Dragon Con Wrap Up 2018 final (PDF Format) 

MULTITUDES MAKE THE ANNUAL POP CULTURE PILGRIMAGE TO DRAGON CON

More Than 80,000 Joined the Fun in Downtown Atlanta to

Meet Their Favorite Actors, Authors, Artists, and Other Creators

$85,000 Raised for Official Charity Literacy Action, Inc.

ATLANTA – September 3, 2018 – Dragon Con, Atlanta’s internationally known pop culture, fantasy, and sci-fi convention, attracted an estimated 80,000 people for the five-day celebration.

“We are proud to have organized an exciting convention that gave fans an opportunity to show off their spectacular costumes, make new friends, and meet their favorite creators. These are the reasons fans come back to Dragon Con year after year,” convention co-chair Rachel Reeves said. “Dragon Con has always been focused on delivering an awesome fan experience. We are perfectly comfortable with this year’s attendance.”

Fans came from around the world and all 50 states, with this year’s convention attracting people from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and other Pacific Rim countries.

Some of this year’s top guests include Once Upon a Time’s Jennifer Morrison, Ant Man & The Wasp’s Evangeline Lilly, Luke Cage’s Mike Colter, and Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin from Stranger Things.

In addition to Ant-Man and The Wasp and Stranger Things, other movies and television shows made in Georgia were well represented including Avengers: Infinity War, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, Jumanji, and CW’s Black Lightning. Fans also had a chance to talk with creators from Smite, perhaps the most popular video game to come out of Georgia.

Artemis, the latest book from Andy Weir, whose The Martian was turned into a major motion picture, collected a Dragon Award as the best Science Fiction Novel of the past year.  The Dragon Awards are the only fan’s choice award in fandom, with more than 11,000 people casting a ballot this year.

The convention’s newest track, Diversity in Speculative Fiction, attracted standing room only crowds to many of its panel discussions.

In its fundraising efforts, Dragon Con raised at least $85,000, including the convention match, for its 2018 official charity, Literacy Action, Inc., which helps build better futures for undereducated adults in the Atlanta area by teaching literacy, life skills, and work skills that empower them to reach their highest potential.

The convention has already selected it’s 2019 official charity. The American Heart Association’s Georgia Chapter will be the official charity, in honor of Thom Trainor, who was the long-time director of the convention’s Comics and Pop Artist division, who passed away this summer.

“Thom’s love of comics and art helped shape our comics and pop art programming into the unique experience it is today,” Reeves said.

In the months leading up to the 2018 convention, Dragon Con Superheroes community service program, volunteers and fans delivered more than 8,500 books for Literacy Action, supported Literacy Action’s Friends and Family Day graduation ceremonies by hosting games and serving the event’s meal, and gave a women’s shelter a top-to-bottom spring cleaning for Partnership Against Domestic Violence.  Since 2014, Dragon Con Superheroes have contributed more than 2,900 hours to Atlanta-area non-profits.

LifeSouth, which has organized the convention’s annual Robert A. Heinlein “Pay It Forward” blood drive since 2002, held another successful drive. This year, some 3,000 donors contributed nearly 6,000 units of blood and blood products.  The annual drive – consistently ranked as the largest convention-based blood drive – benefits LifeSouth, which serves more than 40 hospitals in the Atlanta area and 110 hospitals in the Southeast.

About Dragon Con

Dragon Con is the internationally known pop culture convention held each Labor Day in Atlanta. Organized for fans, Dragon Con features more than about 3,500 hours of comics, film, television, costuming, art, music, and gaming over four days. For more information, please visit www.dragoncon.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

We are deeply saddened by the events in Jacksonville earlier today, and our thoughts and condolences go out to the friends and family of all impacted.

We are still evaluating the events that have unfolded, and are working with the Atlanta Police Department, our host hotels, and our security team to continue to ensure that our event is safe and enjoyable for everyone. The safety of our attendees remains our top priority.

