September 2, 2017
It’s that most magical time of year. Labor Day Weekend in Atlanta. If you love comic books, video games, fantasy, science fiction, cartoons, anime, horror, graphic novels, the weird, the fantastical, then you were probably downtown. DragonCon is in its 31st year and it is going as strong as ever. Four days of awesome. Four days of cosplay. Four days to meet your favorite authors, actors and artists from all of the genres above. One of the highlights of the long weekend is the annual parade where tens of thousands of onlookers line Peachtree St. to watch an hour and a half of characters come to life. It is one of my most favorite things to photograph each year and I am lucky enough to have been able to capture it five times!
Paul Gay (right), Rishi Patel, Priya Patel, Gabriel Gauvin and his brother Alex wait for the start of the annual DragonCon Parade.
Ramona Cassamo (left) looks over at her husband Justin as he makes last minute adjustments to her wings before the start of the annual DragonCon Parade on Saturday.
Stone Hazelrigs (right) talks to an Atlanta Police officer as he waits for the annual DragonCon Parade to start in Atlanta on Saturday.
Brian Burke rides his dragon down Peachtree St. during the annual DragonCon Parade.
Jeff Grabowski raises his weapon in the air yelling “game over man, game over” as he and other colonial marines march down Peachtree St. during the annual DragonCon Parade.
Dressed as a colonial marine from the Alien franchise, Roman Fruehan makes his way down Peachtree St. on Saturday.
Dressed as characters from Mystery Science Theater 3000, Nate Osburn and his wife Janet make their way down Peachtree St. during the annual DragonCon Parade.
Collin Royster drives his Sweet Tooth vehicle down Peachtree St. during the annual DragonCon Parade.
The man, the myth, the legend. Stan Lee gives a Spiderman web slinging hand gesture as he rides down Peachtree St during the annual DragonCon Parade on Saturday.
Jillian Kuhlmann walks down Peachtree St. as she participates in the annual DragonCon Parade.
Thomas Starratt waves as Robin from the Batmobile during the annual DragonCon Parade.
Aquaman came to shore for the annual DragonCon Parade on Saturday.
Dressed as Superman, Tim Olmo plays up to the crowd during the DragonCon Parade on Saturday.
Captain America is one of the many comic book characters to make an appearance during the DragonCon Parade on Saturday.
Members of the Captain America Dancing Girls make their way down Peachtree St. during the annual DragonCon Parade.
J.J. Griffin (left) gives Dillinger Buning a high five for wearing the same costume during the annual DragonCon Parade.
Dressed as Morty, Andrew Fraser gives one of the many Deadpools in the annual DragonCon Parade a high five as they pass by on Saturday.
Dressed in steampunk, Nicholas Leonard marches in the annual DragonCon Parade on Saturday.
Dressed as Blume from Doctor Who, Joshua Nschein makes his way down Peachtree St. during the annual DragonCon Parade.
Scooby and the gang march down Peachtree St. during the annual DragonCon Parade.
Literary Guest of Honor and author of The Devil’s Arithmetic, Jane Yolen, waves to the crowd as she rides in the annual DragonCon Parade.
Alleea Shell slings webs as she watches the annual DragonCon Parade march past on Peachtree St.
Trina Parks, who played Thumper in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever, dances as she rides down Peachtree St. in the annual DragonCon Parade on Saturday.
Paul Johnston (right) and Sarah Lemay duke it out in the streets as they participate in the annual DragonCon Parade.
Dressed as Jonathan Riker from Star Trek, Albert Larde marches in the annual DragonCon Parade on Saturday.
The Borg is represented as the Star Trek crew makes its way down Peachtree St. during the annual DragonCon Parade.
Dressed as Spartans from the movie 300, Rusty Winns (right) and Bryan Nguyen form a phalanx as the march in the annual DragonCon parade.
Dressed as Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz, James Ouzts kneels before his wife Wendy as the march in the annual DragonCon parade.
A Roswell Alien takes a selfie with Collin Wiley during the DragonCon Parade on Saturday.
Netherworld made its presence known as horror characters scare the crowd during the DragonCon Parade.
Kristin Flemeth makes her way down Peachtree St. during the DragonCon Parade.
Big Daddy is led down Peachtree St. on Saturday.
Characters from Dragon Age make their way down Peachtree St.
Amanda Carambat pilots her Mech down Peachtree St.
Emma Rubini poses in her Borderlands costume as she marches in the annual DragonCon Parade.
HALO’s 405th Infantry Division marches down Peachtree St. on Saturday.
The King of the North! Game of Thrones was well represented during the annual DragonCon Parade on Saturday.
Hannah Pease (center) watches the DragonCon Parade pass by on Saturday.
Dressed as a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica, Jonathan Gillaspie turns to look back at the crowd on Saturday.
Ashley Colon marches down Peachtree St. with the rest of the pirates on Saturday.
Jason Barnes marches with the rest of the Periodic Table during the DragonCon Parade on Saturday.
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat (left) and Kane wave to the crowds as they ride down Peachtree St.
Greg Miller (left) deals with zombie Robert Stephens as they march in the annual DragonCon Parade on Saturday.
Mad Max was represented as the War Boys marched down Peachtree St. on Saturday.
Rhonda Reinagel makes her way down Peachtree St. during the annual DragonCon Parade.
Thousands upon thousands of people lined Peachtree St. to watch the annual DragonCon Parade.
First Order cheerleaders make their way down Peachtree St. on Saturday.
Hip hop storm troopers dance their way down Peachtree St. on Saturday.
Star Wars bounty hunters make their way down Peachtree St. during the DragonCon Parade on Saturday.
Arthur Hinds (right) has a lightsaber battle with George Marr during the DragonCon Parade on Saturday.
Like Santa Claus, Darth Vader ends the DragonCon Parade down Peachtree St.
Even the bad guys can goof off sometimes. Star Wars characters pose for photos as the end of the DragonCon Parade passes by on Saturday.
Jason Pfeffer (center) tries to navigate the crowds after the end of the annual DragonCon Parade.