Masquerade

The Masquerade Ball is an elegant formal event where you can dress up, dance, and kick off the weekend with style. You must be 13 years of age or older to attend this event.

Formal wear and proper grooming are required and prior to entry, outfits and masks will be checked at the event to make sure they meet the Masquerade Ball Event Rules. An A-Kon badge does not guarantee admittance to this event, and if you arrive in inappropriate attire, we may either ask you to change part of your outfit or not allow entry into the event.

• When: Thursday
• Where: Embarcadero Building

Masquerade Ball Event Rules:

• Formal wear is required. All traditional styles of formal attire are permitted.
  • Appropriate formal attire includes: Cocktail dresses and gowns, black tie formal wear, suits, fancy dresses, prom dresses, ball gowns, dressy separates, button down shirts, dress slacks, traditional Scottish kilts, appropriate military attire, formal historic period wear, traditional eastern dress, appropriate formal military attire, fantasy inspired formal attire, formal J-Fashion, formal alternative/street fashion, and formal steampunk. Appropriate military attire is also permitted.
  • A-Kon considers inappropriate military attire to be uniforms that are associated with discrimination and hate. This type of attire is barred from the event.
  • Inappropriate attire includes: T-shirts or casual shirts, jeans, kigurumi without formal wear, revealing clothing, no excessively deep necklines, fully exposed chests (male or female), no excessive sheer material, excessively tight clothing, rave gear, full armor, duct tape, unsealed body paint.
• The shortest part of all skirts, kilts, dresses, and pants must be knee length or longer.
• Cosplay is absolutely welcome, but it must still be formal attire. You are welcome to create your own interpretation of what formal wear for your cosplay would look like, but it must still adhere to the formal wear rules.
• Traditional masquerade style masks are required. All participants are required to wear a mask. Masks worn to our Masquerade Ball should be masquerade-style masks.You may attach your mask to your face with ribbons, elastic, body adhesive, spirit gum, etc., or it may be a stick mask that you hold in front of your face. You may also use face paint to create a painted mask.
• Masks to avoid: Gas masks, goggles alone as the mask, wrestling masks, full face rubber masks, helmets, masks that cover your entire head, a paper plate with holes in it, VKei/J-Fashion/painters’ masks that cover just the nose and mouth.
• Shoes that appropriately match your outfit are required.
• Props and wings are allowed into the event, but for safety reasons are not permitted on the dance floor.
• You will be responsible for items that you leave unattended.

Press: Photographers with A-Kon press badges may enter without costume as long as they are documenting the event. Anyone else, even with a camera, must wear appropriate attire to be allowed into the dance.

If you have any questions about any of the rules, or want to send us a picture of your outfit to make sure it will be appropriate, or have concerns over accessibility please feel free to contact us.