Unleash your creativity and showcase your craftmanship by dressing up as your favorite literary characters, superheroes, or pop culture icons for a chance to win gift card prizes! Whether you're a seasoned cosplayer or trying it out for the first time, the competition is open to participants ages eight and older with all skill levels.  

This contest will be fashion show style. The emcee will call registered contestants up to the stage to show off their costume and be interviewed by the emcee. Action poses, working with props, or calling out a character’s catch-phrase will be viewed favorably.  

The interview will be brief and involve three prompts: 

1. Can you tell us a little about your character? 

2. Can you tell us about the process of creating your costume? 

3. Can you close us out by saying something in character as your character? 

The judges will be evaluating the appearance and quality of the costume, the likeness of the costume to their character, the effort put into creating the costume, and the contestant’s stage presence. The contest is open to characters from published works, including movies, TV shows, comic books, cartoons, video games, and card games. 

The contest will broken into three groups: Youth (Ages 8-12), Teen (Ages 13-18), and Adult (Ages 19+). Each group will have a first place, second place, and third place winner. Parent/guardian permission is required for those in the Youth group.

Online registration ends August 24, at 9:30 AM. Contestants can check in on Saturday, August 24, from 10 to 10:30 a.m. at the Costume Contest registration table in the lobby. Last-minute contestants will be able to register in person from 10 to 10:30 AM at the same table.

The contest will begin at 10:30 AM and be followed by an all-ages Costume Parade around the library at noon. The winners will be announced and prizes given out at 2 PM in the Program Rooms. 

Rules and Regulations

1. No real weapons are allowed in the library. Any and all weapons and/or props must be made of plastic or foam and obviously fake. Weapons/props which do not meet this guideline will not be permitted. No blades and no projectiles. Security on site reserves the right to confiscate any weapons which do not meet these criteria. 

2. Costumes, introductions, and actions on stage must be in good taste. No offensive language or unruly behavior is permitted. 

3. The use of glitter, liquids, or any other objects that will cause a mess are prohibited. Throwing items into the audience or any movements that could compromise the safety of contestants or spectators is prohibited. 

4. Gore, graphic violence, nudity (or the appearance of nudity), profanity, and political/religious statements will not be allowed. Library staff has the final say on costumes deemed inappropriate. 

5. For safety reasons, please wear footwear at all times. Skates and rollerblades are not allowed. 

6. Any contestants under the age of 10 must have a parent/guardian present. 

7. Mock or play-fighting is not allowed in the hallways or in the building.