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November 14, 2026   |   

10 AM – 

6 PM

Cherokee Casino Tahlequah

November 14, 2026

|

10 AM – 

6 PM

|

Cherokee Casino Tahlequah

Cosplay Contest Guide

Online Registration Now Open

Show your flair for fashion and your love for Indigenous heritage, pop culture, sci-fi and fantasy! Join in the fun of our family-friendly cosplay competition, featuring celebrity judges and several categories with cash prizes.

Don’t forget to check out the event rules here to help create a safe and enjoyable environment for all attendees.

Contest

Categories & Rules

Craftsmanship Contest

The craftsmanship contest is for those who have made the majority of their cosplay and want to be judged on how well the cosplay came together.

Online registration will remain open until the registration deadline or contest capacity (26 participants) is reached. In-person registration will be first-come, first-served and open during the day of the event, pending participation capacity. In-person participants must bring accompanying reference material.

Contestants will be notified of their acceptance and assigned a pre-judging time slot on the day of the event. Participants will meet with the judges to explain the process of creating their respective cosplay. Reference pictures or a build book are highly encouraged and may be handed in at the pre-judging time. For more information, please see the details below.
Register Now
Important Dates

Jun 1

Online Registration Opens (10 AM Central Time)

Oct 31

Online Registration Closes (11:59 PM Central Time)

Nov 4

Contestants Notified of Acceptance

Nov 14

In-Person Registration (11 AM –
12 PM Central Time) Pending Capacity

Nov 14

Pre-Judging (Coming Soon)

Nov 14

Craftsmanship Cosplay Contest
Contest Awards

$500

1st Place

$400

2nd Place

$300

3rd Place
Contest Rules & Eligibility
  • Contestants must be citizens of a federally recognized United States Indian tribe, a member of an Alaska Native Corporation, or a recognized and documented “Indigenous Peoples” under Canadian law. Members of state-recognized tribes in the United States are not eligible to participate. Contestants from recognized Indigenous communities outside of the U.S. and Canada (e.g. Māori) will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Cherokee Nation Cultural and Economic Development, LLC (“CED”) retains sole discretion in determining whether a contestant is eligible to participate
  • Contestants must be 16 years of age or older to compete, with contestants younger than 18 requiring permission and accompaniment from a parent or guardian
  • Contestants must have made 60% of the cosplay. If the cosplay was made by someone other than the entrant, the maker will receive the prize(s)
  • Group cosplays are allowed, but will only be eligible for one (1) placement award in the contest category
  • Contestants will receive five (5) minutes for pre-judging to explain the process of creating their respective cosplay. Contestants are recommended to arrive five (5) minutes before the assigned time slot to check in at the cosplay booth. Reference pictures or a build book are highly encouraged and may be handed in at the pre-judging time. All reference materials will be returned after the end of the contest
  • Contestants will receive one (1) minute or three (3) poses to showcase their creations on the main stage during the contest

Skit Contest

Recreate a favorite scene or put something completely original on stage! The contest will only be judged based on performance.

Online registration will remain open until the registration deadline or contest capacity (10 performances) is reached. Contestants will be notified of their acceptance, and assigned a performance time slot on the day of the event. For more information, please see the details below.
Register Now
Important Dates

Jun 1

Online Registration Opens (10 AM Central Time)

Oct 31

Online Registration Closes (11:59 PM Central Time)

Nov 6

Audio Files Due (11:59 PM Central Time)

Nov 4

Contestants Notified of Acceptance

Nov 14

Skit Cosplay Contest
Contest Awards

$400

1st Place

$300

2nd Place

$200

3rd Place
Contest Rules & Eligibility
  • Contestants must be a citizen of a federally recognized United States Indian tribe, a member of an Alaska Native Corporation, or a recognized and documented “Indigenous Peoples” under Canadian law. Members of state-recognized tribes in the United States are not eligible to participate. Contestants from recognized Indigenous communities outside of the U.S. and Canada (e.g. Māori) will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Cherokee Nation Cultural and Economic Development, LLC (“CED”) retains sole discretion in determining whether a contestant is eligible to participate
  • Contestans of all ages are eligible to participate. Contestants younger than 18 require permission and accompaniment from a parent or guardian
  • Contestants are allowed a maximum of three (3) minutes to perform the skit
  • An audio file is required for all performances to ensure the audience can hear the skit and may be uploaded during registration or emailed to the cosplay coordinator (late entries will be disqualified from the contest)
  • Contestants will only be judged based on performance
  • Content must be family-friendly (no curse words, suggestive themes, etc.)
  • Store-bought and handmade cosplays are allowed

Runway Contest

Register the day of SkasdiCon. This is a low-stress cosplay competition where you don’t need to make your costume by hand. You just need to strut your stuff and ham it up for the audience!

