Costume Guidelines & Cosplay Contest

General Costume Guidelines

All costumed attendees of the EIU Comic Fest must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Code of Conduct
  • All participants and attendees at the EIU Comic Fest are expected to follow the Booth Library Code of Conduct while on premises.
  • No harassment, discrimination, or disruptive behavior
  • Touching costumed attendees/cosplayers is NOT PERMITTED without express permission of the cosplayer
  • The EIU Comic Fest is a free event open to the general public and in a public space, therefore, taking photos during the event for personal purposes is permitted, however please be respectful and ask costumed attendees/cosplayers for permission prior to taking their picture
• Costume Requirements
  • All costumes must adhere to PG-13 dress code
  • Prop weapons MUST BE PEACE-BONDED at the EIU Comic Fest Information Table
  • Peace bonds must remain in place for the duration of the Comic Fest
  • Costumes must fit through standard hallways and doorways and not obstruct others
  • Entrants must be able to move safely, handlers may be used if necessary
• Prohibited Items
  • No real weapons, live steel, or firearms are permitted (even if non-functional)
  • No pyrotechnics, open flames, or substances that can damage the stage or venue are allowed

Cosplay Costume Contest

Location & Date

📍EIU Comic Fest at Booth Library on the Eastern Illinois University campus, in Cosplay Central, Atrium East End
📅 Saturday, September 27

🎤 Host

Lea Houpt of dweeb.cos

📝 Registration

Registration is FREE but required:

Walk up registration will be accepted at Lea Houpt’s Artist Table in Cosplay Central (see above for location) until 11:15 AM.

⚔️ Contest Guidelines

• Eligibility
  • Open to individuals and groups of all ages
  • Contestants under 14 must have a parent/guardian present or signed consent
• Cosplay Contest Requirements
  • Costumes for the Intermediate/Journeyman and Masters categories should be at least 50% handmade
  • Costumes for all other categories should be at least 25% handmade
  • Characters must be from published media (anime, video games, comics, movies, etc.)
  • Costumes must fit through standard hallways and doorways and not obstruct others
  • Entrants must be able to move safely, handlers may be used if necessary

🧾 Contest Format

• Categories
  • Novice – 1st time or beginner cosplayers
  • Journeyman/Intermediate – moderate experience
  • Masters – advance experience
  • Youth/Junior – under age 14 (must have consent)
  • Group – 2 or more individuals
• Time Limits
  • Approximately 5 minutes for hitting three “pivot points” (see schedule below) for contest display

🧑‍⚖️ Judging Criteria

• Pre-Judging
  • All categories require meeting one-on-one with the judges during the Prejudging time (see event schedule below)
  • Novice and Youth/Junior contestants MAY opt to bring a “build book” showing the costume as a Work In Progress, with photos, reference images, and construction techniques
  • Journeyman/Intermediate, Masters, and Group contestants MUST bring a “build book” showing the costume as a Work In Progress, with photos, reference images, and construction techniques
• Craftsmanship
  • Construction Quality: Sewing, armor work, wig styling, materials used
  • Accuracy: Faithfulness to character design
  • Detailing: Embellishments, painting, weathering, accessories
  • Presentation: Fit, finish, the overall look of the costume

🧑‍⚖️ Meet the Judges!

Becky Castillo
From ghostly to geeky, Becky Castillo brings the best of both worlds to the convention scene. As a seasoned paranormal investigator, Becky has explored the strange, the spooky, and the unexplained — and she's not afraid of a few ghosts. When she’s not chasing spirits, she’s diving into Azeroth as an avid World of Warcraft gamer. Becky is also the mastermind behind CIL-Con, a unique convention celebrating all things paranormal, horror, anime, and gaming. Whether you’re into hauntings or high scores, Becky’s passion and energy make her a true multiverse explorer — and a fan-favorite at any con.

Megan Wells
Megan Wells is Director of Procurement at EIU and a cosplay aficionado.

🕒 Event Schedule

• 10:00 AM – Prejudging: Contestants not in the Exhibition Category MUST meet with the Cosplay Judges for approximately 5 minutes, check in and register with Lea Houpt at Cosplay Central
• 12:30 PM – Contestant Line-Up in the Glass Wall Hall to the north of Cosplay Central
• 1:00 PM – Cosplay Costume Contest! Contestants will be introduced by Lea one at a time and hit three pivot points: 1. Stand Before Judging Table, 2. Photograph Pose, 3. 360 Turn within Crowd Pose
• After hitting three pivot points, return to Glass Wall Hall at end of line
• 1:45 PM – Judges will announce winners
• 1:55 PM – Winners will be asked to pose for official photos
• 2:00 PM – Post-contest Cosplay Event! Mugiwara Mayhem – the Strawhat Podcast Experience. A Cosplay Panel hosted by Lea Houpt!

🎁 Awards & Prizes

• Award Categories
  • Best In Show
  • Best Craftsmanship
  • Best Prop
  • Best Novice
  • Best Journeyman/Intermediate
  • Best Masters
  • Best Youth/Junior
  • Best Group
  • Judge’s Choice (3 awards, 1 per judge)
  • Crowd Favorite/People’s Choice
• Prizes
  • Trophies
  • Certificates

👀 Recommendations & Disclaimers

• Bring a repair kit for costume emergencies
• Have a helper or handler if your costume is bulky or difficult to navigate
• Practice being “in character” for your costume
• Stay hydrated and be respectful of other contestants and cosplayers
• Media release: Participants will be photographed during the contest by EIU Comic Fest staff
• Event Organizers are not responsible for lost or damaged items
• Participants assume responsibility for their own safety and conduct
• Rule violations (e.g., inappropriate content, late arrival, unsafe behavior) can result in disqualification

EIU Comic Fest would like to thank our wonderful MC Lea Houpt and our Judges for their time and dedication to this event!