August 31, Dragon Con hosted its annual parade through downtown Atlanta. The parade, featuring fandom representation from dozens of tracks of media, drew in massive crowds.
Dragon Con, which attracts thousands of people to Atlanta every Labor Day weekend, comprises vendor halls, group photo opportunities, celebrity meet-and-greets, a large parade, and hundreds of panels. Featuring panels on topics such as Science fiction, Anime, Horror, Star Trek, Cosplay, and High fantasy, it’s difficult to find an unrepresented group.
“This will be my seventeenth year (attending)… I like the cosplay, meeting the celebrities, it’s just a lot of fun,” Said participant, Aron
Like Aron, many participants are dedicated to the con, returning every year without fail. From year to year, there is always something new to explore: from new art vendors to first-time panels.
However, the ever-changing features do not make for a lack of tradition. The con hosts many customs, such as the self-proclaimed “cults,” that continue yearly. For instance, the “Mariot carpet cult,” consists of a group of people who wear clothing in the pattern of the old Mariot carpet. This group formed in protest when the Mariot removed this patterned carpet from their hotel, replacing it with another design.
Nevertheless, Dragon Con welcomes new participants every year, with over 70,000 in attendance in 2024.
“This is my first time coming to Dragon Con… my friend had a table… and he said, ‘Why don’t you share a table with me,’ so, I decided to share a table” Said Vendor, Ro Lamb.
Bringing in attendants from Connecticut to Texas, it is inarguable that Dragon Con attracts a unique crowd, with interests of all types. Yet, despite the variations in culture, interests, and beliefs, the sense of community remains strong.