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Craftsmanship Contest

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Deadline: May 02, 2026 10:00 am (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
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DTL CON-Quest
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Date: May 01, 2026 10:00 am - May 02, 2026 6:00 pm (EST)
place
125 N Clayton St, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046, United States

About the event

Get ready for an award-winning (FREE) 2-day celebration at DTL CON-Quest, presented in partnership with Galactic Quest! What began as the beloved Free Comic Book Day event has grown into a full convention experience. And this year, in honor of our 10-year partnership anniversary, we’re celebrating with a new name and a fresh new look for the event! Join us as we level up the fun with comics, cosplay, creators, games, activities, and so much more right in the heart of Downtown Lawrenceville. Join us on May 1st, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM, and May 2nd, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, for DTL CON-Quest: "Every Adventure Begins with a Spark,". Get ready to ignite new passions or fuel existing ones. Wear your favorite costume or cosplay and embark on the #DTLcomicquest for FREE comic books scattered throughout The DTL. Whether you're a cosplayer, sci-fi enthusiast, or fantasy lover, this event offers something for everyone to enjoy! Immerse yourself in the world of comics with expert-led panels and workshops covering comic creation, game development, cosplay, and storytelling. Mark your calendars and join us for this incredible adventure... because, trust us, "Every Adventure begins with a Spark!" For a sneak peek at which books will be available, visit: freecomicbookday.com/catalog. This event is the proud recipient of the Kaleidoscope Awards for the following categories: 2025 Best Brochure-Awarded Bronze 2024 Best Event under $75,000-Awarded Gold 2023 Best Marketing Concept - Awarded Gold 2023 Best Children’s Event/Programming/ Engagement - Awarded Bronze
City of Lawrenceville
City of Lawrenceville
Contact Organizer
City of Lawrenceville
City of Lawrenceville
Contact Organizer

About the application

Takes place on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026. Cosplay is more than just wearing a costume, but fully embodying a character through both costuming and performance. Our competition celebrates cosplayers who bring characters to life with handmade costumes, welcoming creators of all skill levels to showcase their work on the grand stage. Cosplayers will be judged in the morning and then showcase their craftsmanship later in the day. Stay tuned to @the_dtl on Instagram for updates. By attending, participants consent to having their likeness photographed or recorded for future use. Prizes brought to you by Famore, MomoCon, and the City of Lawrenceville. Rules & Guidelines-- This is a craftsmanship contest—costumes must be at least 70% handmade or altered to compete, unless entering the Novice category, in which case 60% must be handmade or altered. Pre-judging: Choose a timeslot for pre-judging between 10:00 am - 11:30 am on May 2nd, 2026, at the Lawrenceville Arts Center (125 N Clayton St, Lawrenceville, GA 30046). Each participant will have about 5 minutes with the judges. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early. Specific arrival instructions will be provided closer to the date. Contestants must check in at the Lawrenceville Arts Center to walk the Grand Stage and hear contest results. Failure to attend will result in forfeiture of any potential prizes. Categories-- Novice: No major or category awards in any craftsmanship competition; 1-2 minor awards (e.g., judges' choice, audience choice). Category winner will receive- (1) 4-day Badge to MomoCon, a MomoCon Swag Bag, (1) AWA 2026 pass, $50 Famore' gift card, a Surebonder Cosplay Creators Kit, and other goodies provided by the city of Lawrenceville. Journeyman: 1-3 major or category awards in Novice or Journeyman. The category winner will receive- (1) 4-day Badge to MomoCon, a MomoCon Swag Bag, an AWA 2026 Badge, $75 Famore' gift card, a Surebonder Cosplay Creators Kit + Glue Roll, and other goodies provided by the city of Lawrenceville. Masters: 1-5 major awards in Novice or Journeyman, or 1 award in the Master’s category. The category winner will receive the grand prize “Go to MomoCon” package, which includes 2 (4) day Badges to MomoCon and a Thursday to Sunday Reservation at the Omni Atlanta, an AWA 2026 Badge, $100 Famore' giftcard, a Surebonder Cosplay Creators Kit + Silicone Mat, and other goodies provided by the city of Lawrenceville. Judges' Choices will receive- $25 Famore' Gift Card, AWA merch, Surebonder Cosplay Glue, sponsor coupons, and other goodies provided by the city of Lawrenceville. We can’t wait to see the incredible creativity and craftsmanship on display!

Terms & Conditions

Please arrive at your pre-judging time slot 5-10 minutes early. Judges may change a contestant's category upward at their discretion. Cosplays that have won previous awards are eligible to be entered, however, these should either be minor awards, such as judges or audience choice, or if a cosplay has won in a lower category, that cosplay must be entered into a higher category, for example, if a costume has won best journeyman it must be entered into masters to be eligible. Please disclose this information in your application. It is not required, but encouraged to provide the judges with a printed reference photo of your character, and work-in-progress pictures. No glitter, confetti, or particles of any kind can be released on stage. This is a family friendly event. Cosplays must cover as much as a one piece swimsuit. Body-paint costumes are not eligible to win. The show adheres to the “PG-13 rule” when it comes to language and hand gestures on stage.

Shifts

Title Location Time Slots available Hours
Pre-judging Time Slot #1 144 E Crogan Street Lawrenceville, GA 30046 May 03, 2025 10:00 am - 10:30 am 5 1
Pre-judging Time Slot #2 144 E Crogan Street Lawrenceville, GA 30046 May 03, 2025 10:30 am - 11:00 am 6 1
Pre-judging Time Slot #3 144 E Crogan Street Lawrenceville, GA 30046 May 03, 2025 11:00 am - 11:30 am 6 1

Questions on the application

Volunteer information

  • Name
  • Email
  • Phone
  • Age
  • Emergency contacts

Additional information

  • Preferred stage name
  • Please provide the phonetic pronounciation for your preferred name
  • What are your perfered pronouns
  • Please select a category you would like to compete in
  • Character Name and Phonetic Pronounciation
  • What source material does the character come from?
  • Please provide a short description of how your cosplay was made:
  • I understand that this is a family friendly event and if my cosplay does not abide by the competition rules I will not be able to participate.
  • Has this cosplay won any previous awards?
  • Please upload a reference photo of the character
  • Which statement most closely aligns with you?
  • What size T-shirt do you wear?
  • How did you hear about Free Comic Book Day?
Craftsmanship Contest
Craftsmanship Contest
DTL CON-Quest
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