For the first time, Dragon Con will be restricting its popular parade to attendees of the sci-fi convention only.
In the past, an estimated 80,000 people would crowd the sidewalks to watch stormtroopers, pirates, animé characters, zombies and superheroes parade down Peachtree Street. Many spectators in the past had not paid for a badge to be at the convention, but were merely there to see the parade and take selfies with costumed characters.
It’s unclear how this will logistically be enforced on public sidewalks. “We are still working on the details and will have that out before the convention,” said Dan Carroll, Dragon Con spokesman. He noted that a similar rule was in place during the AJC Peachtree Road Race banning spectators and he felt it worked.
Organizers recommend that those not attending the convention watch the parade on CW69 (WUPA-TV) or YouTube instead. The parade is scheduled for Sept. 4 from 10 a.m. to about noon.
The convention itself runs from Sept. 2-6.
Masks will also be required during the convention in all public spaces, including panels, celebrity signings, costume contests, gaming areas and the like. And there will be more restrictive capacity limits than normal.
Carroll said these moves were made as a precaution given the current situation regarding COVID-19.
The convention itself has grown over the years, from 28,000 attendees in 2009 to 85,000 in 2019, the last time the convention was live. Last year, the convention was entirely virtual. Attendance may end up being closer to 40,000 this year.
Carroll said day passes ($20 to $60 depending on the day) and four-day passes ($140) are still available. The convention will not make one-day passes available for Saturday, the most popular day of the con.
Celebrity guests include Zachary Levi (“Shazam!”), Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Lucifer”) and William Shatner (“Star Trek”).
Dragon Con’s growth in popularity over the years also forced the organizers to restrict access to the five participating downtown hotels ― the Hilton, the Hyatt Regency, the Marriott Marquis, Sheraton Atlanta and Westin Peachtree Plaza ― to badge holders and paid hotel guests on weekends.
About the Author
