StarFest 2015 - Day Two Recap

Written by Shae

Starfest 2015 has come and struck with a vengeance. The con kicked off with a bang Friday night and Saturday was just as special. With lines forming everywhere, people were ready to meet our beloved Guests and get autographs, pictures, and most importantly of all, memories. For me, Starfest has always been about building memories, making friendships, and having those amazing moments. I've said before, Starfest is a family reunion, but with only the fun stuff! It feels like going home, which is why hearing that Starfest wouldn't be held at the Marriott DTC next year, I nearly cried. Fear not! The con goes on, but the moving of venues is something I am personally struggling with.

Hard to believe a place can have such an impact on a person. Cons move around, and this i know, but for some reason, Starfest moving is a very sad thing. While the con and people will be the same. As well as the abundance of panels and congoings... it will feel strange to be anywhere different. However, Starfest may not be moving forever, and there's a chance it will be back. Has our con gotten so big? I dare say, the steady stream of people I saw today would attest to that! As always, the costumes are my favorite part. It's the love, care, and countless hours spend over a costume that makes them so amazing. Whether you're a beginner or pro, everyone can appreciate the effort and lengths people go to on their costumes. It's not that hard to see why cosplayers are so passionate, a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and swears go into making a costume. A lot of the time, it's all about trial and error. In my case, it's a lot of error, and mostly cooking dinner for Mattie, the world's best friend ever. 

Costume Contests allow cosplayers the opportunity to show off their work. Being judged by peers is one thing, but being judged by your geeky peers can be a completely different story. What I love most about costume contests are their over all support. The love we shower on those brave enough to take the stage is sometimes overwhelming. I've been in a small handful of costume contests myself, and I can't say I'm a pro, but I can say it takes some serious guts to get on that stage. To do it in order to have your work carefully scrutinized is another story! I love seeing those who do, and it's a Starfest Tradition to attend! The more i get into Cosplay, the more I seriously consider competing. Hey, we're nerds, we can be competitive too! I guarantee we're more competitive than most! Especially when it comes to our skills!

But, not all compete for prizes and titles. No, some of the most amazing cosplays can be found on the con floor itself. A costume contest isn't for all, and many cosplayers strut their stuff to bring joy to us geeks! Admittedly, we may even be fanatical fans about some cosplays! Yet, not all artists express themselves in the world of fabric and props. In the art room you can find an array of artistic work that many a fellow nerd has done. Sculptures, paintings, and even various crafts can be found here. Down in the model room is a whole other world of fantastical art, let us not forget Artist Alley, where the artists we love being us both amazing fan art and stunning originals. Perhaps that's the draw to Starfest, the many different avenues we get to explore. Local and outside artists of all kinds come together to share with us their works. Along with Author Alley which is a plethora of novels written by many a local and national writer; all waiting to be devoured by our very eyes. 

There's something for everyone at Starfest, which is a work of art itself. For years, this con has been a focal point for many. People fly in all over the world just to come to this con. While that's true of many, I feel Starfest has a bit of a different feeling to it. This past Saturday, I saw just how much people love being here. Thankfully it's not over just yet! We still have today to stave off our goodbyes! 

---