A community celebration of the 2025 Stars of the Banner winners including the 2025 Dorchester Banner Hometown Heroes.
We're BACK! With a new name! Dover Con!
Saturday, June 14, 2025!
Dover Con 2025 is a FREE, family-friendly, indoor/outdoor pop-culture festival with more than a hundred vendors, artists & artisans, authors, a cosplay competition, fan groups, pop-culture cars, food vendors, and panel discussions throughout the day. It is produced by the Daily State News and sponsored by the City of Dover, P&G Gable Dover, Dover Electric, Visit Central Delaware - Kent County Tourism, Dover Federal Credit Union, 92.9 TOM-FM and WBOC, with the support of many local partners including the Dover Public Library, Red Bandana, the Biggs Museum of American Art, Delaware Historical & Cultural Affairs, First State Heritage Park, and TKO Productions/DCW ProWrestling.
Vendors!
No matter what your geek passion is, you will find some amazing collectibles for purchase from the vendors lining Loockerman and Federal streets. Merchandise will include original art, comic books, T-shirts, cosplay accessories, action figures, Manga, and the list goes on. New vendors need to pre-register before being selected to participate. Click this link to pre-register.
Food Vendors!
Yes, of course there will be food and plenty of it. We don't want you to go hungry. There are tables and chairs under the shade trees adjacent to the food vendors. Please clean up after yourself. Although we like to think that the people who are reading this don't need to be told to be kind to Mother Earth and keep her clean, right?
Cosplay Contest!
Think your costume has what it takes to win the Dover Con Cosplay Contest? Start planning your costume now and sign up starting at 10 a.m. at the tent next to the stage on The Green, State Street. No registration fee. Categories for all ages. Prizes! Sponsored by Red Bandana.
Gaming Tournament!
Nintendo heads can sign up for a Super Smash Brothers tournament, hosted (and streamed on Twitch!) by Small Town Gaming. It’s a chance to put all your couch skills to the test. You'll find them stationed in the Biggs Museum with even more seats for you to join the competition.
Professional Wrestling Stars!
DCW Pro Wrestling Stars are BACK! They will be on site for autographs and a series of wrestling matches. Don't miss your chance to meet these Pros and watch this exciting demonstration of skill and strength on Legislative Mall.
Star Wars from a Galaxy Far, Far Away!
We are excited to share that the free lightsaber training is returning this year. Come by the Wesley United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall on Loockerman Street across from Dover City Hall and learn one of the top skills required to be a Jedi Knight. Then, come across the street to the Library to meet the First State Garrison, Delaware’s representation of the 501st Legion, Rebel Legion: Ghost Base, and Mando’s Mercs costuming organization comprised and operated by Star Wars fans. You'll be amazed at the characters and droids you'll meet! Photo ops galore!
Pinball Tournament!
Yes, that's correct! The First State Flippers are doing a pinball tournament at Dover Con. No charge to participate. You'll find them on Loockerman Street in the Wesley United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Who doesn't love these classic games? If you've never seen or played pinball, now's your chance to start a new passion.
Love anime?
If you love anime videos and creating your own original art, be sure to visit the Delaware Anime Society anime fan hangout in the Dover Library. They will show videos and have activities available all day.
Pop Culture Cars are back with some new additions!
The fan-favorite Pikabug is back as well as a custom Wonder Woman Jeep. These four-wheels of fun always provide the perfect background for a photo-op in your cosplay outfit.
Stay tuned for lots more details to follow as we finalize our plans. And check out some of last year's photos below, along with a commercial produced by WBOC and a video that we produced to include the radio spot produced by 92.9 TOM-FM.
All event info is subject to change.
QUESTIONS?
For individual matters or questions the best was to contact us is with email to [email protected] as opposed to posting questions on social media or sending through DM.
SPONSORSHIPS & MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES:
We LOVE our sponsors, and they LOVE the diverse, local audience they reach at Dover Con. Plus, they get loads of exposure for their brand, who doesn't LOVE that? If you want to be part of the fun by being a sponsor of Dover Con 2025 or promoting your business or organization in the event publication reach out to our marketing team at [email protected]. We'll put together a customized plan to help you reach this unique demographic while still meeting your budget needs.
