This year’s Dragon Con celebrated its 30th year September 2nd – 5th as Atlanta, Georgia’s yearly multigenre convention over the Labor Day weekend. With over 70,000+ attendees, the pop culture convention features hundreds of guests and spans across five venues and a marketplace…Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta Hilton and Towers, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, Westin Peachtree Plaza and AmericasMart. Dragon Con has kindly set up shuttle service, but for the best “people watching” and the meeting of new friends, it’s best to walk. It’s a lot of walking!
As this year’s fun comes to an end, lets check out some of the highlights of Dragon Con 2016. From cosplay to panels to offsite events to vendors and the most anticipated event, the 15th annual parade, Dragon Con was filled with fun 24 hours!
There were hundreds of panels to choose from to attend. Such as, Create-a-Puppet Workshop: Dragons!, Spotlight on Jim Steranko, NBC’s GRIMM and Netflix’s Daredevil.
In the Marriott Atrium Ballroom, moderated by Marc Lee the attendees and I got a little scoop and a few hints about Netflix’s Defenders as well as some “becoming Daredevil” stories from The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen himself, Charlie Cox. Here’s a short clip of the Daredevil – Hells Kitchen’s Savior panel:
To my excitement and surprise, Dragon Con got its first Con Exclusive Funko Pop! – Dragon Ball Z Chocolate Majin Buu. Non DBZers, Who is Majin Buu and why is he chocolate? (Yes, I wish it was edible too.) Check out this clip of Majin Buu and his chocolate beam (an energy wave technique used to turn people into food.).
And then the plethora of cosplayers in every corner or atrium of every host hotel and among the streets of Atlanta. Many come from far and wide to get a look at the highly detailed costumes.
Dragon Con is by far THE best Con featuring THE best cosplayers.
For more Dragon Con Cosplay goodness, check out a compiled video of what was seen in the lobbies and streets at Dragon Con 2016:
There are many, many outside events to feed your nerdom hunger. One of which is my favorite and is always a sell out party, Dragon Con Night at the Aquarium. The venue is closed to the public and only open to ticket holders with VIP and General Admission ticket levels. And if you are one of the lucky 1500 to first enter the event, you are gifted with an exclusive Dragon Con 2016 lapel pin. With entry you get to peruse the aquarium, mix and mingle and dance with friends and enjoy the biggest festivity, the costume contest. It is a night full of adventure and entertainment!
There was much, much more to see and do during this year’s Dragon Con. Plans have already started for most for next year’s Con. Easily seen through the already sold out block of hotels at the Westin Peachtree plaza offered up this morning for Dragon Con 2017. Are you planning on attending next year? Follow us on Twitter @wearesecondu to let us know!
