Pet Cosplay Show

PET COSPLAY CONTEST INFORMATION

Judging Criteria

Pet-Specific Cosplay Policies

Contest Times and Rules

General Cosplay Policies

Weapons Policies

Photography Policies

We had a great time with our first Pet Cosplay show in 2018! We loved it so much we’ve brought it back as a permanent category in our main Cosplay Contest! Please refer to our Cosplay Page for even more information.

Please note that this is a live document and, until the date of the show, anything listed here may change. Check back often.

Contest Times, Prizes, Entry Forms, and Costs

The Cosplay Contest will begin at 5 pm on Saturday the 19th. Please arrive at Lowe Mill A&E Studio #2047 and be lined up in your category by 4:45 pm to prepare to go on stage. There are no fees for entering the competition (other than the admission price for the convention). The possible rewards are listed below. Please check back often for further prize announcements. Entry forms for the competition will be available at the NACC con table. All entrants MUST fill out a con form in order to be allowed into the show. Please also see our COSPLAY CONTEST PAGE for more information.

Judging Criteria

Entrants will be judged on the qualities of their costume(s) and on-stage behavior. In addition to our Cosplay Costume judging criteria, points are also awarded for creativity, humor, character, charisma, geek chic, and uniqueness. The judges’ decisions will be final.

Pet-Specific Cosplay Policies

No more than two pets per contestant, unless special permission is requested and given at the time of registration.
All pets must remain leashed and be with an adult at all times. All pets must be completely under control at all times. Dogs must be on a fixed short lead or a locked retractable short lead, at all times. Pets should be well behaved, non-aggressive, and be sure they will not get stressed out in crowded, stimulating, and noisy situations. There are all kinds of other animals, small children, wheelchairs, and many people at the show. Your pet will be exposed to dogs barking, people speaking loudly on microphones, crowds clapping, Wookiees wookieeing, and attendees cheering. You know your pet best, so please use your best judgment to make sure that your pet will enjoy the expo just as much as you will.
No puppies/kittens/pets under 4 months or without necessary vaccinations. Rabies and vaccinations must be current. Any animal deemed by the show staff to be unhealthy must be removed from the show to protect other animals.
Pets must wear I.D. tags at all times.
No pets in heat.
No aggressive / terrifying / dangerous / pets. If in doubt, consider the answer “no”. If still not sure, please contact us prior to the show. Nothing venomous, including rear fanged. Also no venomoid-altered animals.
Please pick up after your dog and pets – bags will be provided.
Costumes must be safe and comfortable for pets.
Guests may not bring animals into the event for the purpose of selling them at the event. This includes the parking lot / Lowe Mill A&E grounds.
Huntsville Comic Con and Lowe Mill A&E unconditionally reserves the right to eject any pet from convention grounds at any time for any reason.
Huntsville Comic Con and Lowe Mill A&E are not responsible for any manner of injuries or damage. All participants are fully responsible for all damage or injury caused by their pets. Entrants may be required to sign a pet waiver when they register.

Cosplay at Lowe Mill A&E General Policies

Huntsville Comic Con / Lowe Mill A&E reserves the right to eject anyone from convention grounds at any time for any reason.
If any action is illegal outside of Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, it is still illegal inside Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment. This includes reckless endangerment, theft, concealed weapons, assault, and other clearly illegal activities.
Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated, such as fighting (fake or real), heckling, impeding traffic flow, offensive behavior, public inebriation (or similar intoxication), or any other failure to follow the rules.
Huntsville Comic Con / Lowe Mill A&E can and will take action against any type of disruptive behavior, even beyond the behaviors mentioned. Attendees that cause these types of problems may be warned, asked to leave, or even face inquiries from the police (depending on severity).
If at such a time the convention staff receives one or more complaints about a person’s behavior, said person may face penalties such as removal from the convention grounds, removal of the person’s props from the premises, and/or face inquiry from the authorities
Huntsville Comic Con / Lowe Mill A&E visitors attend at their own risk. Huntsville Comic Con / Lowe Mill A&E takes no responsibility for any damages incurred to property or person of guests, artists, dealers, or attendees. Smoking is not permitted in the Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment.
Huntsville Comic Con / Lowe Mill A&E takes no responsibility for lost items.
Vaporizers, Electronic Cigarettes, and any other smoking devices that emit smoke or vapor, are not permitted at the convention site.No sales are permitted on the premises outside of the Vendor Floor. In these areas, only paid vendors or artists who have a copy of their respective contracts on file with Huntsville Comic Con will be allowed to sell their wares or art.

