Cosplay Parade is a fun and inclusive event that allows cosplayers to be seen with no stress. Cosplay worn on stage can be bought or made and can be of any genre or fandom. Any and all skill levels are welcome to participate in the parade!
Cosplayers must be
15 years or older to perform. Anyone under 15 is invited to compete in the Kids Cosplay Comp. Information is available through our website.
Cosplays must meet the duty of care expectations for our attendees. Consideration needs to be made to the following rules to ensure the safety of the cosplayer and those attending.
- Costumes and props can be worn and held around the AVCon event as long as they do not violate any of the following conditions.
- Costumes of an excessive size and weight are restricted at AVCon. Costumes cannot be exceed 2.5 metres in height or 2.5 metres in width.
- Props or weapons cannot exceed 2 meters in overall length.
- Anything that produces flames or an explosion effect (such as fireworks or pyrotechnics) is expressly forbidden.
- Anything decoration or aspect that may easily fall off or is designed to come off and litter the stage and cannot be removed quickly (such as confetti, glitter, small feathers, or other debris) is banned as this may create a mess and hazards for other attendees.
- Lasers are not permitted regardless of strength. LED/COB lights are welcome.
- Self-generated smoke or vapour as part of a costume may be allowed but will need to be assessed before the event. If you have such a costume please email cosplay@avcon.org.au before the event with descriptions and photos of your costume. Team AVCon reserves the right to restrict any costume from the event.
- Metal spikes, shields, or armour need to be de-burred and safe for public wear. Sharp edges pose a risk to the costumer and others. Barbed wire is not acceptable in any form.
- Costumes or props made from metal, glass or materials that can be heavy or dangerous need to be assessed before the event. If you have such a costume, please email cosplay@avcon.org.au before the event with descriptions and photos of your costume. Team AVCon reserves the right to restrict any costume from the event.
- Any attendee who attempts to attend AVCon with costumes and props that violate the above conditions and has not cleared them with Team AVCon prior to the event will be restricted from entering the event.
- Even in the case that a prop does not violate any of these conditions, all props will have to be presented to prop check to be verified and tagged.
- Costumes and Props that violate the above conditions but are not intended to be worn on the show floor and will be used solely in the competitions, with prior approval from Team AVCon, may be able to be checked into the AVCon Cloak Room and brought out only at competition time with help from assistants (provided by the applicant) and under supervision of AVCon staff.
- Masks, helmets, makeup, and facial coverings need to be easy to remove if requested by security, Festival staff and volunteers. Those wearing facial prosthetics may be asked for I.D.
- Decommissioned Firearms, BB or airsoft, Replica-type gel blasters, sports weapons, metal replicas, cap guns, ammunition, militaria/collector’s pieces, working bows or compound bows are NOT under any circumstances to be brought into AVCon.
- Anything that resembles or could be mistaken for firearms (such as a toy gun) must be modified to be clearly visible as a non-functioning prop, including being brightly coloured and having an orange cap on the tip of the barrel.
- Nothing is to be loaded into anything capable of firing a projectile.
- Any form of bat (baseball, cricket, etc.) made from metal, wood, or other heavy material is prohibited.
- Suitable footwear is required, and bare feet are prohibited. Any stilts, wheels or rollerblades need to be assessed before the event. If you have such a costume please email cosplay@avcon.org.au before the event with descriptions and photos of your costume.
- Team AVCon reserves the right to restrict any costume from the event.
Costumes must adhere to a family-friendly show, including all interactions and behaviours.
- Team AVCon is the sole judge of what is acceptable at the AVCon event, and Team AVCon reserves the right to bar entry, request costume changes, or evict any attendee who violates these rules.
- All costumes must have enough coverage to be worn in public and in good taste. Small or exposing costumes must have stockings or other modesty panels (such as pasties) to keep the integrity of the cosplayer. The use of dance belts and coverage of any outline of genitals in costume is required.
- Obscene, offensive, or insensitive use of makeup, SFX or cosplay that supports hate and hate groups are explicitly banned in AVCon.
- Gore and graphic violent elements need to be assessed before the event. If you have such a costume, please email cosplay@avcon.org.au before the event.
- Any costumes that promote illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of these items/symbols) cannot be used in the contest. This also includes activities that appear unsafe or dangerous.
- Costumes cannot promote political agenda messages, defamation, or misrepresentation of the AVCon committee or other contestants and cosplayers in the community.
- Cosplayers and costumes cannot be in violation of any Australian law or depict actions defying them.
- For failing to comply with these expectations, attendees who violate these terms will be removed from the event and could be banned from future attendance at the Festival.
A reminder that as per AVCon's
General Terms and Policies, entry into AVCon constitutes a grant of rights to Team AVCon Incorporated to reproduce, display, distribute, perform, create derivative works, and otherwise use any media derived at the Festival.
Entry into AVCon constitutes consent to be filmed or photographed by AVCon staff or approved industry or media during the Festival without compensation to you.
Attendees should also be aware that staff members gather footage of the Festival and attendees in public areas, events, and panels, which may be used in a highlights tape for advertising or other uses. These rules apply to all Festival attendees.
