South Jersey GeekFest

Weapons & Prop Policy

Weapons are not permitted at South Jersey Geek Fest.

For the safety of our guests, vendors, staff, volunteers, performers, and venue, South Jersey Geek Fest does not allow real weapons of any kind on the premises. This includes, but is not limited to, firearms, knives, swords, live steel, explosives, chemical irritants, and any item that could reasonably be considered dangerous.

All cosplay props must be inspected by Geek Fest staff before entry.

No zip tie, no entry.

Prohibited Items

The following items are not permitted at South Jersey Geek Fest:

Live Steel

No live steel of any kind is permitted. Live steel includes, but is not limited to:

Swords, knives, bayonets, daggers, or blades of any kind, whether sharpened, dull, or sheathed.

Star knives, shurikens, throwing blades, or similar items.

Metal armor, including chainmail.

Any metal object that can take an edge, whether or not the item is actually sharp.

Metal studs, armor pieces, costume pieces, or metal prop components may also be subject to inspection and approval by Geek Fest staff.

Firearms and Gun-Like Items

No guns of any kind are permitted. This includes, but is not limited to:

Live firearms.

Antique firearms.

Airsoft guns, whether functional or non-functional.

BB guns or pellet guns.

Crossbows, dart guns, blowguns, water guns, or water pistols.

Stun guns, tasers, focused energy weapons, or similar devices.

Phased plasma weapons are also, regrettably, not permitted.

The only possible exception is for clearly fake prop guns, resin props, or 3D-printed models that are easily identifiable as props, have no working or moving parts, and have a non-removable orange safety tip.

Other Prohibited Weapons

No nunchaku of any kind are permitted.

Explosives, Chemicals, and Irritants

No explosives, chemicals, or irritants of any kind are permitted. This includes, but is not limited to:

Aerosols, including silly string, hairspray, solvents, or spray paint.

Smoke bombs, powders, or similar materials.

Sparklers, fireworks, or pyrotechnics of any kind.

Hoax, fake, or lookalike explosive devices.

Pepper spray, mace, or other irritants.

Insecticide, herbicide, or similar chemicals.

Smilex is also not permitted, no matter how committed you are to the bit.

Any illegal weapons will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Permitted Props

Cosplay props and handheld props are welcome as long as they are safe, clearly fake, and handled responsibly.

Fake, prop, or homemade weapons may be permitted if they are made from safe materials such as foam, rubber, cardboard, cloth, plastic, plaster, or similar lightweight materials.

Permitted props must:

Be inspected by Geek Fest staff before entry.

Be clearly identifiable as fake.

Have no sharp edges.

Have no functional firing mechanism.

Have no moving weapon parts.

Not pose a danger to guests, vendors, staff, property, or the venue.

Prop weapons must be less than six feet long and weigh less than 30 pounds.

Any metal chains must be less than two feet long. This includes costume chains, chain wallets, and non-costume decorative chains.

Unsafe Prop Conditions

A prop may be denied entry or removed from the event if it creates a safety issue.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

Items that may trip others.

Items that may snag on people, costumes, vendor displays, or surroundings.

Items that block walkways, doors, hallways, aisles, exits, or vendor spaces.

Items that are too large to safely move through the event.

Items that could reasonably be mistaken for a real weapon.

Items being used in an unsafe or disruptive way.

Behavior With Props

Props must be carried and displayed responsibly at all times.

Misuse of a prop, including swinging it in public areas, pointing it at people, striking objects, blocking walkways, or creating a hazard, may result in the prop being deemed unsafe. If that happens, you will be asked to remove the item from the property.

All props and costume items are subject to inspection, approval, rejection, or removal by Geek Fest staff at any time. This includes props that may have been approved previously or discussed by email before the event.

Seeing a prop in person and reading a description of a prop are two very different things. Final approval happens on site.

Just because a staff member has not stopped you yet does not mean the item is allowed.

When in doubt, ask Geek Fest staff before entering or walking the event floor.

Final Decision

South Jersey Geek Fest staff reserves the right to inspect, approve, reject, or remove any weapon, prop, costume piece, or accessory at any time.

All decisions made by Geek Fest staff are final.

As a general rule: if you have to ask whether something is allowed, the answer is probably no.

Questions, concerns, or strongly worded complaints may be directed to:

info@sjgeekfest.com