PLEASE READ! 10 Things to Know Before Coming to WasabiCon 2022

This year WasabiCon has implemented a number of changes to make the attendee experience easier, more exciting, and more fun! Here are 10 things you need to know before coming to this year’s convention.

1. WASABICON IS MUCH LARGER THIS YEAR… SO BE READY! In 2021, WasabiCon took up approximately 65,000 square feet of space. This year the convention inhabits over 110,000 square feet of the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center which is almost DOUBLE the space. This includes:

• 163 Vendor Booths.
• 177 Artist Alley spaces.
• Over 200 hours of content and programming.

2. YOU CAN PICK UP YOUR WEEKEND PASS ON FRIDAY… AND GET FREE STUFF! This year we’re working to make your WasabiCon experience smoother with an opportunity to avoid the long lines. Stop by the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center between the hours of 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM and enter through the W Bay Street entrance (click here to see a map.) Once inside, head over to Registration in Room 101. Everyone who picks up their weekend badge during that time will get a FREE WasabiCon soft enamel pin (while supplies last.) 

NOTE: Parking is free at the convention center Friday evening.

ADDED NOTE: You can only pick up a weekend pass. Single day passes must be picked up the day of.

3. PARKING AND OVERFLOW PARKING. This year we’re projected to takeover all the parking space at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center. However, we’ve worked with the city and the Water Street Garage will be open and available all weekend. It’s less than a 10 minute walk from the garage to the convention center. (Parking fees do apply.) 

4. BAG CHECK AND PROP CHECK ARE AT THE ENTRANCE THIS YEAR. All attendees will enter through W Bay Street entrance (click here to see a map) of the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center on the north side of the building. Everyone then goes through a security screening before entering to pick up/purchase their event credentials in Room 101.

5. HAVE YOUR TIXR QR CODE PULLED UP AND YOUR ID OUT WHEN YOU ARRIVE. After “line-apalooza” last year, we overhauled much of our registration process in order to get everyone into the convention center as quickly as possible – and you can help! Please have your Tixr QR code (in your email or via the Tixr App). Please remember that the name on your ID must match the name on the ticket.

6. PLEASE READ THE SCHEDULE IN ADVANCE. Plan your day before you get there to make sure you see everything you can! http://jax.wasabicon.com/schedule/ 

7. COSPLAYERS: CHANGES TO THE COSTUME CONTEST + BRING YOUR KIDS! We’ve expanded the Costume Contest rules to include a pre-judging phase and the ability to fill out your registration form in advance. Details: http://jax.wasabicon.com/costume-contest/  | Also, we’ve added a new event this year… COSTUME CONTEST, JR. This is specifically for attendees 12 and under. Details: http://jax.wasabicon.com/costume-contest-jr/

8. STAY LATE ON SATURDAY FOR PARTIES, PROGRAMMING, AND MORE! Saturday night will run later than previous years including evening video games, tabletop gaming, anime screenings, musical acts, and an official after-party hosted by Senpai Squad ($5 for admission.) For those that stick around after the Exhibitors Hall closes, we’ll have a shuttle running to and from the WasabiCon partner hotels until midnight near the doors by Cosplay Meetups. BONUS: A cash bar and food will be available 7:00 PM outside Main Events.

9. CHECK OUR PLANNING INFO AND FAQ ON THE WEBSITE! We have a whole web page dedicated to helping you plan for the weekend! Check it out: http://jax.wasabicon.com/plan/ | Have questions? We might have already answered them! Take a moment to read the WasabiCon frequently asked questions here: http://jax.wasabicon.com/faq/ 

10. HAVE FUN! This is our tenth WasabiCon in Jacksonville, and we can’t wait to welcome you to the city’s largest and longest running pop culture convention. Duuuval!!!!