Convention: My Time at MAGFest 2025

Wearing three cosplays that include tank tops and bottoms that expose the legs is often a recipe for disaster in the middle of winter. I did that anyway, and I don't regret it!

MAGFest 2025 has now come and gone, and it was my first year attending. I didn't know everything I would expect, but I made the most of my time there. This post will cover most of the highlights of each day, and what I hope to do next year.

My BF as Heavy, my sister as Ms. Pauling and me as Medic in the gazebo

Thursday, Day 1

After arriving late Wednesday and picking up the badge that same night, the first day of MAGFest mostly included getting an idea of what in the world was happening and where everything was. My cosplay was a gender-bent blue Medic from Team Fortress 2, and I was thrilled to show off my prop builds for this cosplay. I finished my MediPack a couple days before and managed to glue together and paint the bone saw a few hours before we even got on the road.

I learned about audio dramas at a panel, did a little shopping as well as eyeballing some other items in the marketplace, played a different version of Project Diva, but my favorite parts of this day were the TF2 meetup and songwriting workshop.

I finally got to see and access the fountain area! You have no idea how much of an accomplishment that was. As well as getting the gazebo picture (but I have one now, and I feel satisfied. I don't think I'll fight for that famous picture again).

At the meetup, there were so many other cosplayers. The only merc of the game we didn't have at the meetup was Solider which left everybody surprised. Still, the insanity that we pulled for pictures was an absolute blast. We even had a TF2 verses Overwatch photo because they were right after us. I have an idea for that too.

T-Pose at TF2 Meetup

Me on Drums

At the songwriting workshop, it was half creation, half jam session. I honestly did not mind at all because I got chosen to be on the drumkit, my first instrument. The song we made turned into a punk style song, and I wish I had gotten some more photos. I did manage to get a selfie of myself on the drums, so I was very happy to play again for the workshop.

Got to see a little bit of one of the official dance parties as well and stayed for a while, but I'm not sure what else to include. It was what you'd expect of a dance party.

Friday, Day 2

The highlights of this day really involve my cosplay. I did Faith from Mirror's Edge (her original look, not Catalyst), and so many people came up to me with compliments, asking me if I was doing Mirror's Edge, saying they loved the cosplay or asking for a picture. Along with me absolutely loving how my tattoo had come out on this day too, this cosplay was a huge success in my eyes. All those people really made my day.

Posing in my Faith cosplay

I did do a panel about writing comics, played some more games in the console room, went out to dinner for a friend's birthday, but a lot of this day involved pictures. I took some for both my boyfriend and for my sister, and I also had a photoshoot myself. I finally got to work with Paul Winters Photography, and I'm incredibly excited to receive the pictures back. Shoutout to photographers in general, you all manage to make us cosplayers look amazing.

Friend's Birthday Dinner

My sister and I as Vi and Jinx

Saturday, Day 3

This was a funny day for me. I was very happy to have finally worn my Jinx cosplay though! I learned a lot about what I will fix the next time I wear it. I had a photoshoot with a new photographer, Party Stove, and I've included one of my favorites in this post! I'll be sharing the rest on Instagram on Sunday. She did an amazing job in some locations that I wasn't really able to access before (seriously, MAGFest is so much better when it comes to the crowds). I found a few twin cosplayers who I had to get some photos with, and I even found an Isha! She said that I was the first Jinx she saw that day which kind of surprised me. It is hard to catch everybody at this con though.

Selfie with an Isha cosplayer

Something that I mainly did today were some music panels. Not all of them gave information that I could use, but I was able to pick some good and useful things out. I also had a good time at dinner on this night. Being able to see the food options very close to the Gaylord was a new experience, and I was glad I was able to see some of them.

I was also able to help out my boyfriend at his meetup. He did the hunter from Bloodbourne, and I was able to see some familiar faces there as well, which was really nice. Got a good chunk of photos for him too.

Amazing photo taken by @partystove

Sunday, Day 4

The OG RE4 Crew

I was sad that this day was so short. This day was a lot of catching up on some final things I didn't get to do. I bought a few more things in the marketplace. I didn't go too over budget this time for myself which was an accomplishment. I got introduced to an indie game called Unbeatable. It was a rhythm game which I am particularly fond of, and I really enjoyed it. I want to get the demo arcade mode as well as buy the soundtrack. I liked the couple songs I played to.

My first highlight was playing my flute in the woodwind workshop. I had been dying to play it all weekend. I was so determined to make this that I had packed as much as I could on Saturday night and got up a little earlier to finish. I made it just in time. I did some of the harmony parts, but I didn't care that I didn't do the leads. I just wanted to play and play I did. I also got the parts we played as well. I'm going to practice those.

Group shot of the Resident Evil Meetup

My second highlight was the Resident Evil meetup. It was small, but we had fun taking a whole bunch of different pictures. My personal favorite is the original RE4 crew and their remake designs standing back to back. Yes, I am in that picture as one of the Ashley's.

I also stuck around to take pictures of the Sonic meetup afterwards because it was something my sister really wanted to do, and it was the last meetup of the convention. Some more of my friends were a part of it too, so I was able to get them in the photos as well.

OG and Remake RE4 Back to Back

Overall, MAGFest has now moved to one of the top conventions I've been to. I didn't have to worry about seeing a bunch of celebrities, was able to hold myself back in the marketplace, hung out and met a lot of amazing people, and generally was able to do almost everything I wanted to. It was definitely a vibe con where I didn't feel overwhelmed.

Things that I want to attempt for next year include potentially seeing one concert and doing more of the music based activities they had. I want to perform with the Community Orchestra. That is my main goal next year. I also want to look into the bands that will be coming next year too. I didn't see any concerts because I didn't know the bands. I know, odd excuse. So, I'll look one up that seems interesting, listen to some of their music and then see when they're performing so I can go watch. I also want to make some different styled ribbons too based on what cosplays I do. I don't plan to get a whole bunch of ribbons on my badge next year, but I think I got a good chunk this year. To those who get them to be as tall as themselves, that's a mix of insane and incredible. I don't know how you do it.

Who actually knows what will happen next year? Either way, I'm happy to have gone this year, and I can't wait for next year. I'm already making plans.

Sonic Meetup, the final meetup at MAG