Members of the press attending Dragon Con must follow the policies of Dragon and are held accountable for violations. Further, we cannot allow reporters who support or encourage the violation of these policies to remain as approved members or the press.  The most common situations we have encountered are reporters encouraging attending Dragon Con without becoming a member or without a hotel room or other place to stay. These are both in violation of the spirit of Dragon Con and the safety of Dragon Con Members. Other violations we have encountered include mean spirited attacks on attendees or pranks intended to demean or harass our attendees. These violations will result in badges being pulled.

Click here to see the full list of policies

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Every year at Dragon Con, Dragon Con Media Relations welcomes reporters for a behind the scene tour and pub crawl starting at Twenty-Two Stories in the Hyatt Regency. This year the pub crawl is scheduled for August 29 at 7:00 PM.

After enjoying a time of camaraderie with fellow journalists and the DCMR volunteers at 22 Stories, we walk down to the Greenbriar Room for some updates on Dragon Con 2018, simple Q/A, and some background. Next we head to another of the hotel bars, while discussing the joy of Dragon Con and getting a behind the scenes peaks at Dragon Con being set up. Often we run into Dragon Con directors and volunteers who have a unique perspective on the event. Sometimes we even run into a guest or two. Our course is free and open so that we can explore new and interesting aspects of Dragon Con as they present itself. The tour itself lasts until roughly 10 PM, but reporters are free to continue to mingle all night.

UPDATE: We now have a Facebook Event for the Reporters Pub Crawl.

https://www.facebook.com/events/226165498214140/

All reporters are encouraged to attend. There is no charge for this event, but reporters are responsible for their own food and drink during the tour.

The annual Dragon con parade is not only a fan favorite, but one of our favorites as well. This year the parade will be held at 10 AM September 1, lasting roughly two hours.  Approved reporters will again be able to take advantage of the media area at the corner of Peachtree Street and Baker Street. Please approach from the Hyatt side and we recommend you arrive around 9:30 AM on Sept 1. Reporters will be allowed to take up close photographs and even walk along the marchers in the parade for a brief time.

Reporters will be allowed to gather along the parade right in the reporters corral.  Dragon Con Media Relations Volunteers will walk individual reporters through the parade for a short distance, and then a short distance back.  Several volunteers will be available so multiple reporters can experience the parade at a time.  We ask that reporters return to the corral when asked, and remember not to stand in anyone place too long as it affects the view of spectators.

Beginning at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Linden Avenue, the parade will head south on Peachtree, east (left) on Andrew Young International Boulevard and north (left) on Peachtree Center Avenue. It will end on Peachtree Center Avenue between John Portman Boulevard and Baker Street, in front of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

The route is similar to last year’s route at– miles, from .8 miles last year, and brings the route closer to the North Avenue MARTA station, in addition to Civic Center and Peachtree Center. Parking downtown is expected to be tight, and we encourage parade spectators to consider taking MARTA. If you are planning on coming out to view the parade only, we strongly encourage you to use the North Avenue MARTA station to avoid the majority of traffic around the general vicinity of Dragon Con.

Please note, North Avenue at Peachtree will be closed to pedestrian and motor traffic. North Avenue MARTA riders are encouraged to follow West Peachtree to Linden. Civic Center MARTA riders can head either North to Pine or South to Ivan Allen Jr.

 Contents: 

• • Where do I start when I get to Dragon Con? (Or how do I get my badge?)
  • Interview Requests for 2018
  • Media Relations Tour and Pub Crawl

Where do I start when I get to Dragon Con? (Or how do I get my badge?)

Dragon Con media relations do not mail out badges before the convention. We require each reporter to pick up their badge at Media Registration, located in the Greenbriar Room of the Hyatt Regency Hotel.  Please bring a government issued ID or a Press Pass/Employment ID to pick up your badge.

Hyatt Regency Atlanta
265 Peachtree Street NE,
Atlanta, Georgia, USA 30303
Tel: +1 404 577 1234 Fax: +1 404 588 4137

Once at the Hyatt Regency work your way to the lowest floor to the GREENBRIAR ROOM.

