Three days of events packed with celebrity guest appearances, industry expert panels, the return of Destination Cosplay, larger than ever Science Fair and more June 3 – 5, 2022
Awesome Con, Washington, D.C.’s iconic three-day pop culture convention, announces three days of programming complete with exclusive panels, workshops, meetups and celebrity appearances from Friday, June 3 through Sunday, June 5. Awesome Con will take over the Walter E. Washington Convention Center with a robust lineup of events. LGBTQ+ focused Pride Alley, in partnership with Geeks OUT and Metro Weekly, returns with its largest slate of programming that spotlight LGBTQ+ artists, creators and fans. The wildly popular Science Fair is back with not one but two full programming tracks: TERRA for Earth-based panels and COSMOS: for Space-based panels. Science Fair has four divisions of NASA represented, along with a special program on pop culture history in partnership with Smithsonian’s highly anticipated upcoming exhibit Entertainment Nation. Family-friendly pavilion Awesome Con Jr. is back with even more events planned to educate and entertain kids of all ages and parents alike. After debuting last year, Destination Cosplay will make its return to the show floor with cosplay demos, meetups and more. Awesome Con’s Book Fair is back! Powered by D.C.-based Solid State Books, guests can enjoy book signings, access to writers and publishers and take a stroll down Author’s Lane to discover independently published authors from a variety of genres. Attendees can start planning their Awesome Con experience and view the full schedule of programs online at awesome-con.com/programming.
In addition to the return of these great show features, Awesome Con is introducing two new programming areas:
- Awesome Con Remix Stage located in Destination Cosplay – Boogie down and shake your groove thang at Awesome Con’s Remix Stage! Fandom-inspired tunes, games, trivia, singalongs, and of course, dancing, are happening all weekend long right here!
- The Movement Room located in Room 208 – Tired of sitting in a panel room? Wanna do something a little more active? Activities in this room require you to get up and get moving!
Celebrity and Comic Guests
Hear from some of the biggest influencers from the world of pop culture and comic books at panels, screenings, Q&As and more. For a full lineup of confirmed guests visit here.
The full main stage lineup includes:
June 3:
- Question the Doctor! Get to know Sylvester McCoy (2:00 p.m.)
- Who loves Kel Mitchell? We love Kel Mitchell! (4:30 p.m.)
- Voice-A-Palooza ft. Wes Johnson (7:00 p.m.)
- Meet the Cosplay Competition Judges ft. Plexi Cosplay, Bishop Cosplay, and Woman of Wonders (8:15 p.m.)
June 4:
- Spotlight on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cast: Simu Liu, Meng’er Zhang, and Florian Munteanu (10:30 a.m.)
- Out in space with Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz (11:45 a.m.)
- A Bewitching Sabrina the Teenage Witch Cast Reunion (1:00 p.m.)
- Oh dear! It’s Anthony Daniels! (3:30 p.m.)
- Awesome Con 2022 Cosplay Competition ft. Logan Stone Drag Halftime Show (7:00 p.m.)
June 5:
- The Many Roles of Giancarlo Esposito (11:00 a.m.)
- Growing up a Nick Kid with Melissa Joan Hart and Kel Mitchell (12:15 p.m.)
- Second Breakfast with Sean Astin (1:30 p.m.)
- Hang with Vegeta and Goku! It’s Christopher Sabat and Sean Schemmel (2:45 p.m.)
Pride Alley
- LGBTQIA+ Table Talk: This is Me Q&A Geekdom (June 4 – 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM – Room 204) Join the round table discussion with host Shady Haze and LGBTQ+ creators as they discuss LGBTQ+ representation in pop culture and their coming out story, how the geek/comic world shaped who they are today and what pride means to them.
- For All Humankind: Fueling the Space Race to Diversity and Inclusion (June 5 – 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM – Room 207B – Science Fair COSMOS)
Where the Science Fair and Pride Alley collide! Join this discussion with some of the trailblazing minds at NASA about the diverse pioneers of space travel, the efforts being made to increase representation, and what the future holds as we look to the stars.
- Queerly Femtastic: Celebrating Queer Female Representation in Comics (June 4 – 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM – Room 206)
Geeks OUT presents a sit down with queer & ally artists/creators to discuss the importance of queer female representation in comics. We’ll explore our panelists’ influences, what draws them to Strong Female Characters, and why intersectionality is paramount to the future of comics.
Science Fair
- The Science Behind the Mandalorian (June 3 – Room 207B – Science Fair: COSMOS)
Mandalorians have captured the imagination of fans around the world. The National Science Foundation brings together a team of experts to discuss the science behind the Mandalorian.
- The Science Behind the Ten Rings (June 4 – Room 207B – Science Fair: COSMOS)
Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings captivates the imagination of audiences around the world. Come join the National Science Foundation as it brings together a panel of experts to discuss the science behind the Ten Rings.
