HotaruCon is your opportunity to showcase your favourite cosplay, arrange groups with old friends or make new ones, engage in photoshoots or just enjoy having the space to immerse yourself in your craft with people that appreciate what you do.
Cosplay is the art of combining costume and roleplay to bring your favourite characters from all sorts of media to life and we love to see it. Cosplay isn't mandatory at HotaruCon but is encouraged! We have a number of events you might be interested in - find out more below.
Please ensure you read our Cosplay and
Weapons Guidelines.
Cosplay Masquerade
The
Cosplay Masquerade and takes place on Saturday late
afternoon/early evening. It's your opportunity to show off your cosplay
and talents on stage before
an audience of HotaruCon attendees and get some snazzy photos pulling
your
best poses and acts. No experience is necessary. Whether your cosplay is
bought or made,
from anime or comics, in a group or flying solo, all are welcome here.
Applications are a lottery system in the event that applications are oversubscribed for the time we have.
More info here
The FireFly Lounge
A roaring success year-on-year since it's debut, The FireFly Lounge is our very own Variety Show spices up Saturday night and pre-empt the parties with something a little different.
For the audience, this is your opportunity to get cosy by the stage with a drink and some snacks while we shut the doors, dim the lights and offer you some entertainment.
For prospective performers, this a
non-competitive, cosplay-optional opportunity to break out your moves.
Whether that's a cheeky burlesque number or some slight-of-hand, a
poetry reading or comedic bit, the aim is to entertain and have fun.
Applications are NOT first-come-first-served, this is a curated show by our very own Vice Chair and Master of Ceremonies, Kai!
Cosplay Chess
Cosplay Chess is a scripted game of chess played between two Hosts, using other cosplayers as the Chess pieces!
Cosplayers take to a life size chess board as a substitute for pieces until only one team is victorious, often with some interesting outcomes. Battles between pieces may be comedic, dramatic or just plain silly.
You can sign up as a cosplayer to be a piece in the game, volunteer to help out (e.g. running mics around) or come and watch the spectacle unfold!
Charity Cosplay Café
Doesn't everyone fancy a bit of tea and cake on a Sunday afternoon?
Taking inspiration from the classic Maid Cafés we bring you HotaruCon's Charity Cosplay Café! Cosplayers help serve tea and cake, play games and take polaroids with guests (optional!).
With a new theme every year, all profits go to the Convention Charity.
Performer Badges
Cosplay Masquerade, FireFly Lounge, Cosplay Chess and Charity Cosplay Café participants are all eligible to claim the Performer badge to add to
their lanyard collection.
The Performer Badge is a token of your participation in the event as a memento, it does not represent an elevated status nor can it be used as a separate entry badge.
Cosplay Ball
There is no mandatory dress code for the ball, nor do you have to apply. The event is open to the entire convention.
The Cosplay Ball is the grand finale of the event on Sunday evening with a mixture of music and dancing tracks, followed by the Sunday . Culminating a weekend of fun we invite you to dress up in your finest, it doesn't have to be a cosplay, take your fanciest selfies, grab your dancing shoes and waltz away the evening with your friends.