Dragon Con returns this Labor Day weekend, and it’s bringing 75,000 fans, mind-blowing cosplay, and more geeky goodness than you can fit in a TARDIS. From screen legends to epic gaming, here’s your countdown of what makes Dragon Con 2025 unmissable.
10. The City Turns Into Nerdvana
From Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, downtown Atlanta transforms into a five-day fan wonderland spread across five host hotels and AmericasMart. Whether it’s your first con or your fifteenth, Dragon Con is the ultimate place to find your fandom family.
9. A Guest Lineup for the Ages
This year’s star power is out of this world: William Shatner, Simon Pegg, John Boyega, and Christopher Lloyd (celebrating Back to the Future’s 40th anniversary). They’ll be joined by David Boreanaz, Emily Deschanel, Brandon Routh, Vincent D’Onofrio, Emily Bett Rickards, and Katee Sackhoff.
8. The Muppets Take Dragon Con
Get ready to sing along and laugh with Muppeteers Bill Barretta (Pepe), Kevin Clash (Elmo), Bonnie Erickson (Miss Piggy), and Dave Goelz (Gonzo). Expect puppetry demos, panels, and plenty of felt-fueled fun.
7. 38 Tracks of Pure Fandom
With nearly 300 creators, authors, scientists, and industry pros, Dragon Con’s programming covers everything from high fantasy to hard science. No matter your fandom, there’s a panel (or three) for you.
6. Gaming Glory Awaits
Spanning three acres of space, Dragon Con gaming is legendary. Dive into PC and console play, tabletop RPGs, board games, LARPs, and collectible card games—all free with your badge. Bonus: Atlanta’s Joystick Game Bar is back with its retro arcade.
5. D&D With the Baldur’s Gate III Cast
Celebrity Dungeon Master Mark Meer returns to lead the cast of Baldur’s Gate III through an unforgettable adventure. He’ll also team up with Dad’s Garage for an improv-fueled Baldur’s Gate tribute show.
4. The Parade That Stops Atlanta
On Saturday, Aug. 30 at 10 am, Atlanta’s most colorful parade takes over Peachtree Street. With costumes ranging from superheroes to stormtroopers, it’s free, open to the public, and broadcast live on CBS Atlanta and DCTV.
3. Cosplay Legends Everywhere
Every hallway, lobby, and escalator becomes a runway. From the legendary Masquerade to Friday Night Costume Contest, Dragon Con showcases some of the best cosplay in the world. Don’t forget to vote in the fan-favorite Hallway Contest!
2. Giving Back in a Big Way
This year’s official charity is NAMI Georgia, supporting mental health education and advocacy. Dragon Con also runs the nation’s largest convention blood drive, with fans donating over 6,000 units each year.
1. The Community
More than the stars, games, and panels, it’s the fans who make Dragon Con legendary. Whether you’re meeting your heroes, joining a late-night singalong, or just bonding over your favorite fandom, Dragon Con is a celebration of community like no other.
Bonus Reason: Catch Me on Panel!
On Sunday, Aug. 31 at 4:00 PM in Marriott M302-M303, I’ll be joining the panel “Jurassic World: Born Again – But It’s Different?” 🦖 I’ll be in cosplay and bringing along a few Jurassic Park-themed giveaways. Come through, say hi, and let’s talk dinos!
ABOUT DRAGON CON
Dragon Con is the internationally known pop culture convention held each Labor Day Weekend (Aug. 28 – Sept. 1, 2025) in Atlanta. Organized for fans, Dragon Con features more than 3,500 hours of comics, film, television, costuming, art, music, and gaming over four days. For more information, please visit www.dragoncon.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
ABOUT SECOND UNION
Second Union is a pop culture/entertainment news portal created in 2016. Our aim has always been to bring our audience the latest information and updates regarding their favorite pop culture-related subjects. Via our website and social media platforms we explore the worlds of movies, television, comic books/graphic novels, music, video games, toys/collectibles and conventions. Our mission is to offer original content and unique points of view you won’t find anywhere else on the web. Our long-time goal is to ultimately become your favorite pop culture/entertainment news destination on the internet!
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