Not even a week has passed since one of the most well-known conventions on the eastern coast took place – DragonCon, which hosted an impressive 72,000 attendees, celebrated its 28th anniversary in Atlanta, Georgia over Labor Day weekend.
Now, if you’re anything like me and enjoy a good true crime documentary while bundled up with a cup of hot tea, then you’re probably curious as to the title of this article. So allow me to explain – DragonCon is a host to many, many cults that have been carefully crafted and cultivated throughout the years. This is no small feat, nor is it anything to take lightly. You see, the guests of DragonCon take pride in their craft and ingenuity when it comes to the formation of said cult groups. And they are always looking for new members.
From the iconic Marriott carpet pattern to the ever-growing shrine in memory of FedEx Jon… the cult-like mentality gathered around seemingly obscure and meaningless items found around the DragonCon premises has formed traditions that still live to this day.
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The Magic Carpet
No, this is in no way a reference to the one that will show you a whole new world. This carpet has, however, become just as infamous and iconic… if not more so, at least to the thousands of DragonCon attendees. Known as the ‘Cult of the Carpet,’ members of this cult are worshippers of the well-known carpet that once graced the halls of Atlanta’s Marriott Hotel. Though this carpet was tragically torn out in 2015, its memory still lives on through merchandise and cosplays that replicate the pattern of this carpet, and even through small strips and squares of the actual carpet itself – salvaged through dedicated dumpster diving – that are now sold for the cultists to collect and cherish for the rest of their days.
Not only are pieces of the real carpet sold, bartered, and used to create cosplays, but there is even a Facebook group dedicated to this cult in order to spread news, and awareness and promote event gatherings during DragonCon. All to pay homage to the beloved Marriott carpet. Needless to say, this cult has garnered enough followers to receive its own dedicated section in the famous DragonCon parade, where carpet-inspired cosplays are put on full display.
Rest in Peace, FedEx Jon
I’m sure many of you are curious as to the aforementioned shrine for Fedex Jon. Who is this Jon person? Why is he so important to a con filled with thousands upon thousands of people? Was he a savior who delivered last-minute supplies to guests in need? Or, perhaps, he was once a simple cosplayer, like so many others at DragonCon, who invented a costume so unique and obscure that it went down in the convention history books…
No, he was cardboard.
Just a simple, lone cardboard cutout standing within the hallway connecting two of DragonCon’s hotels back in 2019. That’s all Jon was. Little did Jon know, his future was about to change.
Like so many of us, con-goers are quite easily entertained by the little things in life. What could be seen as a simple cardboard cutout of a delivery person can quickly become a host to two googly eyes. Why not, right? But why stop there? Add some paper bunny ears, perhaps a puppet on the shoulder, and maybe a sprinkling of various stickers to spice up that FedEx uniform…
Very quickly, FedEx Jon became a host to many random treasures and ornaments donated by DragonCon attendees. But with great power comes great responsibility.
Jon’s precious cutout was eventually removed from the hallway, but the attendees remembered the hope and creativity that Jon had sparked within them. Thus, they began creating sigils every year in his memory at the very spot he once stood. But the dedication didn’t stop there. Just like the Cult of the Carpet, the Cult of Jon has created its own Facebook group and Discord server to immortalize its Lord and Savior and promote the yearly formation of Jon’s sigils with donations of googly eyes.
May Jon’s light shine upon us all.
The Unified Church of the Dragons
Now, seeing how covering every single cult within DragonCon would result in a 10-page essay, we will finish things off with an organization that exists solely to unite and inform attendees about the various DragonCon cults/groups.
The Unified Church of the Dragons is a group that began in 2020 with its co-founder Mera Babineaux explaining that The Church itself is operated on the basis of spreading harmony between the cults and their subsects. Along with this, The Church helps document and record the histories of these cults so that they may live on throughout the years. Such cults include the Cult of the Marriott Carpet, Cult of Jon, The Church of Chad, 36 Dozen Eggs, the followers of Trashy, worshipers of the Blue Postcards, and the DragonCon Deadpools.
If any of these cults happen to have piqued your curiosity and interest, or if you’re simply planning to attend DragonCon next year and want to be fully prepared for the various shenanigans, we highly suggest joining The Unified Church of Dragons Facebook group, which will help educate and inform you on the many, many groups that exist within DragonCon.
In Conclusion
DragonCon takes place every year over Labor Day weekend, swarming the downtown Atlanta area with a sea of amazing cosplays, unique characters, and endless events that will definitely require a planner of some sort. But if you happen to feel overwhelmed during attendance and aren’t sure where to go next, fear not! DragonCon offers its own app on the AppStore that will help you track which events are occurring throughout the day and pinpoint their exact location with just a single touch of your screen. We definitely recommend downloading this app before you attend so that you can get familiar with its interface and even begin planning out your days.
Should you have that retail therapy itch and want to spend a good chunk of your time in the Vendor Hall or Artist Alley, please note that you may be standing in line for roughly an hour to get into the building that houses these markets. However, trust us, it’s worth the wait. You’ll be welcomed to four floors of vendors, artists, craftsmen, and more. And if you’re excited about the ribbon trading/collecting aspect of DragonCon, there are many to be found, purchased, or traded within Vendor Hall and Artist Alley.
To stay up to date on the latest DragonCon news, upcoming guests, and big events, or simply want to view what the con has offered over the years, visit the DragonCon website or follow DragonCon on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X. Better yet, join the DragonCon Discord and dive right into the community that makes this convention truly one-of-a-kind.
