Cosplay Rules:

General:

  • Badges must be visible at all times, regardless of your costume/dress.

  • White River Fan Con fully believes that COSPLAY IS NOT CONSENT. Please be respectful of your fellow congoers. We have no tolerance for harassment.

  • All cosplay events/panels have the potential to be photographed/filmed/recorded in some fashion. These recordings may be used in future galleries or promotions. Signing up for, and/or attending, any cosplay event is done with the understanding that recording could occur at any time, and permission is tacitly given for the participant's likeness to be used

  • All weapons will be subject to inspection before entry and at any point during the event

No functioning weapons are permitted including guns, projectile weapons, knives, blunt objects, etc. This also includes any explosives (including firecrackers, caps, fireworks) and chemical weapons (mace, pepper spray, etc).

NO LIVE STEEL will be permitted on the premises. Live steel is defined as swords, knives, bayonets, cane-swords, and/or other objects made of metal, which can take an edge. This holds true regardless of whether the object is actually sharp. This includes star knives/shurikens.

Replica firearms (including air soft guns, BB guns, cap guns, paintball guns, and pellet guns) must be marked with an orange tip.  Real guns and stun guns are NOT PERMITTED. Water guns are permitted as long as they are not loaded.

As a general note:  White River Fan Con staff members have the final say on whether something is appropriate/inappropriate

  • If it’s illegal outside the con, it’s illegal inside the con. White River Fan Con reserves the right to change our policies at any time. That said, we want all congoers to have fun and be able to proudly display their costumes!

  • White River Fan Con is an all-ages family friendly  event. Content should not go beyond a PG-13 rating.

  • Offensive language of any kind is not allowed – no racial or sexual epithets; no profanity, etc.

  • No sexual activity or contact – real or implied.

  • All costumes must cover “swimsuit areas”, no nudity, no nipples visible regardless of gender

  • Excessively revealing clothing or costumes are not permitted. Private areas must be covered with opaque cloth at all times. Attendees in excessively revealing attire will be asked to change. Your attire must cover all areas normally covered by a swimsuit, as well as nipples (regardless of gender).

  • Footwear must be worn at all times. 

  • All costumes and props must adhere to White River Fan Con’s safety, dress, and weapon policies. 

  • Any modifications made to costumes or props to fit within these rules will not be counted against the contestant during craftsmanship judging.

Contest

  • The Cosplay Contest will run from 2:30pm- 4:00pm

  • Contestants must follow the Convention General Cosplay Rules

  • One entry per person: one walk-on masquerade or one craftsmanship.  You cannot do both.

  • The contest sign up is first come first serve for the first 50 entries or until 1:45 pm on Saturday, whichever comes first

  • Contestants will be allowed about 3 minutes to present their cosplays to the judges

  • Contestants will be expected to present their work on stage

  • Contestants are encouraged to inform staff if they themselves have any physical/visual impairments that would require accommodations

  • Contestants may not throw anything off the stage or into the crowd

  • Pyrotechnics or special effects such as fireworks, flash paper, or smoke machines will not be allowed.

  • Everything brought onto the stage during a walk-on must be removed at the end of the time limit

  • Messy substances including confetti, glitter, flower petals, and water are not allowed

  • No electrical power connections will be provided. If your costume requires power it must be part of your costume design

  • You may surprise the audience, but please never surprise the staff/judges

  • Contestants may not use stage time to make political, religious, insulting, or other demonstrations not related to their entry.

  • All decisions made by the judges are final

  • Costumes that have won a major award (Best in Show, 1st Place in a category, etc) at any convention are ineligible to receive a major award at White River Fan Con 

    • Please be upfront about any awards your costume has won in the past, if any.

    • If you have any questions about major awards or category placement, please contact the cosplay coordinators. 

  • Up to 1 minute on stage (Skits included).   If you go beyond 1 minute and do not leave stage when asked, you will be disqualified from winning

  • Lineup will begin 20 minutes before contest time

  • Contestants under the age of 18 need a parent or legal guardian present at the cosplay competition to sign a waiver in order for that contestant to compete in the cosplay contest.

Craftsmanship 

  • Craftsmanship contestants must have made at least 50% or more of their cosplay themselves to be considered for Craftsmanship Category

  • Prejudging will be done on Saturday from 11:30 am-2:00 pm

Masquerade 

  • Masquerade cosplays are for any outfit that is slightly modified or bought

Kids

  • For cosplayers under 13 years of age

    • If crafted more than 50%, put that on the form so the judges will know


Anyone who violates these rules will be disqualified from the competition and required to leave the library. We reserve the right to remove anyone from this event at any time. If for any reason we feel that actions pose a threat or hazard to others, we will ask you to stop or you will be removed from the event.