Awesome Con Day 3
Awesome Con Day 2
Awesome Con Day 1
Awesome Con 2024 Hosted Cast Members of Star Wars and Josie & the Pussycats
Awesome Con originated in 2013 with 7,000 attendees and boasted 50,000 in June 2022. Held annually in Washington, DC, that 2022 date also coincided along the same 7th Street NW as the city’s Open Streets DC event which closes the streets to vehicles but opens them to foot traffic for vendors, artwork, and activities. This year, Awesome Con was held in March, while 2025 will be in April, at the same time as the National Cherry Blossom Festival and near the date of the outdoor Sakura Matsuri. The dates change annually due to availability of the Walter E Washington Convention Center.
Held in March, the weather was cold, windy, and rained all Saturday. Entrance lines were non-existent all three days, with prop and bag checks also running smoothly. Badge pickup was oddly at the far end of the center on the mid-floor and the arcade was next to the lobby where other conventions usually have badges. Convention hours were shorter than those of nearby Otakon, Katsucon, MAGfest and others, ending at 7 or 8 pm, but the Center was open until 10 pm for later panels.
Last year, when attending the Day 0 badge pickup at Metro Bar in NoMa, I asked Awesome Con’s Social Media team what separated them from other conventions, making them different. They said their convention works with local government entities, such as the CIA, Navy, Marines, FBI, NASA, and more who table and hold panels.
The bottom floor held a large combined Dealers Room with an Artist Alley. The government groups tabled on the far back end and local anime organizations such as Plus Ultra Entertainment and Anime Alliance were in the middle along the back wall. This year, big name celebrities such as Hayden Christensen, Rosario Dawson, Tara Reid, Steve Blum, Tom Kenney, and more.