Get ready for an all-ages Con that brings fandom, fun, and film together in one unforgettable day! Enjoy games of all kinds, unique vendors, a cosplay contest, and engaging panels throughout the event. Fans of cult-classic cinema won’t want to miss a special behind-the-scenes look at Napoleon Dynamite with producer/director Sean Covel, sharing stories and insights from the film. We’ll cap off the night with a community viewing of The Princess Bride in our beautiful, Historic Homestake Opera House—the perfect setting for an iconic movie and a perfect ending to an epic day.
LeadCON 2026 Schedule
Click here for TICKETS! 🎟️ Pre-purchased tickets get you into the Nerd Trivia on Friday and the full day of events on Saturday. Be sure to review the Code of Conduct for guests at the bottom of this page.
🪡 Need supplies to build your Cosplay Contest entry? Click Knothole, LLC for directions to our sponsor in Spearfish!
♟️LeadCON 2026 SCHEDULE
April 10-11th 2026
Friday, April 10th:
noon-4:30 pm – Vendor Setup – Homestake Opera House
6:30pm-9pm Nerd Trivia Night: Lewie’s Burgers & Brews (free with CON wristband purchase)
Saturday, April 11th:
(All Saturday events at Homestake Opera House, unless otherwise noted.)
9am – Doors Open
9am-4pm – Vendors & Art Alley (upstairs Atrium & throughout theater)
9am – 4pm – Board Game Gallery – come check out a game to play with your friends! (upstairs left Atrium)
9:30am Opening Ceremony (Theater)
10am-4pm Tattoo Flash Sale – With Ink.Journee of Jordan’s Got A Gun
10am – Warhammer Tournament (Gallery Room – preregistration and additional fee required)
10am – Magic: The Gathering Tournament (upstairs right Atrium – preregistration and additional fee required)
🎟️ Click here to sign up for the Magic Tournament
10am – Smash Bros Tournament (upstairs Bridal Suite room) – sign up when you arrive, $5 per person
10am – DnD games (sign up the day of required, first come first served) **Limited to those who have never played before
11am – Writers/Author Panel (Theater)
noon-2pm – Napoleon Dynamite showing and Q&A with Director, Sean Covel (Theater)
2-3pm – Cosplay Costume & Illustrators Panel (Theater)
3pm – Smash Brothers Championship (Theater)
4pm – Cosplay Contest (must be registered to participate, limited to first 30 entries at the door)
6pm – Closing Ceremony (Theater)
6:30pm – Movie: Princess Bride (Theater)
For all details, visit www.leadmethere.org/leadcon. Check our Facebook and Instagram pages for specific event posts and flyers!
Schedule subject to change**
LeadCON Code of Conduct
Purpose
LeadCON is a family-friendly, community-focused ( did someone say Fellowship?) event celebrating comics, cosplay, and nerdom. This Code of Conduct exists to keep everyone safe, comfortable, and able to enjoy the day!
General Behavior – DON’T BE A DINGUS!
Treat others with common courtesy and respect. Harassment, threatening behavior, hate speech, or persistent unwanted attention will not be tolerated. NO EXCEPTIONS…(Yes, even if you have +5 Charisma)
Respect private property and the Opera House. Leave the event, booths and displays as you found them. Please stay within the designated event areas and do not enter into any closed off areas of the building. THIS IS FOR YOUR SAFETY! This is not an opportunity to practice your epic stealth skills, or darkvision, it will not bode well for you.
Event staff and volunteers may revoke an attendee’s admittance WITHOUT refund for violating this Code of Conduct. You could try and challenge that but you’d have to score at least an 18 using a -5 modifier on a charisma/intimidation check.
If you feel unsafe or witness someone violating this policy, locate security, a staff member or volunteer immediately so the situation can be handled quickly. DO NOT roll for initiative.
Cosplay and Prop Safety
All cosplay must follow this Code of Conduct.
Costume props are allowed but must be safe and non-functional. Do not bring real, operable weapons, and definitely NO cantrips (Warlocks, please keep your Eldritch Blast in your pocket.)
Sharp edges or functional blades are prohibited. Leave the sais and katanas at home.
Replica projectile props must be rendered inoperable and have brightly colored tips or caps. Failure to adhere to this will result in an immediate strength/dexterity check against our Orc level security, and/or a time out in a Gelatinous Cube where you can think about what you’ve done.
PLEASE DEACTIVATE YOUR ARTIFACTS! Real arrows must have tips removed and must be bundled, secured, and carried in a way that prevents use.
ENCHANTED GEAR: Props that could be mistaken for real weapons, or that pose a public-safety risk, may be required to be secured to your costume so they cannot be drawn.
Stilted costumes or other mobility-altering costumes must be inspected and approved by staff at the sign in table. No three Goblins in a trenchcoat please!
DO NOT IMPERSONATE THE NPCs Costumes intended to resemble emergency personnel, law enforcement, or security staff in a realistic way are not permitted. Be advised there is an anti-cloaking charm that goes into effect the moment attendees step inside the opera house making it impossible to impersonate NPCs even if you wanted to (you don’t.) Charm wears off after 24 hours.
To avoid increasing aggro in crowded or restricted areas, staff may ask oversized or cumbersome costumes to leave certain spaces for safety reasons.
Prop and costume policies may be updated before the event; check the event website, or look to the sky for a message from the ravens.
Familiars and Service Animals
Sorry! NO FAMILIARS. Personal pets are not permitted inside the Homestake Opera House. Please leave non-service animals and unregistered gremlins at home.
EXCEPTIONS: Trained service animals are allowed. Staff will ask for identification or verification.
Prohibited Items and Safety Screening
No OUTSIDE Alcoholic beverages (or mana, or mead) permitted inside the Homestake Opera House. Beverages will be available for purchase inside the designated event space.
Security may perform bag searches at entry points and enchanted portals.
Do not bring drones, helium balloons or tanks, fireworks, roller luggage, handcarts, trolleys, or any other other environmental traps that create a safety hazard, obstruct aisles, or trigger a dexterity check.
Only on-duty law enforcement officers (not to be confused with knights, paladins, cowboys or Crows of the Night’s Watch) may carry firearms on site, per venue policy. All other firearms and real weapons are prohibited regardless of permits or licenses.
Enforcement and Changes
Event staff and designated safety officers will enforce this Code of Conduct. Noncompliance may result in removal from the event without refund, and may be reported to local law enforcement when appropriate. You also risk eternal banishment to the Upside Down.
This Code of Conduct may be updated; final rules and codes of conduct can be found on the LeadCON landing page, on display at the event, and maybe via sea shanty performed by the in-house Bard.
Thank you for helping us make LeadCON a welcoming, safe, and fun event for everyone. If you have questions about any policy before or during the event, please contact event staff.
Quest on beautiful adventurers!
Thank you to our 2026 LeadCON sponsors:
