Dragon Con Weekend Where Fandom Takes Over Atlanta
Edited by Mikkel Hyldebrandt
Photos Courtesy of Dragon Con
Five Days of Epic Geekery
Every Labor Day Weekend, Atlanta transforms into a geekfueled playground for one of the largest pop-culture conventions in the galaxy: Dragon Con. Running from August 28 to September 1, 2025, Dragon Con spans five downtown hotels and envelops the city in a whirlwind of sci-fi, fantasy, comics, gaming, literature, cosplay, music, and art—as well as late-night raves, parades, and more. This isn’t just a convention—it’s a multiverse of fandoms, bringing together tens of thousands of fans (estimates suggest attendance has exceeded 80,000 in recent years) to celebrate the bizarre, the imaginative, and the delightfully nerdy.
Programming You Can’t Miss
1. The Legendary Parade
Saturday morning’s parade along Peachtree Street is the showpiece of Dragon Con weekend. Thousands of cosplayers—complete with Stormtroopers, dragons, superheroes, and
more—march before a crowd of approximately 75,000 onlookers. This dazzling display of passion and creativity is pure Dragon Con magic.
2. Fifty Tracks of Fan-Focused Programming
Whatever your obsession—be it anime, YA lit,
alternative history, robotics, podcasting, or filk— you’ll find a panel for it. Thousands of hours of content across dozens of specialized tracks cater to every niche imaginable.
3. Epic Live Acts & Musical Moments
This year’s highlights include a symphonic
concert by the Georgia Philharmonic, performing iconic scores from beloved films, TV, and video games. Late-night electrifying DJ dance parties follow the concerts—from Friday through Sunday—powered by both filking sessions and dance beats until dawn.
4. Medieval Combat & Dragon’s Cup Tournament
Witness history come alive with the Palmetto Knights, a medieval reenactment group engaging in authentic, foot-combat tournaments, including the celebrated Dragon’s Cup—a spectacle of armor, swords, and ancient tactics.
5. Twisted Toonz—Live Movie Readings
Prepare for absolute hilarity at Twisted Toonz, featuring voice-acting superstars reinterpreting beloved films—like “Winnie the Pooh as Darth Vader” or “Pinky & the Brain as Frodo and Sam.” These tongue-in-cheek performances are legendary, riotous, and highly Instagrammable.
6. Art, Awards & Nerd Culture
From the Art Show and Comic & Pop Artist Alley, to Dragon Awards—honoring fan-favorite works in sci-fi, fantasy, and horror across books, games, TV, and more—the convention intersects creativity with fandom in the most expressive ways.
7. DragonConTV Streaming
Can’t attend every panel? Catch highlights— parodies, skits, live shows, and more—via DragonConTV, the convention’s in-house production studio. Members can stream content live in the hotels or on-demand at home.
Honorable Mention: Dragon Con Party at the Aquarium
One event stands out as enchantingly unique: Dragon Con Night at the Georgia Aquarium Held this year on August 30 (7:00 pm–11:00 pm), it’s an exclusive, after-hours aquatic wonderland featuring:
- Ambiance meets cosplay—roam illuminated galleries in full Dragon Con attire, surrounded by manta rays, jellyfish, and dazzling marine life.
- A special sea lion presentation at 8 pm in Truist Sea Lion Studios.
- Commemorative collectible Dragon Con pins, limited to the first 1,500 attendees.
- Food and drinks in the Coastline Café, plus cashless bar access, all set to ambient tunes— and an enchanting underwater vibe.
It’s a must-see soirée that redefines party venues—mixing cosplay, marine marvels, and con camaraderie.
Why Dragon Con Matters
Community & Creativity Collide
Dragon Con thrives because it’s built by fans, for fans. Originating in 1987 with just a few hundred sci-fi gamers, it now spans genres and generations—always maintaining its grassroots, fan-first energy.
Tradition Meets Innovation
From carpet-themed costumes to late-night tikibar revelry at Trader Vic’s in the Hilton, Dragon Con blends quirky traditions with new surprises every year
A Full-Immersion Fanworld
Whether you’re attending panels, rocking out at night, wandering the artist alley, or just peoplewatching in amazing cosplays, Dragon Con offers five days of full-spectrum fandom immersion.
