WONDERCON 2025 MASQUERADE

  CONTESTANT INFORMATION, RULES, AND ONLINE ENTRY FORM


The Masquerade will be on Saturday, March 29, at 8:30 p.m. in the Anaheim Convention Center’s 2,000-seat North 200A ballroom. The event will run for two and one-half hours, and contestants will need to report at least 90 minutes before the show for costume prejudging and photography. A WonderCon badge valid for Saturday is required for participation. The optional contestant orientation on Saturday morning is also recommended. Contestants may bring a personal helper backstage with them if needed, with a Saturday attendee badge required.

MASQUERADE RULES

(1)  Costumes must be of original construction or show significant modification of pre-existing materials. No costumes are allowed that are purchased or otherwise obtained from a commercial or professional source. This is a show to celebrate creativity and craftsmanship, not shopping ability. It is expected that some costumes may include as minor elements some purchased items. If your entry utilizes many of these, check with the Masquerade Coordinator for approval. As a general rule, at least 75% of what you bring onto the stage must not have been purchased. You need to have made it yourself, perhaps a friend or relative did, but it cannot have been purchased.

(2)  Competing costumes are not to be worn at the convention on Friday or Saturday prior to the show, so please keep your entry safe and out of sight until Saturday evening to surprise the judges and audience. Very briefly posing for photos outdoors near the fountains is allowed beforehand. You may of course wear your costume after the Masquerade and on Sunday all you like!

(3)  Maximum time on stage: 1–2 people: 1 minute 30 seconds. 3–6 people: 2 minutes. 7 or more: 2 minutes 30 seconds. If you would like more time on stage, check with the coordinator beforehand. Show off your costume well and enjoy yourself, but remaining on stage too long can lessen the impact of your presentation, but do not be too quick to exit from the stage either!

(4)  Prohibited items and actions: Liquids, messy substances, smoke, fog, flame, or anything that may pose a danger or set off fire alarms is not allowed on stage. The unsheathing of bladed weapons is not allowed without clearance from the coordinator. No throwing items into the audience or touching the emcee. Nothing is allowed that would earn a movie an “R” rating. No nudity. Violating these rules can disqualify you and possibly result in a security escort off the premises.

(5)  Category definitions: If you are unsure if your costume is an original design or a re-creation, or perhaps you feel it belongs in both categories, which happens sometimes, we will simply let the judges at the event sort it out after they take a close study of it:

  Re-Creation: a costume copied from a pre-existing design, such as from a movie, TV show, comic book, video game, artwork, Broadway show, collectible statuette, toy, or from history.

•  Original Design: a design original to the maker/wearer. It may be inspired by some work of fantasy, science fiction, mythology, fan art, and so on, but is not a copy.

 Young Fan: ages 12 through 17. Young fan costumes also are in one of the two other categories.

(6)  Eligibility of costumes: If your costume appeared in a previous Comic-Con International Masquerade, it may also compete here. Previous WonderCon Masquerade costumes may not compete again, nor costumes already worn extensively in the halls in prior years. If your costume has been presented at prior conventions other than WonderCon or Comic-Con International, it is welcome here. You may enter as many costumes in the event as you like, but they must be worn by different people. One costume per body, unless it is a costume that transforms on stage. You are not required to be a U.S. citizen to participate.

(7)  Contestants agree to report in with staff in the backstage rooms no later than 7:00 p.m. Saturday (6:00 p.m. is best) and to allow video recording and photography of themselves in their costumes for judging and for non-profit promotional purposes, such as on our website.

(8)  The Coordinator may reject an entry on the basis of inappropriate or unsafe behavior or content, or because of too many purchased items, or because the construction materials or techniques used do not meet the criteria of quality and content for the show, or because the event has reached its limit for entries.

(9)  Children under age 12 are not accepted in the show, and for safety concerns are not allowed on stage or in backstage areas, as these are deemed not adequately safe environments for them. Minors must have a parent or guardian backstage, and they will be asked to sign a permission and release form at the convention. Minors may not perform combat simulations on stage.


