- Accessibility
- Anti-Harassment
- Cosplay & Weapons
- Counterfeit
- Health & Safety
- Photo-Op
- Security
♿ Accessibility Policy
Here at GSCF, we treat all attendees, including those with special access needs, with respect and dignity. Patrons with disabilities are required to pay full admission; however, one attendant/caregiver may receive complimentary admission when requested at the Accessibility Service Table.
📍 The Accessibility Service Table is located near the main entrance.
GSCF provides accessibility bracelets to attendees with disabilities and up to one companion. Bracelets are for individuals with mobility, vision, hearing, or other difficulties. This bracelet identifies you to Staff, Crew, and Security and indicates that you may need additional assistance.
To receive an accessibility and companion bracelet, please request one at the Accessibility Service Table at the event.
Fans who require accessibility services and have a medical companion with them may request a complimentary admission pass for their service person. The fan still needs a GSCF Admission Pass for themselves. The companion will receive a general admission one-day pass and will be granted access to the same areas of the show as the fan requiring assistance.
For example, if a VIP Pass is purchased, their companion will receive a complimentary day pass and be given access to all VIP areas, lines, and lounges to aid the fan. Medical companions must remain with and assist the patron with disabilities. The companion is not entitled to any merchandise, “line-jumps,” or exclusive benefits.
The complimentary admission pass must be collected from the Accessibility Services Desk on the same day it is to be used. If the attendee is attending multiple days, the companion must retrieve a new pass each day.
We provide accessible seating as available. All seating for Panels and Screenings is on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be guaranteed. Fans who require accessible seating should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early.
Please note that our panels are popular and space is limited. Refer to the Program or website to plan accordingly and allow additional time for lines.
Unfortunately, we cannot allow priority access to signings. Guests sign for limited times and, to be fair to all, fans may not bypass lines unless they have a VIP Pass.
We recommend having someone in your group hold your place in line. You may rejoin them when they reach the front.
GSCF does not provide or rent special equipment.
GSCF can accommodate interpreter requests for panels in the main panel room up to three weeks prior to the event. Requests made after that cannot be guaranteed. On-site interpreter requests are not available.
We ask that you purchase your pass before making a request so we can confirm you will be in attendance.
To request an interpreter, please contact us at gardenstatecf@gmail.com and include the following:
- Your full name
- Your planned attendance date(s)
- The name of the panel(s) you’re requesting interpretation for
Guide dogs and service animals are welcome if leashed or properly controlled.
Please note: Emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.
Attendees with service animals are fully responsible for their animals. Event staff may ask that an animal be removed if it is not housebroken, behaves aggressively, or poses a health or safety threat.
🚫 Anti-Harassment Policy
ZERO TOLERANCE: Garden State Comic Fest has a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for harassment of any kind.
Prohibited Behavior
Enforcement
If a person engages in harassing behavior, GSCF Staff will take prompt action in any form they deem appropriate, including expulsion from GSCF with no refund and police action. Our policy applies to EVERYONE at the convention. Exhibitors, fans (attendees), speakers, guests, professionals, press, staff, crew, and security are all subject to our Anti-Harassment Policy.
We have issued lifetime bans in the past. We will have no issue doing it again. So in fairness — DO NOT BE CREEPY!
Reporting Harassment
Anyone can report harassment. If someone’s behavior has made you uncomfortable, or if you witness the same happening to someone else, you should immediately contact GSCF Staff and Crew, Security Team, or Police on site.
If necessary, we will contact local law enforcement, and will assist those experiencing harassment in any way possible.
Photography & Respect
Keep your hands to yourself. If you would like to take a picture with or of another GSCF fan, always ask first and respect that person’s right to say no. When at GSCF, be respectful, be nice, be cool and be kind to each other. Or don’t come.
Our Mission
GSCF’s mission is to create a fun, safe, welcoming, awesome event where fans of all kinds can come together and celebrate. We want you to not only have the most amazing weekend ever and hopefully allow some of the day to day stress we all feel shed away. As fans ourselves, we understand the importance of creating an amazing event for everyone who attends GSCF.
