Loyal Order of the Ribbon and other Dragon Con 2024 Shenanigans
RoShamBo loves Dragon Con—that's no secret. Atlanta’s annual multi-media and pop culture event offers a multitude of competitions, keen cosplay, celebrity panels, and an amazing community. This year’s featured contest is the “Loyal Order of the Ribbon” competition, but before we get to this group of badge ribbon enthusiasts, let’s look at some of this year’s highlights, courtesy of RoShamBo Photographer Jim Stapp.
Photoshoots are one of DragonCon's most largely attended events. They present an opportunity for fans to connect with other members of the same and similar fandoms to show off their cosplay, chat about their favorite characters, and admire the work they've put into their chosen scenes. Sharing a love for any particular "universe" can run far deeper than simply enjoying a show, movie, or game. More often, it leads to connections that run outside the stories into the memories and experiences the fans participating in the photoshoots have experienced surrounding their time as fans of any given fandom. The Sailor Moon photo shoot took place under the Carnegie Education arch in Ivy Hardy Park, just outside the convention's hotel footprint. The arches and setting provide a perfect backdrop for many of the smaller groups that gather to have their likenesses captured with other characters from within the same stories.
Every year, a few standout fandoms are either brand-new or have a break-out year into pop culture. 2024 was no different, and the Amazon show "Hazbin Hotel," along with its precursor "Helluva Boss," was very well represented. Here, we have an exceptionally well-done Lucifer Morningstar, the ruler of Hell.
Giancarlo Esposito: Celebrity panels are a main attraction at DragonCon. Giancarlo Esposito has been a fan favorite for his cinematic and television work over the last 35 years. Since his time as Moff Gideon in "The Mandalorian," he has become a highly sought-after guest at sci-fi and fantasy-leaning pop culture conventions. His panel at 2024's DragonCon was excellent as he proved to be a gracious and encouraging guest who truly enjoyed interacting with guests and being back in Atlanta after living there while filming "School Daze" in 1988.
Herkimer Battle Jitney: Nothing is out of bounds for DragonCon members. Props and movie cars are fair game, and here we have the Herkimer Battle Jitney from 1999's "Mystery Men," referred to in the film as the "finest non-lethal military vehicle ever made." But wait, it gets better … This one is the real thing!
Atlanta's Seed & Feed Marching Abominable: Local Atlanta color is one of DragonCon's most fun features (if we say so ourselves). The Seed & Feed Marching Abominable band is an assemblage of local musicians and parade lovers and has become a staple in the annual DragonCon parade.
The Pale Lady: Horror fandom is well represented in the Cosplay scene, and the more obscure, the better. Here, we have an excellent execution of the Pale Lady from "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark."
Black Geeks of DragonCon Photoshoot: For many, group photoshoots are the lifeblood of DragonCon fandom social scenes. Few others (if any) represent that idea better than one of the most vibrant and vital groups established in recent years, "The Black Geeks of DragonCon." The fandom representation and clever cosplay pulled off by DragonCon's Blerd community can be simultaneously breathtaking and hilarious. DragonCon is incredibly fortunate to have such a group in our midst as they bring joy and forge lasting memories for everyone around them at "the Con."
Alan Tudyk and Nathan Fillion: Celebrity panels are often some of the more anticipated and rewarding events, especially when the panel guests share chemistry like that of Alan Tudyk(L) and Nathan Fillion(R). These two forged lasting bonds while playing the pilot and captain of the "Firefly" class transport "Serenity" in the TV show and movie that shared each of these names, respectively. Their friendship has lasted and grown over the years, and now, their relationship has become the center of attention when they take questions from their fans in extended Q&A sessions.
"The Transformers" - BumbleBee: This incredibly well-assembled, detailed, and technically complex Bumblebee from the Transformers Franchise turned many heads. One of the most impressive features was the range of mobility and ease of movement the cosplayer enjoyed after suiting up to roll out to the "Bunny Hutch" party Thursday night.
Yondu and Groot: Who doesn't love these two? The story arcs of Groot (teenage version) and Yondu Udonta are two of the most emotionally gripping in the "Guardians of the Galaxy" storyline - which logically follows two of the most colorful characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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This year’s featured contest is the “Loyal Order of the Ribbon.” You know you’re having a good Con when you look at your badge and are immediately reminded of the amazing people you’ve met who chose to share a ribbon with you. They are small pieces of imprinted ribbon that attach to the bottom of a membership badge or the bottom of another ribbon in a chain called a “beard.” The ribbons represent anything and everything, from a costume to a cult to a quote from a favorite movie.
As with everything in the RoShamBo world, we love the people who obsess over their passion, and ribbon collecting is a thing to behold.
photo courtesy of Emily Padgett
The Loyal Order of the Ribbon holds the competition for the longest ribbon beard. To really grasp the size of the ribbon beards, they hang the beards over the hotel’s mezzanine balcony
photo courtesy of the Loyal Order of the Ribbon
Beard lengths of the 2024 Loyal Order of the Ribbon Competition
Adults Category:
- *1st Place:* (76' 8")
- *2nd Place:* 69' 10")
- *3rd Place:* (54' 8")
Kids Category:
- *1st Place:* (52' 10")
- *2nd Place:* (16' 8")
- *3rd Place (Tied):* (15' 6")
- *4th Place:* (13' 5")
If you plan on competing next year, the length to beat is a staggering 76 feet and 8 inches!