Special Events

Special Events encompasses a number of extravaganzas and incredible events that add spice to your convention going experience. Among the traditional events that you will find at Norwescon are the Masquerade, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Dances, and Autograph sessions. Norwescon will also host events such as the SCA Faire, Lazer Tag, Fannish Fetish Fashion Show, Single Pattern Contest, and much more.

Norwescon 28 is pleased to host an Artists Alley. It will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the convention. For further information please contact programming at norwescon.org

We want YOU for the Fannish Fetish Fashion Show!!!

Do you have a cool outfit but you don't want the stress of competing in the Masquerade? Do you make your own clothes but don't like to model in them? Do you like to strut your stuff? Do you have lots of awesome clothes to display? Do you like to show off interesting clothes? Do you need somewhere to showcase that perfect costume? Then The Fannish Fetish Fashion Show is the place for you!

It will be a happening thing on Friday, March 25th, from 9:00 PM until 11:00 PM in Evergreen Rooms 1&2. Please! This will be an ADULT oriented activity. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

We welcome one and all to show off ensembles that fall into a wide array of categories from fantasy to fetish to Sci-Fi to Goth. This is NOT a competition. We just want folks to come and share with those that like to see all of those fabulous con-wear outfits and costumes all concentrated into one place.

You might even win a door prize! Past years have had Norwescon memberships or gift certificates to offer.

You must be at least 18 years of age to participate.

If interested or you have questions contact Veronica at nwglittergoddess at yahoo.com

LAZER TAG

It's time again to dust off your Lazer Tag gear. Norwescon Lazer Tag Saturday Night is back. That's right: the only area at the con where you can shoot, blast, and tag your fellow con goers. So grab your gear, down an energy drink, and come play Saturday Night Lazer Tag!

There will be gear available for use. We will be using the Tiger Toys Lazer Tag system, the Star Wars Naboo Battle Sets, the B.L.A.S.T. system, and the Droid Blaster Rifles. Teens will have unlimited access until ten pm. Check your program guide for the start time and we will see you there.

The Norwescon 28 SCA Faire

The Norwescon 28 SCA Faire is hosted by the members of Clan Carn and the Shire of Wyewood. Join us for an informative and educational afternoon of Rapier and Heavy Fighting demonstrations, Heraldry, Women Fighters in the SCA, Medieval Arts and Sciences displays, as well as an introduction to SCA Combat Archery.

The SCA is a not-for-profit educational organization that studies the history, arts and sciences, chivalry, and culture of the Middle Ages by recreating it. For more information on the SCA visit their web page at www.sca.org. If you would like to participate in the Faire, please contact Bryan Hawkins at bryan.hawkins at v-comm dot net.

Masquerade

The Norwescon Masquerade is the main event on Saturday night of the convention. More information will be available soon, so please check back. If you have any questions you can contact the masquerade by emailing masquerade at norwescon.org.

Masquerade Half-Time Entertainment

Norwescon 28 is pleased to welcome the performers of Tsunami Taiko to our main stage. Tsunami Taiko officially formed in the summer of 1990 and after a few months started to take performances, becoming the first children’s group in the Pacific Northwest. Currently, all members are college students or recent graduates who have grown up playing in a children’s taiko group. After the departure of instructor Scot Kamimae in 1999, Tsunami Taiko’s members have collectively taken over the artistic direction of the group. The group includes members originally from Kona Daifukuji Taiko, Ho Etsu Daiko, and Taiko Center of the Pacific Youth Group. Tsunami’s current members are from Seattle, Hawaii, and Chicago, who have all developed a passion for taiko in their many years of experience. Their style is a unique mix of each member’s individual taiko background. For more information, see Tsunami Taiko's web site at www.tsunamitaiko.com.

The design chosen for this year’s competition is the 18th century coat from Simplicity 4923. Note that we are only using the coat, not the entire ensemble.

Shown as a pirate coat on the pattern envelope, this garment could also be made as a women's riding habit jacket or as a military uniform, if you want a historically-inspired garment. Or, use your creativity for a fantasy-inspired design, as well as the many embellishment options for this coat.

The pattern comes in men’s size extra-small through extra-large, and is easy to alter to fit a woman.

The Simplicity pattern 4923 is available in the Seattle area from any of the local fabric stores, including Pacific Fabrics, Hancock Fabrics, and JoAnne Fabrics, as well as online from Simplicity Patterns at http://www.simplicity.com/s2b.htm.

Rules:

1. The coat (hereafter referred to as “the garment”) must be made from the basic pattern. Minor creative design changes are permitted. This could involve such things as eliminating, changing, or adding minor pieces, as long as the overall silhouette is recognizable as being derived from the pattern. For example, changing the shape of the cuffs, adding a collar, and eliminating the front closures are allowed. You may also choose to line your garment. Making major changes such as adding wide side gores, princess seams, or completely eliminating the sleeves, are not allowed as these significantly change the silhouette.
2. The garment may be made any size, as long as it fits a human being. Sorry, no doll, action figure, pet, or alien-sized garments may be entered in this contest.
3. The pattern comes in a variety of sizes, and you may adjust the pattern pieces to achieve the fit you are comfortable with. You may lengthen or shorten the garment if desired, as long as the finished length would be considered a coat, and it maintains the basic silhouette of the original pattern.
4. Materials and techniques are entirely up to you. All types of embellishments from historical to fantasy are encouraged; however, no messy substances are allowed.
5. The works of Norwescon 28 Artist Guest of Honor Stephen Hickman can be a design consideration (See Stephen’s website at: http://stephenhickman.com/).
6. Please limit your work to the coat itself. While the other items in the pattern (shirt, waistcoat, and pants) may be fun to wear with your coat as a hall costume, they are not part of this competition and should not be displayed with your entry.
7. You must have a Norwescon 28 badge number to enter the competition. Anyone who is a member of the convention, including ConCom members, may enter. Only the Single Pattern Contest Judges themselves may not enter, as this would constitute a conflict of interest.
8. One entry per person.
9. All entries will be displayed in the Art Show. Contestants need to bring a dress form or other stable floor stand on which to display their entry.
10. 10. Entries may be brought to the Art Show on Thursday from 4pm to 9pm or on Friday from 8am to 10am. If you cannot bring your entry to the Art Show yourself, you may have someone else bring it for you, as long as they have your Norwescon badge number to complete the Entry Card. A representative from the Single Pattern Contest will be there to coordinate setting up your entry.

Pre-Registration:

We need to know how many pieces will be in the show in advance, so we can plan space and time for judging and display. Please contact the Contest Director at alphamike99 at yahoo.com as soon as you know that you want to enter, and no later than March 10th. We have a limited amount of space, so if your plans change and you later decide not to enter, please let the Contest Director know as soon as possible, but before March 21st, so that we do not have empty reserved spaces in the Art Show.

Documentation:

Each entry must be clearly identified with a Single Pattern Contest Entry Card, available at the Art Show desk. Put your name and contact information (a phone number if you are not staying at the hotel) on one side, and your badge number and competition division on the other side.

Please provide one page of supporting documentation for the judges, explaining decorative or workmanship elements, materials used, or historical research if applicable. If you are re-creating a media costume or were inspired by a work of art, please provide a color picture. Judging time is limited, so we cannot accept more than one single-sided 8½ x 11 page of documentation per entry. A 12-point sans serif font is a good choice for typed entries. Handwritten documentation is fine as long as it is legible.

To ensure your documentation stays with the garment, contestants are encouraged to place their Entry Card and supporting documentation page in a clear plastic document protector. Bring whatever you need (for example, a ribbon or safety pin) to secure the documentation to the dress form or stand.

Competition Divisions and Judging:

There are two competition divisions: Beginner/Intermediate and Advanced/Expert. It is up to each contestant to choose which division they want to compete in. As a guideline, if you are a Novice or Journeyman level costumer, enter the Beginner/Intermediate division. If you have competed in Masquerade at the Master level, have sewn professionally, or have won Best Workmanship or Best in Show in a Single Pattern Contest, enter the Advanced/Expert division.

Judging takes place on or before Saturday afternoon of the convention. The judges will examine the garments for creativity, workmanship, use of materials, and overall concept, and may award ribbons or other prizes at their discretion.

Judging will be “blind”; in other words, the judges will only see the contestant’s badge numbers and entry divisions, not their names, while judging the entries.

The winners will be announced at Masquerade.

Pick-up:

Garments should be removed from the Art Show on Sunday, anytime after 12:00pm and before the Art Show closes.