Be There or Be Square (in an Epic Way)
Dragon Con Weekend isn’t just a convention—it’s an odyssey. From theatrical parade pageantry and genre-bending programs to underwater revelry at the aquarium, every moment is curated for wonder, connection, and community. If you’re in—or planning to be in—Atlanta that Labor Day Weekend, consider yourself invited to sci-fi royalty. Just don’t forget your cosplay— and maybe a waterproof prop—for the most spectacular five days ever.
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MELANIE THERON
The Benefits of Using The Wheel of Life for Self-Assessment
By Cator Sparks, Life Coach
The Wheel of Life is a powerful selfassessment tool that provides a visual snapshot of your life’s various dimensions, helping you identify areas where you need support and growth. This simple yet effective exercise divides your life into key segments—typically including career, finances, health, relationships, personal development, recreation, family, and spirituality— allowing you to rate your satisfaction in each area.
One of the primary benefits of the Wheel of Life is its ability to reveal imbalances that might otherwise go unnoticed. When you visually map your satisfaction levels across different life domains, patterns emerge clearly. You might discover that while your career is thriving, your health and relationships are suffering, or that financial success hasn’t translated into personal fulfillment. This holistic perspective prevents tunnel vision and encourages a more balanced approach to life planning.
The tool also serves as an excellent starting point for goal setting and prioritization. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the desire to improve everything at once, the Wheel of Life helps you identify the most critical areas needing attention. You can focus your energy on the lowest-scoring segments, creating targeted action plans that will have the most significant impact on your overall life satisfaction.
your current state, often revealing feelings or concerns you’ve been avoiding. This increased self-awareness is the foundation for meaningful change.
Finally, the visual nature of the tool makes it easy to track progress over time. By completing the exercise periodically, you can see how your life balance evolves and celebrate improvements while staying alert to new areas that may need support. This ongoing assessment ensures that personal development remains intentional and responsive to life’s changing demands.
Ready to gain clarity on where you need support? Take time this week to complete your own Wheel of Life assessment included here (1 means you need support here, 10 means you are good in this area). Once you’ve identified your lowest-scoring areas, consider reaching out to a therapist or life coach (I’m here for you!) who can help you develop strategies and provide accountability as you work toward greater balance and fulfillment. Professional guidance can accelerate your progress and provide valuable insights you might miss on your own.
Additionally, the Wheel of Life promotes self-awareness and honest reflection. The process of rating each area forces you to pause and genuinely evaluate
Strength in Unity
Celebrating Atlanta Black Gay Pride
This Labor Day Weekend
As summer fades into fall, Atlanta— long hailed as the queer capital of the South—prepares to host the largest celebration of Black LGBTQIA+ pride in the nation. From August 28 to September 3, the city comes alive for Atlanta Black Pride Weekend: Labor Day Rock, a powerful fusion of joy, resilience, culture, and advocacy.
This festival champions empowerment through education, cultural expression, and unity. It drives important conversations, combats systemic disparities, and highlights Black queer brilliance through programming like workshops, youth events, health initiatives, and awards ceremonies that uplift activists, artists, and everyday heroes.
The Power Behind the Celebration
Why Black Gay Pride Matters
Atlanta Black Pride isn’t just another Pride celebration— it’s a space for belonging, empowerment, and visibility for Black LGBTQIA+ people, rooted in community-led experiences that address unique intersections of race, sexuality, health, and social justice.
Atlanta Black Pride has evolved into a vital movement, drawing thousands of attendees, generating lots of business and revenue for Metro Atlanta, and serving as a cornerstone for Black queer visibility in the U.S. It’s not just a festival—it’s a movement that champions health, wellness, justice, and connection for Black LGBTQIA+ people—and invites allies to show up with love, solidarity, and intention.
Signature Events to Watch
Here are a few not-to-be-missed highlights of the weekend:
Influencers Gala – “Black Excellence Soiree”
Kick off Pride weekend on Friday, August 29 (6 pm–10 pm) at the Host Hotel (Starling by Hilton).
A glamorous “Dress to Impress” fundraiser celebrating trailblazers across arts, healthcare, youth initiatives, and activism. Expect a fashion show, live performances, recognition awards, and an elegant cocktail hour.
LGBTQ+ Youth Workshops & Men’s Empowerment Brunch
Taking place Friday and Saturday, the youth workshops offer safe, enriching spaces to learn, express, and build resilience. Meanwhile, the Men’s Empowerment Brunch on Saturday, August 30 encourages and educates Black men, fostering healing and empowerment within community circles. Both events are hosted at the Starling Hotel.