Photography Policies

By entering Huntsville Comic Con / Lowe Mill A&E, all attendees agree to have their photos taken by Huntsville Comic Con / Lowe Mill A&E staff for promotional purposes. Huntsville Comic Con / Lowe Mill A&E agrees not to use the photos in any other manner besides promotion and not to sell the photos to any third party.
Photography is allowed and encouraged at the convention. However, if someone does not wish to have their picture taken, please respect their wishes and refrain from photographing them. Also, if you want to take a picture, please do not block hallways or entrances.
No photography equipment (screens, lights, etc.) that needs to be set up. Huntsville Comic Con / Lowe Mill A&E reserves the right to ask you to disassemble or remove any set ups at any time.

Cosplay Policies

No costume is not a costume. Paint and/or pasties are not a costume either.
No intentional or unintentional “wardrobe malfunctions” are allowed. Please make sure your costume is sturdily constructed. This includes proper undergarments.
For safety purposes, all attendees must wear some form of protective footwear. This our fancy way of saying, “You have to wear shoes.”
All military, law enforcement, and other emergency service costumes should be easily distinguishable from official uniforms.
Hate symbols, even historical hate symbols like swastikas, will not be tolerated.
Roller blades, roller skates, hoverboards, and skateboards will not be allowed in the event center spaces.
Stilts are allowed, as long as you are wearing them.
No signs offering services or making requests to be hugged or touched (including pets!). We want everyone to feel comfortable.

Weapons Policies

All costume weapons must be inspected at the convention Weapons Check-In booth. Directions to the check-in booth will be provided at the ticketing booth of the convention, which will be clearly marked and is located at Lowe Mill A&E’s Door #4.
Huntsville Comic Con / Lowe Mill A&E reserves the right to inspect any and all weapons and props and ask that such weapons or equipment be removed from the premises or stored away from the general public.
Prop weapons that are part of a costume are permitted at Huntsville Comic Con, with the following provisions:

- All props may be inspected by convention staff at any time.
- Absolutely no live steel is allowed. This refers to bladed metal weapons.
- Actual firearms are not allowed on the premises.
- Prop firearms must have a bright orange tip. Prop firearms must not be able to fire any kind of projectile. This includes tethered and liquid projectiles.
- Functional (real) arrows must have their tips removed and be bundled and zip tied to a quiver.
- Any and all explosives or pyrotechnics are not allowed at the con (including the use of fire, firecrackers, and fireworks)
- Objects that can generate excessive noise, light, smoke, or confetti are prohibited on convention grounds.
- Props and any object designed to be swung should be kept under control at all times and not used in any manner that would endanger others. Kept under control means held but not used.
- Objects designed or representing objects designed to be thrown should under NO circumstances be thrown. They may be held and shown but not used in any other manner.
- All oversized props and costumes should be handled in a manner as to not endanger the safety of others, pose a fire hazard, block medical/security staff, or appear threatening.

Good Weapon Behavior:

- Do not brandish your weapon threateningly to anyone.
- Do not swing your weapon.
- Do not throw any objects, not just weapons.
- Secure objects to your costume so they will not be hazardous as you move about the convention. Be aware that the convention may become quite crowded and take precautions that your costume and/or props do not endanger others in such a situation.

Always move in a controlled manner so that your props and costume do not harm others or the property of Huntsville Comic Con / Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment.

Further questions? Please feel free to contact us.

Any participant may be disqualified from the contest by Huntsville Comic Con Staff or Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment Management for failure to observe any of these rules.

Any form of harassment of any other cosplay contest participant will result in your immediate disqualification and removal from the Cosplay Contest. This includes but is not limited to ridiculing others or their costumes, verbally disparaging others or their costumes, intimidation or attempts to intimidate, or physical violence against anyone. The Huntsville Comic Con Cosplay Contest is meant to be a fun event for all participants, regardless of their level of cosplay expertise, and proper respect should be shown to all contestants and fellow fans.