disqualified and WILL NOT be allowed on stage.
   If your performance becomes inappropriate while on stage you WILL be asked to leave by the Contest Director. This includes wardrobe malfunction both intentional or unintentional and dialogue or music that might contain material intentionally offensive to persons of any ethnic, racial, religious, gender or sexual orientation.
   Costumes that abide by state decency codes are acceptable. More information regarding the state of North Dakota’s decency codes can be found by using this website link: https://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t12-1c27-1.pdf. This rule is meant to encompass all material, including jokes that mock people that are of “alternative” religious groups, sexual groups or differing race or ethnic groups. Do not include swear words (blasphemous, crude or sexual in nature) during any part of your performance. This also includes promoting or making fun of child molestation or child pornography, cruelty to animals, and sexual assault. Additionally, depiction of drug use or underage drinking is frowned upon.
   The Contest Director makes all final decisions and does not need to give any explanation. If you have any questions as to the suitability of your costume or performance, it is in your best interest to contact CoreCon’s Costume Contest staff prior to the close of registration at 5 PM, May 24th, 2024.
   You may register as an individual or group. A person registering as an individual MAY NOT also participate in a group. Entrants may be on stage only once. A group may consist of up to six (6) individuals. A group will be considered a single entity and will only receive ONE prize per category. It is the responsibility of the members of the group to decide how to share it. Any group over six (6) persons needs to first be approved by the Contest Director before the close of registration at 5 PM, May 24th, 2024.

4. Costumers that win a major award (i.e.; Best of…) at CoreCon are not permitted to compete in that same costume in future years. The person wearing the winning costume is able to compete as long as they wear a new or different costume.

5. Individual presentations may not exceed 30 seconds on stage. Group entries may not exceed one (1) minute. Remember: presentation can make or break your costume. Microphones WILL NOT be available on the stage unless you are entering as Cosplay.

6. If you are interested in doing anything combat related as part of your costume or cosplay, you MUST clear it with the Costume Contest Director prior to the close of registration at 5 PM, May 24th, 2024. Remember: you will be performing at your own risk. Fire, flame, or projectiles of any kind are prohibited.Please DO NOT use any substance that is sticky, gooey, or which may leave a path behind you (i.e.; wet, dry or oily substances) as part of your costume or presentation. Additionally, if you leave a mess YOU will be required to clean it up. Please leave the stage in the same condition as you found it. You are responsible for picking up any items you discard while on stage (including anything your costume may shed). If you feel you need help with this, please ask a friend. Volunteers will not be available to assist you.

7. Live animals ARE NOT allowed unless they are guide animals to assist a person who has a disability.

8. Please surprise the audience, surprise the judges, surprise yourself, but DO NOT surprise the Contest Director. Please check with the Contest Director if you have any questions about your presentation prior to the close of registration at 5 PM, May 24th, 2024. If you would like to communicate with the Costume Director, please email contests@fargocorecon.org and they will get back to you as soon as possible.                              

9. The Contest Director has complete, full and final authority over all aspects of the Costume Contest. The Contest Director has the authority to waive any of the above rules in regards to an entrant’s costume submission on a case by case basis.

10. CoreCon’s Costume Contest is all about having fun! We hope you enjoy your time spent with us and we wish you lots of luck!