Submit an entry form no later than March 10. Reserving a slot early is recommended as the number of entries is limited! Photos of the costume you will be wearing are required for review to assure meeting the criteria for sufficient original crafting, quality, and content. Until your photos are approved your entry is only tentatively accepted. You may email your photos to masq@comic-con.org the same day you submit your entry form, or submit a form now and email photos at a later date, but no later than March 10. “Work in progress” photos are acceptable if only a small amount of work remains. Group entries must provide photos of all the costumes. You may also bring photos and submit an entry at the Masquerade desk at the convention Friday if there are any available slots. When we become filled, we create a waiting list to fill contestant spots that arise from cancellations. Sometimes cancellations can even occur at the convention.

Upon arrival at WonderCon, contestants should sign in at the Masquerade desk in the Convention Center lobby to complete some important show forms. If you don’t sign in by 10:30 a.m. Saturday, we may assume you have canceled and release your spot to someone on the waiting list. Please return completed show forms by 12:00 noon Saturday, either at the desk or the contestant orientation. All contestants and their helpers need backstage passes, obtainable at the desk and at the orientation. Desk hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

We strongly suggest attending the Masquerade contestant orientation from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday in Convention Center room 201ABC, where we will discuss your technical needs and answer questions. You will not need your costume then, but you may bring it and any other show items you have and store them there all day until 6:00 p.m. if you wish. This room will contain a rehearsal stage available for practice all day, and it will have similar dimensions to the real Masquerade stage in the ballroom. You can also work on your costume there if needed.

Please do not wear your contest costume at the convention before it is seen in the Masquerade. Why do we ask this? Our audience of 2,000 comes to spend the evening seeing something very special, not what they’ve already passed by in the halls. This will also protect your costume from the wear and tear that can occur wearing it during the day, especially if the weather is warm and the crowds large. Posing for photos outdoors near the fountains is allowed beforehand, but only very briefly. We have seen great costumes drop out of the show due to damage from earlier in the day or the wearer’s exhaustion. So keep yours out of sight until Saturday night so it will be a surprise to the audience, and so that it, and you, will be fresh and looking perfect for the judges viewing and the many photos.

MUSIC: If you are incorporating music (recommended), pre-recorded narration, or any other recorded sound with your presentation, email an MP3 or MP4 file to masq@comic-con.org by March 12 (earlier is better) to allow us time to review it for any needed changes. There will be NO microphones given to contestants, so any speech must be on your recording, or printed for the emcee to read. We pay ASCAP/BMI for music performance rights, so we can play any copyrighted music without issues. If you want music but cannot decide what fits, let us know and we can provide some. If you prefer presenting your costume in dramatic silence, that is certainly fine too.

STAGE INFORMATION: The performance area of the stage will be 32′ wide by 24′ deep, elevated 30″ from the floor. Going up to stage level will require climbing steps. Normal entry will be stage right (when you are facing the audience, your right is stage right), with exit on stage left. Groups may enter and exit from both sides. The lighting will darken between presentations but will not go completely black for safety reasons. Curtains at stage left and right will conceal the stair entry areas. The emcee will be at stage left, and the judges will be seated at the center-front of the audience. We will send you a diagram of the stage, backstage areas, and additional information after receiving your entry form to further assist you in your planning. Special accommodation for people with disabilities or a language barrier is possible if we are informed of the specific needs in advance.

