Otafest (original) (raw)

Here’s a taste of what’s in store.

Reserve your seat at the Maid and Butler Café and let our charming staff take care of you. Experience the unique and captivating entertainment, indulge in delicious treats, participate in exciting games, and enjoy an enchanting dance performance – all in one place.

The café requires a separately purchased ticket.

Preliminaries: Friday; Finals: Sunday

Witness incredible vocal performances by talented singers competing for glory and recognition! The Ota Factor is the perfect opportunity to enjoy amazing live music while supporting local performers who are ready to give their best performance.

Featuring a variety of idol cover groups, this musical event promises to be a highlight of the festival. Watch talented performers dance their hearts out, and join the crowd as we make Ota-History! With a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere, you’re sure to have a blast. The Idol Festival Contest is a competitive event that displays various Idol and J-pop dance cover groups in Otafest’s Main Events room. The Idol Festival Showcase is a non-competitive event on the Outdoor Stage that displays various Idol, J-pop and K-pop cover groups.

Outdoor events are on a weather-permitting basis.

Our venue and the areas surrounding it make for some great backdrops for your cosplay photos! From the rooftop patio to our balloon installations, there are plenty of unique photo opportunities for you to capture and share with your friends and fellow fans.

Have you ever wanted to know how you would look as a cat? a ninja? a ninja cat? Choose your favorite style from our team of talented artists and get your dream portrait sketched for a good cause. Sketch Drive, one of Otafest’s longest-running traditions (and best kept secrets) is where these ideas come to life!

Half the cost of the sketch will go directly to the artist, and the rest goes to Otafest’s chosen charity, so you’re supporting a local artist and giving back to the community with a single purchase!

Otafest’s Community Corner is a space that provides a platform for conventions, non-profits, and groups to showcase and share their passion projects and works with the wider community. As a collaborative and inclusive space, this is where you can discover something new, exciting, and local. By supporting and promoting the work of our community, we can build a stronger, more connected, and vibrant society.

How It’s Made brings the community together by sharing knowledge and experiences in cosplay and related crafts. The event is set up just like a science fair: presenters display cosplay pieces or equipment that they have made or used, educating visitors about the processes involved. It’s all about building up the cosplay community in Calgary!

The Otafest Arcade hosts different gaming events and spaces throughout the festival. Play in our competitive gaming tournaments and drop-in events, our Open Arcade for casual gaming, and our Mobile Corner where you can play the latest mobile and digital card games!

The Otafest Pokémon League provides a safe space for fans to play against other fans, play for real-life badges, and have a chance at being crowned a Champion. You’ll also enjoy Pokémon-related panels, mini-games, various events, and a welcoming community!

Are you a fan of giant robots? Do you like to build model kits? Feel free to come in and build an experience kit or a kit you picked up on the show floor, take in the gunpla and Gundam related panels, or just hang out and chat with fellow Gunpla builders and Gundam fans.

If you want to show off your stuff, enter the Gunpla Hangar Showcase contest! With various categories and prizes, you can compete at the level of your choice.

Need a break from all the hustle & bustle of the festival? Maybe you just want to find a place to curl up with a good book? Well you’re in luck. The Otafest Manga library is a comfy place for you to relax in a quiet space and pick up a book from our collection of manga and light novels.

Our collection is comprised of books generously donated by publisher sponsors, Otafest staff & volunteers, and members of our wonderful community.

An anime festival obviously needs anime! We have a wide range of anime series, screened throughout the weekend. Our showings provide a great opportunity for fans to connect with each other over their shared love of anime, and to discover new series that they may have missed.

Find some truly unique lots donated by the community, Otafest’s sponsors, and a variety of others. We’ll even have some auction-exclusive official Otafest paraphernalia. Bid away and support charity in one fell swoop!

Otafest is proud to support a local charity each year. All auction proceeds are donated directly to our charity partner, so you can bid with confidence knowing that you’re making a positive impact in the community.

A cosplay meetup is a scheduled, unofficial group photoshoot that is open to cosplayers and fans of specific fandoms or series. We provide the space and time, you host the meetup.

Japanese CONvenience store (コンビニ, “konbini”) meets CONvention! The doors are open and the fresh scent of melonpan is in the air! It’s your one-stop shop for specialty Japanese snacks, baked goods and drinks. Our food is a hug for your soul.

Limited quantities only so visit the Otafest CONbini early to recharge!