Know Before You Go! (Or… How to Con!)

Whether this is your first Awesome Con or your (soon to be) twelfth Awesome Con, here are some hints and tips to help you prepare for and navigate your way around the show!

PRE-SHOW | GETTING THERE | SHOWTIME! | AFTER THE SHOW | MORE TIPS!

Your Pre-Show Check List

Get ready before the show!

Badges! If you didn’t buy them in time for the badge mailing deadline, did you know you can pick them up before the show from one of our retail partners or at our early badge pick up event? Skip the lines at registration and pick them up early! (Please see Awesome Bot below for important information about retailer and early pickup.)
Skip the line to purchase photo ops and autographs on site and pre-order them! Keep an eye out for when pre-orders start in 2025!
Download our app! We definitely don’t want it to happen, but there can be last minute changes and our app will have the most up to date information!
Sign up for our mailing list to have the latest announcements and updates sent straight to your inbox! More of a social media fan? Give us a follow! We’re on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
Charge your phone and bring a (charged up!) portable charger! You don’t want your phone to die while you’re taking a photo of an awesome cosplay or a selfie with your favorite celebrity!
First con? Not sure what to do? Check out our fan guides (coming soon) to help you navigate through the show by your specific fandom or interest!
Get your credit card ready! The Walter E. Washington Convention Center is cashless! This applies to areas such as concessions that is run by the convention center. Guests, Exhibitors and Artists may accept cash, but it is at their discretion.

Press, Pro, Programming/Panelist, Guest, and any other non-attendee badges are not eligible for off site or early pickup. Club Awesome members who purchased their badges without shipping, will need to pick up their badges on-site from the Club Awesome lounge. Retailer pickup is only for paid Premium, 3-Day, Kids, and single day badges purchased without shipping selected. If you won a badge through a contest or fundraiser, your badge will need to be picked up on site or from our early pickup event; they cannot be picked up from a retailer.

Getting to the show!

It’s con day! Set that alarm!

Had your badge mailed or picked it up early? Make sure you remember to bring it! You don’t want to miss that first panel because you had to go back home to get it. (Or pay for another badge!)
Make sure to allot time for travel! It’s DC. There will be traffic. Public transportation is always a good option so you don’t have to look for (and then pay for) parking. (Just remember that public transit may be running on a weekend schedule, so be sure to check for any changes in transit times!) Need to drive in? Book your parking ahead of time! Check out our travel page to help plan your trip.
Need to pick up your badge on-site? Make sure to have your QR code ready (printed or on your phone) and head to Registration to pick them up.

Showtime!

Awesome Con isn’t just celebrities and merch (although we do love celebrities and merch…) There’s a ton to do!

SITE MAPS

Plan your route within the convention center! (Links Coming Soon!)

Anime fans, we’ve got you! Come explore Anime Yokocho for all your anime needs (and maybe pick up some free swag while you’re there!)
Check out a panel (or ten)! Programming changes every day, so there’s always something new! Sit in on a panel with your favorite celebrity or pop in to one that sounds interesting — you might find a new fandom!
Love to cosplay or just love to check out cosplay? Make sure to visit Destination Cosplay — meet up with fellow fans, check out demos, geek out over craftsmanship, and attend the Cosplay Competition!
Got kids? Awesome Con Jr is the place to be for our littlest fans! It’s a whole weekend full of fun kid-friendly activities to delight and entertain!
Celebrate Pride in Pride Alley — don’t let the name fool you. It’s not just limited to the exhibit hall, we’ve got panels and events all weekend long to celebrate and educate about the LGBTQ+ community!
Want to know about the Sci in Sci-Fi? Check out our Science Fair which makes education fun for all ages! Be sure to check out the Science Demo stage where anything can happen!
Cinephile? And miss Quibi (anyone remember that?) and their short form videos? Be sure to put our Short Film Festival on your to list!
Did you prefer the book to the movie? Then our Book Fair is for you! Meet your favorite authors, check out some panels to learn more about the creative process, and add to that reading list that you promise isn’t going to get longer! (But let’s be real… it’s gonna get longer.)
Whether you’re into table top gaming or video gaming, we’ve got something for you!
Want to keep the fun going? Check out our afterparties!
We know we said there’s more to Awesome Con than celebrities and merch, but who doesn’t love celebrities and merch? Grab your photo ops and autographs and then explore our show floor and check out the Exhibitor Exclusives! Be sure to explore Artist Alley to support and discover local talent and get one of a kind merch!

Post Show Recovery!

Awesome Con is wrapped! Now what?

REST! Time to catch up on the sleep you missed this weekend having an awesome time!
Did you remember to sign up for our mailing list? Keep an eye out for our post-show survey! Let us know what you loved and want to see more of, what we missed that you want to see at the show, and what we can improve to make Awesome Con even more awesome.

Bonus Tips!

Because one can never be too prepared for Awesome Con…

Do you have accessibility needs? We strive to create an inclusive and friendly environment for all, including providing a variety of services to help you enjoy your show. However, for some services such as ASL interpreters and mobility device requests, we ask that you request them in advance. Information on how to do so, can be found on our Accessibility Page. Please be aware that mobility devices are provided through a 3rd party so we are not able to guarantee availability. If you have preferred provider, we encourage you to reach out to them on your own.
The Walter E. Washington Convention center is a 2.3-million-square-foot building. Yes, million. So, we’re not going to sugar coat it, there will be a lot of walking and there will be lines — wear comfy shoes!
Stay hydrated! You can bring a water bottle (no glass!) to refill at one of the many water filling stations around the convention center.
You don’t want to wait in line only to find out we’ve sold out of our official hoodie in your size. Pre-order your merch and you can pick it up any time during the show floor hours! (Just don’t forget to pick up your merch! We can’t ship or refund unclaimed items.)
While most vendors will take credit cards, it’s always a good idea to have some cash on hand, but you’ll have to bring it with you as the Walter E. Washington Convention center has gone cashless. (This mean that concessions and vendors that are part of the convention center will not accept cash. Our exhibitors, artists, and guests can still accept cash at their discretion.)
Check out our Discord to connect with other fans! Want more tips? They’ll have it!
Have a question that isn’t covered in this guide or our FAQ? Send us an email! Awesome Bot has his best customer service hat on to help! (Yes, it’s a kitty cap, that’s why it’s the best.)