Contestants will be judged based on their personality and stage presence. For more information, please see the details below.
Important Dates

Nov 14

In-Person Registration ( 11 AM –
4 PM Central Time)

Nov 14

Runway Cosplay Contest
Contest Awards

$400

1st Place

$300

2nd Place

$200

3rd Place
Contest Rules & Eligibility
  • Contestants must be a citizen of a federally recognized United States Indian tribe, a member of an Alaska Native Corporation, or a recognized and documented “Indigenous Peoples” under Canadian law. Members of state-recognized tribes in the United States are not eligible to participate. Contestants from recognized Indigenous communities outside of the U.S. and Canada (e.g. Māori) will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Cherokee Nation Cultural and Economic Development, LLC (“CED”) retains sole discretion in determining whether a contestant is eligible to participate
  • Contestants must be 17 years of age or older to compete, with contestants younger than 18 requiring permission and accompaniment from a parent or guardian
  • Contestants will receive one (1) minute or three (3) poses to showcase their creations on the main stage
  • Store-bought and handmade cosplays are allowed

Kids Contest

Register the day of SkasdiCon. Kids who love to perform are always welcome at SkasdiCon! We let imagination lead the way at our children’s cosplay contest!
Important Dates

Nov 14

In-Person Registration ( 11 AM –
4 PM Central Time)

Nov 14

Kids Cosplay Contest
Contest Awards

$250

1st Place

$150

2nd Place

$100

3rd Place

Goodie Bag

All participants receive a goodie bag.

Contest Rules & Eligibility
  • Contestants must be a citizen of a federally recognized United States Indian tribe, a member of an Alaska Native Corporation, or a recognized and documented “Indigenous Peoples” under Canadian law. Members of state-recognized tribes in the United States are not eligible to participate. Contestants from recognized Indigenous communities outside of the U.S. and Canada (e.g. Māori) will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Cherokee Nation Cultural and Economic Development, LLC (“CED”) retains sole discretion in determining whether a contestant is eligible to participate
  • Contestants must be 16 years of age or younger to compete, requiring permission and accompaniment from a parent or guardian
  • Store-bought and handmade cosplays are allowed

Judges' Choice Awards

Stick around for the final award winners! At the conclusion of the cosplay contests, three (3) judges choice awards will be announced.
Important Dates

Nov 14

Judges' Award Announcement
Contest Awards

$150

Important Dates

Jun 1
Online Registration Opens
10 AM Central Time
Oct 31
Online Registration Closes
11:59 PM Central Time
Nov 14
SkasdiCon Vol. V
10 AM – 
6 PM Central Time
Register Online

Contest

Registration

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Craftsmanship, 1st Place

Destany as Springtrap from Five Nights at Freddy’s

Craftsmanship, 2nd Place

Trazzalene as Makoto Nanaya from BlazBlue

Craftsmanship, 3rd Place

Lil’ Bunny as Xie Lian from Heaven’s Official Blessing

Judge’s Choice

Evan as Hatsune Miku from Vocaloid

Judge’s Choice

Michael as Sundrop from Five Nights at Freddy’s- Security Breach

Judge’s Choice

Ron as Hawk-Man-Dalorian from Star Wars: DC Comics

Skit Contest, 1st Place

Shadow as Glinda in The Wicked Witch is Dead

Kids Contest, 1st Place

Mahko and Zavelyn as Thomas and Victor from Smoke Signals

Kids Contest, 2nd Place

Lily as Jim Hawkins from Treasure Planet

Kids Contest, 3rd Place

Journey as Jinx from Arcane

Runway, 1st Place

Rachael and Jessie as Kissin Kate Barlow and Zero from Holes

Runway, 2nd Place

Eli and Tallee as Luffy and Zorro from One Piece

Runway, 3rd Place

Benji as Shadow the Hedgehog from Sonic the Hedgehog

SkasdiCon Vol. IV Cosplay Competition Winners