Lucca Comics and Games brings us Cosplay – a costume competition, parade, fantasy experience – on Saturday and Sunday, 29-30 October. Not to be missed unless you're al- lergic to crowds! Want to take part?

To participate in Cosplay, sign up on-line at the Lucca Comics and Games site.

Costumes must refer to animation, cartoons, cinema, tele-films, music, videogames, roleplaying or books.

No original characters will be accepted this year.

Registration is for one day only; for both days, two costumes are required. Groups can have up to 50 members, but each member must sign up individually. The parade is in or- der of sign-up, and you must arrive ON TIME.

All weapons (swords, spears, ...) must be declared to the Questura. For sound tracks, MP3s should be submitted at registration. Access to the stage will be controlled.

No flames, spewing liquids, sprays, smokes, explosives, or launching of heavy or dangerous objects. Confetti okay. No animals, live or dead, permitted. Stuffed animals and re- productions okay. No vulgarity, obscenity, lewdness, or offences to religion.

On stage, each actor or group, if they wish, may present a brief scene, a parody, or a speech representing their characters.

Depending on the number of performers, they have from one to five minutes on stage.

This year, in addition to the Lucca Competition, there is a chance to be selected as Italian representative to the Second European Cosplay Gathering (ECG) for Japan Expo 2012 in Paris, France.

Only Italians over 21 years of age, with individual entries or groups of 2 to 3, can enter this competition. Costumes must be handmade. No crossover costumes. No non-Japanese video music artists. (No Lady Gaga!)

Interest in ECG selection should be indicated when registering for the Lucca competition. Send an artwork (photo, sketch) of reference in order to be identified by the Jury, or if you prefer, send up to three photos of the work in progress.

The final selection of the Italian representative to ECG will be made by the Jury, together with the Japan Expo delegate. The winner/s will receive a trip to Paris for the European Cosplay Gathering. Zounds! (Or as we say in Italy, Caspita!) Telephone 0583 48522 or 0583 462200, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.luccacomicsandgames.com