General Information for Cosplay Raffle and Parade

• This is an all ages event. Although childern under the age of 14 must be accompanied by someone over the age of 18.
  
• There will be a Cosplay Check-in table at the front entrance of the event.  You can check-in for the Cosplay Raffle and purchase your entrance ticket at this table.  
• If you do not check-in at the Cosplay table at the event entrance, you will not be eligible for prizes. No exceptions.
• Anyone who wishes to participate in the Cosplay Parade will meet at the Minecraft Build Area at 11AM on Saturday, November 15. You are not required to participate in the Cosplay Parade. 
• The prizes for the Lincoln Nerd Fest Cosplay Show are awarded by a raffle. Three winners will be randomly drawn from participants who submitted an online or in person application and have checked in at the Cosplay table at the front entrance. There will be no judges involved in this event.
• Online registration for the cosplay raffle is first come first serve only. We limit entries, and reserve some for day-of registration, these will also be first come first serve.
• If you need to withdraw for ANY reason, please email Lincoln Nerd Fest so we can remove your entry.
• Prizes will be awarded at the main stage no sooner than 1 hour after the cosplay parade has finished. Winners will be notified 30 minutes before the awards.
• If you are not present for awards, winners will be announced online, and you may pick up your prize on Sunday at the entrance check-in table. Prizes will not be mailed!
  • Awards will be announced online as well as at the main stage.
  • Prizes will not be mailed.
  • Failure to pick up your prize will result in loss of prize.

Rules for Apparel

• Shoes are required at all times while in the public areas of the convention center. Even if a cosplay character goes barefoot, the cosplayer must wear shoes.
• Costumes and apparel shall not expose the body in such a way as to be deemed indecent exposure or Public Nudity under Nebraska law, City of Lincoln ordinances, and Sandhills Global Event Center policies. Please refer to City Municipal Code 9.16.230: It shall be unlawful for a person to, knowingly or intentionally, in a public place or in any place open to the public, appear in a state of nudity. ‘Nudity’ means the showing of the human male or female genitals or pubic area with less than a fully opaque covering, the showing of the female breast with less than a fully opaque covering on any part of the areola and nipple, or the showing of covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state.
• Private parts must be covered in an opaque material not subject to slippage or gaps. Liquid Latex or other body coatings that conform to the body will be judged on a case by case basis.  If an outfit covers less area than a bikini top, the attendee wearing it must use some form of adhesive to ensure it stays on, such as fashion tape or spirit gum. If a costume is tight or form-fitting enough to clearly show an outline of genitalia, a dance belt or other form of concealment must be worn. These will not be provided by the convention.
• Lincoln Nerd Fest has no tolerance of violence, racism, or bigotry or shaming of any kind visually or verbally.
• All costumes worn within the convention center must fit through a standard doorway (36 inches). Any attendee wearing a bulky costume, or one with poor visibility, should have a handler available to escort them. In addition, please ensure any bulky costume is properly ventilated to prevent heat stroke.
• No costumes may be realistic depictions of U.S. Law Enforcement or any other official U.S. Government Agency or Emergency Services.
• Any clothing displaying “Ahegao” or other sexually explicit imagery is not to be worn. All graphics or imagery must be “Rated PG-13” in nature.
• A member of Lincoln Nerd Fest Leadership may deem a costume or clothing inappropriate even if it meets the requirements mentioned above.

Rules for Signs

• Contents and images of the sign must be of a “Rated PG – 13” nature which is suitable to be seen by children as there will be children at the convention, and the message of the sign cannot be selling or trading.
• Signs must not represent an obstruction to foot traffic and must be able to move through high traffic areas without disruption.
• Signs must not be affixed to any surfaces.
• Lincoln Nerd Fest reserves the right to remove any sign at any time.

Prop Rules and Guidelines

• If it is illegal in the City of Lincoln, Nebraska and the United States, it is illegal on convention grounds.
• Attendees will not play-fight, brandish, run with, or use their prop in any kind of threatening manner. Posing for photos/videos is allowed, but should be done outside of high-traffic areas or outside of the event center.
• Live steel is NOT allowed on convention grounds, save for any merchandise purchased on convention grounds, which must not be removed from packaging and must be moved to a personal vehicle or other location as soon as possible. Live steel is defined by Lincoln Nerd Fest as any metal object that can hold a sharp edge, whether or not it actually does. This does NOT extend to things such as armor or other garments, though exceptions will be made for anything with a sufficient point.
• Nerf guns, Air-soft, BB or any other realistic firearm must have a non-removable orange safety tip, empty of ammo and will be disabled with the trigger zip-tied.
• Foam bullets or any other ammo will not be allowed. Case-by-case exceptions for obvious fake ammo permanently attached to clothing may be made at staff’s discretion.
• No firearms or any kind of live projectile weapon are allowed.
• Props that make realistic sounds, such as gunfire or explosions, will not be allowed without the sound disabled.  No costume or prop may generate odor, smoke, bubbles, or fog.
• Props with flashing lights must be able to disable those lights upon any reasonable request.
• Remote controlled toys, drones, and other similar devices are not allowed without special permission from convention leadership.
• Speakers and other playback devices must be kept to a reasonable volume. This usually means “a conversation can be held nearby without issue”, however staff may still request the volume be lowered or the device turned off.
• Roller skates, skateboards, hoverboards, and all other recreational personal transportation are not to be used on the convention floor except as a prop. Use as transportation may result in temporary confiscation, to be held at the entrance check-in desk until their owner can remove them from the convention center. Medical mobility aids are excepted from this rule.
• If staff deems a prop dangerous or harmful it will not be allowed regardless of whether it conforms to these rules. This will be decided on a case by case basis.
• Exceptions to these rules may be made for the cosplay contest or other events, on a case by case basis.

Consequences for Violations

• First offense is a single warning to either correct or discontinue improper behavior.
• The second offense is a full suspension of prop privileges. Confiscated props are to be held at the entrance check-in desk until such a time as their owner is able to remove them from the premises.
• A Third and final offense will result in a meeting with the Nerd Fest Leadership, to discuss removal from the convention and revocation of badge privileges.
• We reserve the right to modify or escalate the consequences at our discretion, based on individual circumstances.