Galaxy Con Nightmare Weekend starts Saturday, but the real freaks come out Friday. Consider this your excuse to kick off spooky szn early: Cosplay costume contest at 9pm with three winners (Most Unique, Best Couple/Group, Best Overall) $20 gift cards and other swag for the winners. Great Lakes Oktoberfest all night, themed take-home-cup cocktails. Swag giveaways throughout the night. DJ spinning live.
The Nightmare Weekend Welcome Party is a late-night Friday kickoff event at Boxcar Bar + Arcade in Raleigh featuring a costume contest, themed drinks, and live music. What to Know: Entry to this event is free, and it runs from 8:00 PM on Friday, October 9, 2026, until 2:00 AM. You can enter the cosplay costume contest at 9:00 PM for a chance to win twenty-dollar gift cards and swag in categories like Best Couple or Group, Most Unique, and Best Overall. The bar will serve Great Lakes Oktoberfest all night alongside themed cocktails in take-home cups, and a live DJ will provide the music. This is a solid Friday night option if you want to show off your creative cosplay designs early, enjoy some themed drinks, and compete for prizes before the weekend convention crowds arrive.