Pure Heat Community Festival
On Sunday, August 31, the celebration hits Piedmont Park (12 pm–8 pm). Now in its 12th year, this beloved festival offers live performances, celebrity meetand-greets, food, shopping, games, and community booths—all in one electrifying day. Past lineups have
featured artists like Tamar Braxton and Saucy Santana, alongside dynamic youth programming and vibrant community activation. No headliner has been announced yet, but you can see the updated lineup at pureheatcommunityfestival. com.
Stay Informed & Get Involved
Want the full scoop? Check out the official sites for the complete lineup, party passes, VIP experiences, workshops, volunteer opportunities, and more: the websites features everything from Pride Pool Parties to Vendor Markets to Brunch & Lunch events.
atlantaprideweekend.com atlantablackprideldr.com atlantablackpride.org
This Labor Day weekend, Atlanta becomes a beacon of Black LGBTQIA+ pride—not just through festive gatherings but as a collective affirmation of identity, history, and future. From powerful youth workshops and empowering brunches to dazzling galas and the lively Pure Heat Festival, every moment pulses with purpose. Pride isn’t just parade—it’s presence.
LABOR DAYWeekend Weekend appy Happy
Stay safe and celebrate all love, joy, community, and diversity!
Photos by: Russ Youngblood
Photos by: RENZO GABriel
BARS & CLUBS MIDTOWN
BLAKE’S ON THE PARK blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE
BULLDOGS
893 Peachtree St NE
FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR friendsonponce-atl.com 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
MY SISTER’S ROOM mysistersroom.com 66 12th St NE
X MIDTOWN xmidtown.com 990 Piedmont Ave NE
THE T modeltatlanta.com 465 Boulevard SE
CHESHIRE
HERETIC hereticatlanta.com 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road
BJ ROOSTERS bjroosters.com 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE
WESTSIDE
MARQUETTE 868 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW
840ATL 840 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd
ANSLEY
ATLANTA EAGLE 1492 Piedmont Ave NE
FELIX’S 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
MIXX mixxatlanta.com 1492 Piedmont Ave NE
OSCAR’S oscarsatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
WOOFS woofsatlanta.com 494 Plasters Ave NE
TRIPPS fb: tripps-bar 1931 Piedmont Cir NE
EAST ATLANTA, GRANT PARK & EDGEWOOD
MARY’S marysatlanta.com 1287 Glenwood Ave SE
SISTER LOUISA’S CHURCH sisterlouisaschurch. com 466 Edgewood Ave SE
LORE ATLANTA loreatl.com 466 Edgewood Ave loreatl.com
DINING
MIDTOWN
CASA ALMENARA 991 Piedmont Ave NE casa-almenara.com
OLIVE BISTRO olivebistro.com 1050 Juniper St NE #4
LA HACIENDA lahaciendamidtown. com
900 Monroe Dr NE
TUK TUK THAI FOOD LOFT TUKTUKATL.COM 1745 Peachtree Rd NW
DEKALB
LIPS ATLANTA atldragshow.com 3011 Buford Hwy NE
RETAIL
MIDTOWN
BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR boynextdoormenswear.com 1000 Piedmont Ave NE, Ste A
ANSLEY
BARKING LEATHER AFTER DARK barkingleather.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
GCB & PLEASURES brushstrokesatlanta. com
1510-D Piedmont Ave. NE FITNESS
URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbody tness. com
500 Amsterdam Ave N
CHESHIRE
GRAVITY FITNESS gravity tnessatl.com 2201 Faulkner Rd NE
SPAS/BATHS ADULT
FLEX SPA exspas.com 76 4th St NW
SOUTHERN NIGHTS
2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
Photos by: Russ Youngblood
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I stand on my crashouts, I should do more actually.
I hate when someone sends me an email on Fridays at 9:35 am, but I’m leaving soon at 5 pm.
In this economy? The Devil wears Kirkland.
Why does a shower need to be scrubbed down with a DIFFERENT soap?!
Your 30s: mostly looking for good deals online and trying not to cry at work.
I miss the 90s when bread was still a good thing, and nobody knew what kale was.
I’m taking a “just not feeling it” day.
Hot boy summer is about to be replaced by reclusive boy fall.
DoxyPEP
