Frequently Asked Questions

Date, Hours, Location

Date: May 26-29, 2023 (Memorial Day weekend)

Location: Renaissance Baltimore Hotel, 202 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA

Hours: Friday, 3pm to Monday, 5pm

Major Events

Registration opensFriday, 1pm
Opening CeremoniesFriday, 7pm
MasqueradeSaturday, 8pm
Short Film FestivalSunday, 7pm
Art AuctionSunday, 2pm
Balticon 57 endsMonday, 5pm

When is the Registration desk open?

The Registration Desk will be in the Maryland Foyer, on the 5th floor.  Hours are:

Friday1pm – 10pm
Saturday8:45am – 7pm
Sunday8:45am – 5pm
Monday10am – 1:30pm

How much does membership cost?

Weekend, virtual, and daily prices are listed on the Prices and Information page.

Am I registered?

You can check if you’re registered here.

BSFS members: Don’t worry if you are not currently in the database. Be assured that you do have a Balticon 57 membership.

How do I get my badge?

All badges will be at Balticon Registration, on the 5th floor of the hotel, in the Maryland Foyer. When you arrive at the hotel, take the elevators or stairs up to the 5th floor, then follow the signs. We are NOT in the same location as Hotel Registration.

Which line do I stand in?

For pickup of ALL badge types, start at the Check-in line. If you are not pre-registered and are purchasing your badge at the door, you will then head to the Cashier to finish payment. If you are pre-registering for next year and have ALREADY picked up your badge, you can go straight to the Cashier line.

What payment methods do you accept?

For online registration, we accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. You can also pay by check or money order through our mail-in registration. At the door, we accept cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. 

Are there any discounts available?

Yes! We have a Young Adult category, for our members ages 13-25, and children under 12 are free! All children must be accompanied at all times by an adult. Active Duty Military and their family can receive $20 ($10 for Young Adult) off any membership at the door with valid ID. 

What about one-day memberships?

Our early registration pricing is a really great deal if you might want to stay a second day, and a full-weekend membership is cheaper than two single days combined. However, if you really only have one day available, one-day memberships are available for purchase at the door, as well as upgrades from one-day to full-weekend. Prices will be announced closer to the convention. 

What if I’m attending with young children?

Children 12 and under are free! We provide registration for Child badges along with your online registration, or they can be added at the door. When you arrive, we will provide a wristband with your phone number for your child to wear as well as their badge, since we understand that small children frequently remove their badges (for older children, it’s up to you whether you want one or not). Maryland state law requires that children under age 8 be accompanied by an adult at all times. We do not currently provide drop-off child care. However, we have a Children’s Programming track with activities for our youngest fans, and the convention space is very stroller-friendly.

Can I pick up my spouse/girlfriend/child’s membership as well as my own?

Maybe! If you prefer to send one member of your family to Registration to help reduce crowds, please bring ID for all memberships, and we would be happy to assist you. Please double check badge names with the rest of your party before arriving.

Do I have to use my real name?

Only in our database. Your badge name can say whatever you want! We use ID to match up the registration with the person who purchased the badge, so the name on your registration does need to match some form of ID that you carry. 

Do I have to show ID?

No. You are more than welcome to pay cash for a badge at the door. However, if you purchased a badge, we would like to make sure that no one else picks up your badge, and that only you get the badge you paid for. We are very reasonable about what we consider valid ID; we just need to know the badge is going to the right person. You may also bring your receipt as proof of purchase, either printed or electronically.

What happens to my email address if I give it to you?

We will email you a copy of your receipt, if you register online. We may use it to contact you individually if we need to (i.e., we found something with your name on it in our Lost & Found, you purchased a piece of artwork, there’s a question about your registration, etc). We are hoping to send out an informative email just before the convention to remind you about parking and where to pick up your badge, but we NEVER share your information without your explicit permission.

What happens to my phone number if I give it to you?

We may use it to contact you individually if we need to (i.e., we found something with your name on it in our Lost & Found, you purchased a piece of artwork, there’s a question about your registration, etc). We NEVER share your information without your explicit permission.