Fire, Vandalism Can’t Keep Katsucon Down

This year was my fourth time going to Katsucon, and it is still one of my favorite conventions to attend. The Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center is one of the most beautiful locations I have been to for a con. Whether the ballroom area, the outdoor hills, the beach area by the waterfront, or, yes, the infamous Gazebo, the convention center is always to die for.

One thing I can say about Katsucon more than any other con is how it will bring out some of the best cosplays you will see throughout  the whole year — and it is so earlier in the year. Everyone brings their A game. Whether it’s huge armor costumes or really elegant ballroom gowns you will see some incredible cosplays on display.

Being that this was my fourth year, I know what to expect from the con. And honestly the con this year lived up to the standards I have in mind and expect out of it. While I feel Katsu was a little bigger this year than previously, it did not hinder my experience at all. Not only will you see great costumes all around the con center but you also have a big dealer’s room and artist alley to check out. Not to mention the night time fun to be had, whether it was the rave or the parties up in the Pulse lounge.

Now the only real complaints I have is not about the con itself, but the attendees. I have seen multiple posts made from Sunday night into Monday about people who trash the hotel. Whether it was drawing all over the walls of hotel rooms, breaking exit signs, lamps, tables, etc. — this is how cons end up losing their spaces and charging more for the con the following year. Sure, these incidents of damage were done by certain individuals but to the hotel staff it was done by the Katsucon attendees — the cosplayers who attend it. This surely leaves a bad taste in the mouths of the Gaylord staff and hopefully this will not cause Katsucon to have to find a new location for next year. I surely hope this is not the case as the Gaylord is the best place to have Katsucon and the only place I can see Katsucon being at, since I love the con center. Have your fun throughout the weekend but be responsible about it.

Then there was the fire evacuation Saturday morning. A lot of cosplayers thought it was someone pulling a fire alarm, but Gaylord and Katsucon have confirmed it was an actual fire “emergency,” which I guess means something was really on fire.

With all that said, to those who are in the DC, Maryland area or even the surrounding areas you should definitely attend Katsucon next year. Even if you aren’t local. I know plenty of cosplayers, photographers, and attendees who come from the West Coast, Midwest, Canada, or even overseas just because the con is amazing. So try it out at least once, see how you like it. Katsu will always be one of my favorite cons to attend.