Read more about Onsite Guidelines for reporters: https://www.dragoncon.org/mediarelations/onsite-media-guidelines/#lenox

There are two navigation situations you will need to know about before arriving at the Hyatt Regency:

The Dragon Con Parade

Saturday morning September 1, 2018 crowds line up for the Dragon Con Parade in front of the Hyatt Regency as early as 7AM.  At 9:30 AM the roads along the parade route are closed.   They remain closed until the parade ends, roughly 11:30 AM.  If you are coming to Dragon Con to pick up your badges during this time, please approach the Hyatt Regency from the Marriott Side (Peachtree Center Ave). If you come via Marta, ensure yourself time to get to the Hyatt.

Accessing the Hyatt To Get Your Badge While Badge Checks are Enforced

Every year we at Dragon Con extend the hours for Hotel Badge Checks.  If you arrive during a time, for instance Friday evening after 7PM, and badge checks are in effect, you will not be allowed in the hotel. It is possible that the badge checker will understand that you are there to pick up your badge, so explain who you are and ask to be allowed to go to the Greenbriar Room. If that is not possible at this time, please call the Hyatt Regency Greenbriar Room and request an escort to lead you to the Greenbriar Room.  404 577 1234

Interview Requests for 2018

We have several types of interviews available for reporters to participate:

• Walk of Fame Guest Interviews: These interviews are by invitation only and are limited due to the limited time available with the Walk of Fame Guests.  If you are invited to apply for these interviews, you will be given a passcode that is used to request interviews.  If you have not gotten a passcode, it is most likely you were not selected for these limited interview slots.
  • Request An Interview
• Interviews with Writers/Artists/Comic Creators/Other Guests: These interviews are open to all reporters.  When the form is available for requests, we will announce it on Twitter and via email to all approved reporters.
  • Request Comic/Literary/Artist Interview
• Dragon Con Director Interviews: Approved Reporters can interview Dragon Con Directors by phone or Skype prior to the convention. This is an excellent way to get a insider’s point of view on the convention as well as highlight areas that might appeal directory to your fanbase. Please understand that Dragon Con Directors are unable to grant interviews at Dragon Con due to their work loads.
• Dragon Con Media Relations Director/Spokesperson Dan Carroll Interviews: Dan Carroll, Dragon Con Director of Media Relations for 9 Years, is available for interviews prior to the convention as well as during the convention. We recommend that you secure a time with him early (either on site of prior to Dragon Con) so that you can get some fantastic insights into Dragon Con.
  • Request Interview With Dragon Con Director
• Podcast Space at Dragon Con: Request a time for designated podcast recording at Dragon Con, right in our Dragon Con Media Relations Room. We will be providing a number of tables and electrical rigging to conduct your interviews. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide an internet connection.
  • Request Podcast Space

Media Relations Tour and Pub Crawl

Every year at Dragon Con, Dragon Con Media Relations welcomes reporters for a behind the scene tour and pub crawl starting at Twenty-Two Stories in the Hyatt Regency. This year the pub crawl is scheduled for  August 29 at 7:00 PM.

After enjoying a time of camaraderie with fellow journalists and the DCMR volunteers at 22 Stories, we walk down to the Greenbriar Room for some updates on Dragon Con 2018, simple Q/A, and some background. Next we head to another of the hotel bars, while discussing the joy of Dragon Con and getting a behind the scenes peaks at Dragon Con being set up.  Often we run into Dragon Con directors and volunteers who have a unique perspective on the event. Sometimes we even run into a guest or two.  Our course is free and open so that we can explore new and interesting aspects of Dragon Con as they present itself.  The tour itself lasts until roughly 10 PM, but reporters are free to continue to mingle all night.

All reporters are encouraged to attend. There is no charge for this event, but reporters are responsible for their own food and drink during the tour.

https://www.facebook.com/events/226165498214140/