My first ever convention! I'm really glad I decided to go this year, I had so much fun (and it definitely was a good idea to start with such a small con)! My friends who I go to the Ren Faire with invited me so I didn't even have to pay for a hotel room.
We stayed for all 3 days (although we left sorta early on the last day) and I prepped 3 cosplays, 2 of which were sorta last minute, but they turned out well. I had one store-bought cosplay (with a hand crocheted hat and custom pins made by my brother), Tanaka from Haikyuu, one altered cosplay from normal clothes, Angel Devil from Chainsaw Man, and one hand-sewed cosplay, Nico from Nanbaka.
It was also my first cosplay contest with my first hand-sewn cosplay! It turned out so well, but sadly I will not have any good photos of him for a few months while the photographer edits the 2500+ pictures from the con... I do however have some pictures my friends took at the cosplay contest while I was on stage! I even have a video of my performance, but that's a bit too cringe to share here (unless someone asks very nicely...).
And you know what? Despite being my first con, my first contest, my first hand made costume, I won in the Novice division! I was so excited I almost cried as I walked on stage! I got a lil certificate and a trophy with a toy truck on it (to go with the Isekai theme)
Other than the contest, I had a ton of fun wandering around, looking at all the vendors in artist alley, spending far too much money for an official Pokémon plush ($40 USD for a big Jirachi plushie!). Th first night there was a rave, which was super fun despite how nervous I was! I didn't do much dancing, but watching everyone else was super fun!
Due to the person who was supposed to run Karaoke pulling out, the rave came back the second evening after the cosplay contest, which was just as much fun as the first night!
I ended up wearing my cosplay contest costume from around 9:30 in the morning to around 2:45 the next morning... I have an annoying line of acne? raw skin? something? from wearing my wig for far too long! Next year I'll take longer breaks, one 1-hour nap and a half hour meal is not enough clearly!
The second day was so busy for me with the cosplay contest that I didn't do too much in-between contest stuff other than napping and eating lol. There was arcade games I never had a chance to play, but they'll probably be available next year so I'll make time for them then!
Speaking of next year: my friends will be going to Core Con in May but this time of year is so busy for me that I don't think I'll have the time to make a new cosplay for it, at least not the one I would want to do for their theme (Halfoween, I would want to do Halloween Henry from Fire Emblem: Heroes). plus it's a full day longer than Anime Fargo and I was tired enough from 3 days!
I'll just wait for Anime Fargo 2025: Obligatory beach Episode! I have the perfect cosplay in mind, it's an original alt design of one of my favorite characters! You'll have to wait a bit to find out what it'll be though~!