Our Promise
Our prime directive here at GSCF is to provide the highest quality comic festival we can. We will always welcome fans, friends, family, exhibitors, vendors, artists, writers and celebrities no matter their race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship or political views. We only ask that everyone who attends GSCF remember that they share the common pursuit of happiness in one of the multiple hobbies spawned by those magnificent magazines that tell stories with artwork that we call comic books. Our hope is that for a few hours you can leave the real world behind and immerse yourself in a world of joy while at GSCF.
Sincerely,
Dave O’Hare
🦸 Cosplay Weapons Policy
⚠️ Important: Failure to follow this policy may result in your removal from the convention without refund. This policy applies to any and all venues hosting Garden State Comic Fest.
Hate symbols are not permitted at GSCF, including as part of cosplay, and GSCF will not allow costumes that contain hate symbols or appropriate the symbolism of hate groups, including, but not limited to, historical/comic-related/satirical costumes.
Permitted Props (at Security’s Discretion)
- Lightweight Plastic, Metal Shields, and Foam props
- Lightweight Plastic/PVC Props/Lightsabers
- Toy guns as long as they do not look like real ones, cannot function or shoot projectiles and have an orange tip on the barrel. The barrel of all prop firearms must be covered with brightly-colored caps
- Prop bows will be allowed without string providing all arrows have soft tips made of foam or cardboard
Not Permitted
No metal swords or knives of any kind are allowed.
If any of the above items are deemed unsafe by GSCF Security, they will not be allowed inside the building. If you’re bringing, buying or selling something that could maim, damage or cause bodily harm, we’re going to take issue. They will only be allowed as long as they are deemed safe and will not cause harm onsite.
When in doubt, leave it out. If you need to think about it, the chances are it is not allowed.
🏷️ Counterfeit Merchandise Policy
Our Standard
GSCF always prides itself on having exhibitors that are simply the best around. We are always looking out for everyone’s best interests so all counterfeit items, bootlegs, knock-offs, or other pirated items are not welcome at GSCF.
Exhibitors selling counterfeit items will be removed from GSCF and banned from future events.
🏥 Health & Safety Acknowledgement
Mask Policy
Currently there is no mask mandate in NJ. Our policy at this time is if you want to wear a health mask feel free. If you do not want to wear a health mask feel free — this is your choice so please respect others’ decisions. If anything changes we will update accordingly.
GSCF does reserve the right to ask anyone to remove a mask briefly at any time for identification purposes.
COVID-19 Risk Acknowledgement
Please be advised that a risk of exposure to COVID-19 still exists in every event or public setting, including GSCF. Prior to registering for and attending the event, please ensure you have read the latest CDC Guidelines for Prevention.
By attending the event, you acknowledge this inherent risk on behalf of yourself and/or any Minor attending the event for which you serve as Guardian (collectively, “You”) and, as a condition of entering the event, You acknowledge, understand and confirm each of the following in accordance with applicable health guidelines.
Attendance Acknowledgements
By attending you confirm that:
- You will abide by all terms of admission and participation (as may be updated from time to time) and event health-and-safety requirements
- You have not been in contact with someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 symptoms without completing a CDC-recommended quarantine
- You are not under any self-quarantine or isolation orders or subject to any CDC self-quarantine or isolation protocol
COVID-19 Symptoms
You confirm that you are not currently experiencing any of the following symptoms of COVID-19, as identified at CDC.gov, including but not limited to:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
📸 Photo-Op Policies
Rules & Guidelines
Finally, HAVE FUN! Celebrity guests are all nice people and are happy to be here, so relax and remember to enjoy yourself!
🔒 Security Policy
Our Commitment
GSCF wants to make sure our events are safe for everyone. With that being said:
- All attendees with bags, backpacks, purses, etc. will need to go through a bag check entering the venue. Bags may be reinspected by any GSCF or Codey Arena security at any time
- All Cosplay Props will go through a weapons check both at the main entrance
- We will have both uniformed and undercover/off duty police and possibly police dogs throughout the con
- If anyone is caught shoplifting or doing any other activities that would be deemed against the law, we always press charges and add you to our Hall of Shame