MegaCon memories for 2021 attendees
Attendees reflect on past shows, look forward to 2021 con
Connolly: After being canceled last year due to the pandemic, cosplayers return and reflect on their favorite moments as the four-day event continues today.
The likes of Batman, Darth Vader and Black Widow will wander the halls of Orange County Convention Center this weekend as MegaCon returns to Orlando Aug. 12-15.
After the Central Florida show faced pandemic-inspired postponements in 2020, Central Florida fans are eager to return in cosplay costumes for a celebration of nerd culture, even with the show’s mandatory mask requirement.
“We really miss the energy of getting into a costume that you put together and being there in the moment, seeing people dressed as the same character as you,” said Misha Ritter Polomsky, who plans to attend with her wife and niece. “It’s nice to be in a place where I don’t really feel judged.”
The Orlando resident has fond memories of previous cosplays, including an apocalyptic spin on the Scooby-Doo gang, and several celebrity meetings.
“A couple of years ago, they had ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ cast. We had just done a live production of the Rocky Horror show. So half of our cast, in our costumes, went and met them. I met Barry Bostwick,” Ritter Polomsky said. “[My wife and I] really bonded over Doctor Who. We’re excited to meet Christopher Eccleston this year.”
While MegaCon attendees can find everything from artwork to video games, for many fans, the focus remains on cosplay. Lightning Tucker has assumed the role of a variety of characters, exploring cosplay since she was about 10.
“This year, I will be doing Star Guardian Soraka from League of Legends. I wanted to go all out because I haven’t been to a convention since 2019,” she said. “At MegaCon, they have a
cosplay red carpet. I think it’s so cool that anyone can go up there and show off what they have and have their picture taken for free by a great photographer.”
One staple of each MegaCon show is a booth by the 501st Legion, a worldwide Star Wars fan organization with five squads throughout Florida. Mushu Sibley is the squad leader for the Makaze Squad, which represents Central Florida.
“MegaCon gives us an opportunity to bring all of our squads together … and really put smiles on faces because that’s essentially why we do what we do,” he said, adding that the squad will raise money for Give Kids The World. “We’re excited to be back. It’s been a long road; we’re excited to produce what we’re going to put down on the con floor as a Star Wars experience. We hope people are amazed by what we’ve come up with.”
While the 501st Legion represents the “bad guys” such
as Darth Vader, stormtroopers and General Grevious, one of Sibley’s cosplays, MegaCon will also have a showing by the Rebel Legion in the same booth.
“We’re the Princess Leias, Han Solos, Ewoks and Chewbacca, all the Jedis,” said Ann Collins, the Ra Kura Base’s commanding officer. “It was heartbreaking to hear the news last year that we were going to be shut down after what we had built so far … We used this as an opportunity to build and make more in anticipation for MegaCon to finally come to fruition.”
Collins, who lives in Clermont, said the best part about MegaCon is seeing people unite over shared interests.
“You’re on common ground. It doesn’t matter what walk of life you come from,” she said. “It gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling when you get to hang out and do something really fun with people who share the same passion … This
year is even more special since we’ve not been able to do that as much with the pandemic.”
If you go
MegaCon takes place Aug. 12-15 at 9800 International Drive in Orlando. Show hours are 4-9 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
Single-day tickets are priced by day and start at $25 for ages 18 and older, $20 for ages 13-17, and ages 6-12 can attend for $10 on any day. Family passes for two adults and up to four children ages 6-12 start at $55. Four-day passes cost $115. Autograph and photo sessions cost extra and vary by celebrity, but Q&A sessions are included with admission. For more information, visit fanexpohq. com.