Charity Ball

For the Charity Ball, we encourage your cosplays and cross-plays! However, they must still follow the Naka-Kon and charity ball dress codes. (Remember that the dress code is gender-neutral.)

Examples of appropriate formal wear include ball gowns, tuxedos or suits, military dress uniforms, formal cultural attire, including your zori and geta, and historical costumes. Please wear the appropriate shoes for your outfit.

If you need a medical exemption for any reason, email charity@naka-kon.com prior to the ball. The most common questions are on shoes, dress length, and formality.

1. All attendees must abide by the general dress code of Naka-Kon.
2. Appropriate formal attire
   • This includes (but is not limited to): Tea length Dresses or gowns, kimonos, Hanfu, Saris, Suits or Tuxedos, kilts, formal cosplay etc.
   • This excludes: skirts at or above the knee, shorts, t-shirts, blue jeans, hoodies, informal cosplay, etc.
3. Shoes must be appropriately formal and worn at all times.
   • This includes: Dress shoes, oxfords, high heels, shined boots, ballet flats, black or neutral all-over flats, etc.
     • This includes traditional Japanese sandals
   • This excludes: Dirty ​Sneakers, Dirty Converse shoes, dirty work boots, tactical boots, sandals, flip-flops, bare feet, etc.
     • even if it is accurate for your character, excluding traditional wooden sandals, which are allowed under traditional garb.
   • Exceptions are allowed on a medical case-by-case basis. Please email charity@naka-kon.com if you have further questions.
     • Medical devices, such as a boot cast or other mobility devices, are automatically exempt from this rule; wear whatever assists your mobility best.
4. Dresses, skirts, kilts, etc., are to be no shorter than tea length, but encouraged to be floor length.
   • Tea-length skirts fall between your knees and ankles, typically falling at least midway down the calf.
   • Slits in skirts may reach as high as mid-thigh but not as high as the hip to avoid bits and butts being uncovered. If the slit is too high, think about pinning it to the appropriate coverage.
   • Kilts: The type of formal kilt will determine the length
5. No bare midriffs allowed.
   • Undergarments must not be seen.
   • Two-piece dresses are allowed with a small gap between pieces
   • The area covering the chest and skirt (between the hips and the knee) cannot be made of sheer or transparent material.
6. Leather, latex, and fur may be used as accents on clothing, but must not make up your entire outfit.
   • Example: a catsuit is not permitted at this event.
7. No mascot outfits, fursuits, wings, weapons, helmets, cloaks, or any other item that can interfere with the dancing of other attendees or become a tripping hazard.
   • The rule of thumb: If it can not stick to your body, then it is not allowed.
8. Please no outside glow or light-up (blinking) accessories.
   • You are allowed to light your dress itself SO LONG AS it is not blinking or a health risk to another attendee, and or a major distraction.
   • We reserve the right to ask you to turn it off if it does become a problem

If you have questions, please email charity@naka-kon.com.

Staff Dancers: There will be staff members at the ball whose purpose is to dance with attendees. They will each be wearing the same style of white rose boutonniere and be introduced at the beginning of the ball to help attendees identify who they are.

Dance Cards: Each attendee will be given a dance card upon entering the ball, with things to do such as “Dance with a staff dancer" or “Complete an inside turn”. Those who complete their card will have the chance to be honored as part of the ball's royal court. Winners will be presented with prizes and asked to lead a dance. After which, we will collect their information so they may receive a weekend badge for the following year. Please return the crowns following this exchange. Keep a look out for a new category in this competition

Rose Exchange: During the ball, 24 roses will be given at random to attendees. Each person is then asked to present that rose to someone they did not know prior to the ball to dance with. The purpose of this is solely to help encourage people to mingle amongst other attendees, meet new friends, and get the ball rolling!

Photo Op: There will be an awesome backdrop provided for you to take a picture by yourself or with friends. Please provide your own camera for the photo, so you have the memory with you always. We should have a staff member there to assist with the process, but you are more than welcome to still take photos even if they have stepped away, and we encourage posting your photos with #Naka-kon2026 and/or #Naka-KonCharityBall.

Dance Performance: Laura Szymanski and Courtney Smith from the Walter's dance center will be performing a dance routine to show how good you can get with practice.