IMPORTANT CHECK-IN TIME: When arriving for the show that evening, backstage check-in time starts at 6:00 p.m., but no later than 7:00 p.m., and you must be stage-ready by 7:15 p.m. to allow for reference photos and for the judges to take close-up looks of your work. If you do not check in by 7:00 p.m., we will have to assume something caused you to cancel and we will remove you from the show because certain technical aspects are coordinated in advance. In the backstage rooms we will have mirrors, worktables, and private pipe-and-drape dressing rooms and large bathrooms available for changing in. Or you can dress elsewhere (hotel, etc.) and then report backstage already in costume. If you dress away from the Convention Center, please try to cover your costume if you can and avoid lingering in crowded areas as you make your way to the event. We will also have an emergency costume repair kit available with various glues, glue guns, duct tape, fabric tape, sewing supplies, spirit gum, wire, staplers, drinking straws and more.

Following your stage appearance, you will be escorted to the photo area to pose for a few minutes. You must remain in the backstage areas until the award presentations conclude since you may win an award and be called back on stage to receive it and all the applause!

LARGE OR HEAVY ITEMS: Experienced contestants and stage performers know the rule: “Surprise the audience but never surprise the backstage crew.” We love elaborate costumes and presentations, but tell us ahead of time, and try to plan to transport items yourself or with your helpers. Our backstage crew is happy to assist you, but they are not intended to be your primary means of carrying heavy items. You may bring your costume, props, and other items into Convention Center room 201 any time after 10:00 a.m. on Saturday to store them until 6:00 p.m. if you like.

LOADING DOCK & MOBILITY INFORMATION: The ballroom stage is located on the second floor. If the Convention Center stairs, escalator, or passenger elevator will not be adequate for you, a freight elevator should easily manage those giant robots, winged dragons, unwieldy set pieces and so on. Please notify us early if you think you will need the loading dock elevator, or if you would be helped by a wheelchair lift to get up to stage level.

REFERENCE MATERIALS: If your costume is a re-creation, we strongly suggest providing the judges with reference images of what it is based on, since not all of them may be familiar with what you are re-creating. You may submit reference materials to the Masquerade staff at WonderCon and they can be returned afterwards. A large photo or two will usually suffice, please no USBs or tablets. Some contestants supply binders showing a series of close-up photos of details and the construction process, even attaching fabric samples. It is certainly not a requirement but, in addition to helping the judges, a “workbook” can make for a fun keepsake of your entry, and some contestants have even used them to help obtain professional costuming jobs. One booklet is enough, the judges pass it around.

TROPHIES: The panel of judges will select winners of impressive WonderCon trophies in categories of Best In Show, Judges’ Choice, Best Re-Creation, Best Original Design, Best Workmanship, Most Humorous, Most Beautiful, and Best Young Fan. Those winners will also receive complimentary 3-day badges for WonderCon 2026. Note that complimentary badges may be used for 2027 instead and are non-transferable.

SPONSORED AWARDS & PRIZES:  Several companies and organizations will be generously presenting their own awards to winners that their representatives will select:

 • Frank And Son Collectible Show, of the City of Industry, California, “your one-stop show for ALL your collectible needs,” will take a break from their large biweekly mini-cons to present to the entry their representatives deem the audience favorite $500 cash.

 • The Costumer’s Guild West, the southern California costuming fandom group, will present a one-year membership to their CGW group, as well as one full scholarship and one night’s complimentary hotel stay to their annual weekend conference, Costume College®, held July 31–Aug 4, 2025 (winner may choose 2025 or 2026), at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel, to the entry they select as showing the most promise. Costume College promotes the art of costuming with educational lectures and workshops in every aspect of costuming.

 • Comic-Con International will once again present a special award given in memory of long-time Committee and Board Member Alan Campbell, who passed away and is sorely missed. Alan was a great fan of the Masquerade, often donating his own prizes. The Alan Campbell Award will be $500 cash, presented to the entry deemed Best Re-Creation of a Comics or Related Media Character or Characters, as selected by one of the guest judges.

We expect more organizations will join this list as the convention approaches.


WONDERCON 2025 MASQUERADE ENTRY FORM

ENTRY DEADLINE: MARCH 10, 2025

YOUR COSTUME CATEGORY IS (MARK WHICH APPLY):
YOUNG FAN (12–17)
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