Dragon Con 2025 welcomes fans, families Labor Day weekend
It’s that time of year again: Thousands of costumed fans, hundreds of musicians, writers, actors, more than a few puppeteers, and armor-clad knights will transform downtown Atlanta into a sci-fi, high fantasy world where the passionate and the welcoming converge from across the globe.
With more than 74,000 attendees, Dragon Con 2025 will take over the city over Labor Day weekend.
Actress Katee Sackhoff has been a regular participant in pop culture conventions for her many sci-fi projects over the years, including “The Mandalorian” and “Battlestar Galactica.”
She’ll attend Dragon Con this year and said there’s more going on at these cons than just flashy wardrobes and fun panels.
“This is such an inclusive community,” she said. “And there are so many people that depend on these conventions for their social interactions, which we know are so important to your mental health and just your overall wellbeing. It is important to celebrate passion and things that we enjoy.”
In addition to celebrities, Dragon Con also attracts performers, including medieval fight team Palmetto Knights. The group hosts various panels and the crowd-pleasing Dragon’s Cup tournament each year.
Palmetto Knights’ event organizer, Laurence Lagnese, has been going to Dragon Con for decades.
“You have all these people from all over and all their interests all coming together, and we all celebrate it,” he said. “The cosplay alone makes it an experience unlike anything else.”
What is Dragon Con?
The annual pop culture convention has deep roots in Atlanta, starting in 1987.
Actors, writers and other artists from all areas of entertainment appear for autograph signings and photo opportunities. This year, fans can expect to see William Shatner, Simon Pegg, John Boyega and Christopher Lloyd, among others.
“It’s not a bad gig to sit at a table and have people come up to you and tell you that they like something that you did,” said “Star Wars” and “Battlestar Galactica” actor Sam Witwer.
He said meeting fans at conventions “gives you a perspective and a contact with the customer. So it does make you more in tune with what’s landing, what’s not landing, what breadcrumbs have they picked up, on all of that stuff.”
There are panels, where featured artists can talk about their work and field questions directly from fans, in addition to autograph signings and photo ops.
Those not looking to meet their favorite star still have a lot to look forward to. Workshops offer lessons on everything from scriptwriting to self-defense. Performers dazzle with events ranging from stage plays to medieval combat tournaments.
Cosplay, where fans dress up as their favorite pop culture characters, is on full display among attendees — most notably during the con’s locally legendary parade on Saturday.
Visitors share ribbons representing their favorite shows or cosplay, a long-standing Dragon Con tradition. Some visit just to roll dice or pick up a video game controller with their friends at the convention’s massive gaming halls. That portion of the convention alone is roughly three acres large.
Like Atlanta itself, the convention is a melting pot of cultures, communities and passions across five days, 24 hours a day.
When is Dragon Con?
Dragon Con runs Aug. 28-Sept. 1.
The 96-hour convention officially begins at 5 p.m. opening day and ends at 5 p.m. on Labor Day.
Where is Dragon Con?
Dragon Con is hosted by five of downtown Atlanta’s hotels: Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, Westin Peachtree and Courtland Grand. Meanwhile, the nearby AmericasMart buildings two and three feature the convention’s vendor hall, art shows, comic book content, Pop Art Alley and nearly three acres of gaming opportunities.
Visit dragoncon.org/travel/hotels for more information on the hotels hosting the con.
When is the Dragon Con parade?
The Dragon Con parade, which starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, is, simply put, huge, with thousands of cosplayers showing off their costumes.
The route will begin at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Linden Avenue, then move south on Peachtree, east on Andrew Young International Boulevard and north onto Peachtree Center Avenue. It will end in front of the Marriott Marquis. A map of the route can be found at dragoncon.org/things-to-do/parade.
Drivers should be aware that nearby parking is likely to be in short supply. Those taking MARTAshould make their way to one of three nearby stations: North Avenue, Civic Center and Peachtree Center.
Those unable to attend can also catch the action online through DC TV or on TV via CBS Atlanta.
What is there to do and see?
It’s impossible to see everything Dragon Con has to offer in a single visit. Cosplay contests, wrestling throwdowns, puppet shows, memorabilia vendors and orchestra performances are just a few of the many events to experience.
The big draws are the annual hotel ballroom events. At 7 p.m. on opening day, Dragon Con Wrestling will body slam its way into the Hyatt Regency’s Centennial Ballroom. Surprise guests are a staple part of the fun, with previous entries ranging from Ric Flair to Teddy Long.
For a live movie read featuring big names in voice acting, see Twisted Toonz at the Marriott Atrium Ballroom on the same day.
The Palmetto Knights Tournament unsheathes at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Hyatt Regency’s International Ballroom. The knights will also host panels on Friday and a meet-up opportunity on Saturday.
At the Dragon’s Cup tournament on Aug. 30, expect heavy metal blaring, lights dancing and thousands of attendees roaring.
For a full list of the convention’s biggest events, visit dragoncon.org/things-to-do, or download the official Dragon Con app at dragoncon.org/resources/digital-resources. To stay on top of last-minute changes, attendees can also visit the Daily Dragon for official updates.
Ticket information
Tickets, referred to as badges, run from $35-$175 and are available at dragoncon.org/buy-now/. Those dedicated (and flush) enough can also grab a lifetime pass for $4,500.
Parking information
It’s highly suggested con-goers book their parking in advance.
Dragon Con has two go-to parking apps for booking spots: ParkMobile and SpotHero. For travel tips, visit dragoncon.org/travel/transportation.
Those walking will want to take MARTA’s Peachtree Center Station, which is near two of the participating hotels (Hyatt Regency and Marriott Marquis).
The bottom line
“Just go and make the most of it,” Sackhoff said. “But try to experience as many different things as you can. There’s so much to see and so many beautiful people out there, who all have the love of genre in common, which is wonderful.”
About the Author
Hunter Boyce is a writer, digital producer and journalist home grown from a Burke County farm. Throughout his career, Hunter has gone on to write sports, entertainment, political and local breaking news for a variety of outlets.
