Dragon Con attendees inside the Marriott MarquisCourtesy of Dragon Con When I stepped through the revolving doors of the Hyatt Regency Atlanta for my first Dragon Con in 2014, I had no idea what I was in for. The multigenre nerd convention, which sprawls across five downtown hotels over Labor Day we ekend and regularly draws more than 70,000 visitors, can be overwhelming for newcomers—even if you live and breathe fandom like I do. I found myself packed like a sardine among throngs of cosplayers as we traversed hotel skybridges on our way to celebrity panels and fan discussions. The floor got stickier and stickier as the day went on. But after hours of exploring, I was hooked. Dragon Con celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. In 1987, single-genre conventions devoted to comic books or games were already popular—but the Atlanta-based sci-fi aficionados who launched Dragon Con envisioned an event that would welcome multiple fandoms. The gambit worked: Today, Dragon Con is the largest multigenre pop culture convention in the world, offering programming on everything from anime and high fantasy to robotics—not to mention a roster of celebrity guests, an art show, and a costumed parade that draws 70,000-plus spectators to Peachtree Street. Over the years, my husband and I have built little Dragon Con traditions: sipping mai tais at Trader Vic’s; playing the game Taiko no Tatsujin at the Japanese arcade; catching the always-impressive Late-Night Puppet Slam hosted by comedy duo Bob and Carl. Performers at the Late-Night Puppet SlamCourtesy of Dragon Con A cosplayer honors the bygone Marriott Marquis carpetCourtesy of Dragon Con Dragon Con always has compelling programming. I’ve loved seeing actors George Takei (of Star Trek fame) and Terry Gilliam (Monty Python) speak onstage, for instance. But, truthfully, what sets this convention apart is its quirky community, fueled by inside jokes, creativity, and a shared adoration for the annual gathering. For example, after the Con’s flagship hotel, the Marriott Marquis, ripped out its old flooring during a renovation in 2016, a group of parade marchers dubbed the “Cult of Marriott Carpet” sported outfits printed with the bygone carpet’s instantly recognizable geometric pattern. The motif has since become a defining symbol of the convention: Hang around long enough, and you’re sure to find cosplay creations such as Marriott Carpet Stormtroopers and Marriott Carpet Deadpool. These “cults,” including another centered around a vandalized cardboard-cutout FedEx ad, may be goofy, but they tie the community together. The incredible cosplay on display also serves as a recap of the year’s biggest pop culture phenomena. In 2015, Game of Thrones costumes dominated; in 2019, it was the Scoops Ahoy uniform from Stranger Things. The workmanship of some cosplayers is impressive: I’ve posed for photos with professional-looking mascots and stood in awe of realistic Mandalorian armor. I’ve chuckled at obscure relics from my childhood—who else remembers Blanky from The Brave Little Toaster? And I’ve cosplayed a handful of times myself: I’m no pro, but I still loved hearing folks shout, “Sailor Moon!” as I walked the halls. My husband and I have attended Dragon Con faithfully for 13 years, and our experience has evolved as we’ve grown older and wiser. These days, late-night dance parties have been replaced by sipping drinks over nerdy lo-fi music in the Cartoon Bebop Lounge. We’re now thinking about how to introduce our young son to the madness; we plan to at least bring him to the parade soon, so he can wave at superheroes and Pokémon. But no matter how our traditions change, walking through those revolving doors will always feel like coming home. This article appears in our September 2026 issue. The post A love letter to Dragon Con appeared first on Atlanta Magazine. ...read more read less