Event Timing: 19:00-21:00, Saturday 28th June
Event Location: Alandica Main Auditorium
Event Registration Ends: 19:00, Friday 27th June
Contact sanna.bo.claumarch@archipelacon.org if you have any questions.
The sign up link is at the bottom of the page. Please make sure you’ve read through all of the information on this page before you sign up!
Participation Rules
MASQUERADERS
We welcome Masqueraders of all ages, gender identities, ethnicities, and abilities. (There is lift access from the dressing room to the stage, and the stage itself is wheelchair accessible.)
All Masqueraders in the 0-12 year age group MUST have a parent or guardian with them (or backstage when they are onstage) at all times when participating.
All Masqueraders (and parents/guardians) also must have a membership to the Con. Please don’t forget to bring your Con badge with you! (You won’t need to wear it on stage, don’t worry.)
Registration for the Masquerade ends at 19:00 on Friday, June 27th. Unfortunately, anyone who hasn’t registered by that time will not be allowed to participate.
CATEGORIES AND AWARDS
- Children 0-12 years
- Youth 13-17 years
- Adults 18 and up
All children ages 0-12 years will receive a Participation Award, but will not be competing for any other awards. Youth and Adult awards include Best Stage Presentation, Best Workmanship, and Best in Show.
We also welcome Masqueraders who don’t wish to compete for awards!
COSTUMES AND PROPS/WEAPON REPLICAS
All costumes are welcome, whether store bought or made by hand. Have fun!
You are also encouraged to use props (or any other big items) for your Masquerade costume. Have even more fun!
However!
This is an all-ages Masquerade. Therefore, we ask that Masqueraders wear a costume that is appropriate for all ages.
Per Con rules, all props larger than a lightsaber must be left in the cloakroom on Saturday until the Pre-Show Gathering begins at 17:00. (Make sure you allow yourself time to get your props so as not to be late.) Please let the cloakroom attendant know that you are participating in the Masquerade.
Regarding weapons and weapon replicas:
Finnish Public Order Act, Section 10 states that any kind of guns – or props that resemble guns – are generally forbidden in public places. This includes airsoft guns, other gun replicas, ornamental swords, all types of knives and all other props resembling any kind of weapons. These are not allowed into the Con itself.
Masqueraders can, however, carry and show their weapon replicas during the Masquerade if it is part of their costume. However, for the sake of safety we ask that any edged weapon or weapon replicas (such as swords, daggers, spears, etc.) are not sharpened.
Any weapon or weapon replicas, regardless of size, must be stored in the cloakroom until the Pre-Show Gathering. NO EXCEPTIONS. (Please make sure to let the cloakroom attendant know that you are part of the Masquerade, because nobody wants to get reported to security.)
Please use all of your props responsibly and safely during the Masquerade, especially backstage. We’ll have little ones back there, and nobody enjoys a face full of eva foam! We also ask that weapons are not pointed at audience members or the MC during your time on the stage. In other words, don’t make your Masquerade Moms take them away from you.
If you have any further questions about what is or isn’t allowed please contact Con Staff at info@archipelacon.org or stop by the Info Desk at the Con itself.
ONSTAGE AT THE MASQUERADE
Each Masquerader or Group will be told when to go on to the stage. (Children can be accompanied by their parent/guardian as needed.)
Once onstage, Masqueraders can show off their costume and props however they like, as long as it is safe. (Again, if you do have weapons or weapons replicas, please do not point them at the audience or the MC.) If submitted, the MC can read a short text.
There will be some background music, but no option for individual music or pre-recorded skits. Masqueraders may choose to perform a short skit live onstage; however, please be aware that there may not be time to rehearse it during the Pre-Show Gathering. We strongly recommend you rehearse ahead of time.
The dressing room will be closed and locked during the performances, and Masqueraders can keep their Con badges/purses/wallets/phones/etc. there while they are onstage. (And obviously we will be asking everyone to put their phones on silent.)
Your Masquerade Moms will give more information about this during the Pre-Show Gathering!
PRE-SHOW GATHERING
The Pre-Show Gathering for the Masquerade will be held 17:00-18:00 28th June in the Main Auditorium. Any Masqueraders who arrive later than 17:00, or who have not already registered will not be allowed to participate in the Masquerade. NO EXCEPTIONS. At that time there will be a roll call as well as further instructions for the Masquerade itself.
We will also show the Masqueraders to the dressing room.
After the roll call and instructions, all Masqueraders can use the rest of their time to get ready, gather their props, etc. However, you must be in the dressing room and ready for the Masquerade at 18:45. Anyone arriving later than that will not be allowed to participate. (Yes, we really do mean it.)
Your Masquerade Moms will be Sanna (cosplaying Agatha Harkness) and Sabrina (cosplaying Lilia Calderu). We’ll be there to take you through the Masquerade, guide you into place backstage, answer any questions, and help deal with any costume emergencies. We can’t wait to see you there!
DRESSING ROOM/STAGING AREA
Alandica does provide a small dressing room area that Masqueraders may use to dress in. However, due to the small space, we recommend that everyone dresses as much as they can before they arrive. Mirror space is not guaranteed!
Please note! Alandica Conference Center does not allow the use of hairspray on the convention center grounds.Therefore, please use hairspray outside of the convention center only.
So that the dressing room doesn’t smell like a perfume counter and trigger allergies/sensitivities, we also ask that Masqueraders do not wear any kind of perfume/cologne/scent to the Masquerade.
SCHEDULE
| 17:00-18:00 | Masquerade Pre-Show Gathering at the Main Auditorium and final preparations. |
| 18:45 | Masqueraders meet in the Dressing Room to be escorted to the stage. |
| 19:00-21:00 | The Masquerade will open with a skit and then MC Kevin Roche will take over. |
Masqueraders will go in the following order:
- Children
- Youth
- Adults
Once everyone has had a chance to go on stage, the Children will receive their Participation Awards and can leave if they wish. After the children are given their awards, the European Science Fiction Society (ESFS) awards will be presented. When those have finished, MC Kevin Roche will present the awards to the Youth and Adult Masquerade participants.