- Genetics, Ancestry Testing, Race, and Star Trek (June 5 – Room 207B – Science Fair: TERRA)
A primer on basic transmission and genetic ancestry testing with Dr. Mohamed Noor. Learn many of the fundamental underlying science concepts, and see how these concepts connect with each other and get applied in the Star Trek universe across the various series.
- Women at NASA (June 4 – 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Room 207B – Science Fair COSMOS)
From Mission Operations to Public Engagement, come meet just a few of the talented women who work at NASA. Hear about what led them to the space agency, the sometimes crazy paths they took to get where they are today and the challenges they’ve faced.
Book Fair
- Creative Worldbuilding in Fiction (June 3 – 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM – Room 204)
Building a fully fleshed out world is the first step in making your creation real to the reader. Let’s explore how a fictitious world can seem completely real while overwhelmingly magical through excellent writing.
- Timothy Zahn Spotlight (June 4 – 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM – Room 204)
Get to know the talented science fiction author Timothy Zahn. Known for his prolific collection of Star Wars books, chiefly the Thrawn series, he’ll be taking the stage to answer your burning questions.
- SFF Authors and Real World Ideas (June 5 – 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM – Room 204)
How do real world religious beliefs, political doctrines, and views on society impact science fiction/fantasy writers, and the direction they take in their novels? This panel will explore how personal beliefs and reality can become subtly infused into science fiction/fantasy works.
Awesome Con Jr.
- Saber Guild Kids Lightsaber Training (All weekend – Awesome Con Jr. Movement Zone – Hall C)
Younglings will take their first steps into a larger world virtually with Saber Guild’s Kids Lightsaber Training. Saber Guild’s elite costumed Jedi will interact and walk kids through an introductory course to lightsabers and The Force.
- Interactive Storytime presented by the DC Public Library (June 3 & 5 – Awesome Con Jr. Movement Zone)
Get your imagination in gear for a story time with the DC Public Library, all about the joy of pretending!
- Kids Costume Parade (Open to first 30 kids – Saturday & Sunday – Awesome Con Jr. Movement Zone)
Awesome Con is excited to welcome kids of all cosplay levels to the Kids Costume Parade! Registration is limited to the first 30 kids (and their parents).
Destination Cosplay
- Costuming with the 501st Legion (June 3 – 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM – Cosplay Demos – Destination Cosplay – Hall B)
Ever wonder how stormtrooper armor is built? Join the 501st Legion, the premier Star Wars costuming club, and learn the process of becoming a stormtrooper.
- Awesome Con 2022 Cosplay Competition featuring Logan Stone Drag Halftime Show (June 4 – 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Main Stage)
This year’s Cosplay Competition Halftime Show is where Pride Alley and Destination Cosplay collide! The Halftime Show will feature Queens Logan Stone (D.C. Drag Performer), Dax ExclamationPoint (RuPaul’s Drag Race), D’Manda Martini (Drag Performer), and Crimsyn (Painted with Raven).
- Beauty, Blood & Bruises SFX Makeup with Black Crystal Cosplay (June 5 – 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Cosplay Demos – Destination Cosplay – Hall B)
Everyone loves a good glitz and glam makeup, but have you ever thought of glitz AND gore? Black Crystal Cosplay will show you a great way to mix the two in order to showcase a different approach to making cosplay makeup even more fun, fabulous and interesting this con season.
Additional Programming Highlights:
- Star Wars Dance Party & Trivia (June 3 – 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM – Remix Stage)
Flaunt your dark side at this Star Wars gathering! All lightsabers are encouraged.
- Saber Guild Lightsaber Stage Performance (June 4 – 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Room 209)
Saber Guild Dathomir Temple presents a production made just for Awesome Con 2022. The continuation of the story from AwesomeCon 2021. Saber Guild is a non-profit, all-volunteer, international organization that specializes in lightsaber stage choreography and education.
- The Geek Comedy Tour: Feeding Grogu Snacks Edition (June 4 – 8:15 PM – 10:00 PM – Room 209)
The Geek Comedy Tour is a collective of the funniest stand-up comedians from the Washington D.C. area. Each one is an experienced comic, having performed at bars, clubs, and colleges all over the East Coast.
- The K-Pop Random Dance Party (June 3 & 4 – Room 208 – Movement Room)
Royal Kourt Crew presents a multi-generation KPOP random dance play!
- Disney Family Singalong (June 5 – 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM – Remix Stage)
Bring everyone you know to sing all of your favorite Disney songs.
WEBSITE: www.AwesomeCon.com is updated regularly with new guests, exciting exhibitors, and special programming.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
- Facebook: facebook.com/AwesomeConDC
- Twitter: @AwesomeCon
- Instagram: @awesomecons