Children's Policies

Please read! (Last updated: December 15, 2012)

Arisia makes every effort to protect fans of all ages and provide a healthy environment with many opportunities for fun and learning. Children are a valued part of our community, and we welcome their appropriate participation. Children under 12 years old may attend with either their own paid convention membership, or with a free Kids-in-Tow membership (with and under the supervision of an authorized adult at all times). Arisia requires that there be at least one supervising adult accompanying every three Kid-in-Tow members.

When first checking into the convention, parents of children aged 9-12 who believe their children are mature enough (and who have their own paid membership) may choose to allow their children to freely roam the convention on their own. Such children will be given a green ribbon or other identifying token to wear with their membership badge. Children whose parents do not allow their child to freely roam the convention normally are given a red ribbon (lack of a ribbon means the child is a Kid-in-Tow member). If a child with his/her own membership engages in inappropriate, disruptive, or dangerous behavior, it is Arisia's practice to indicate this by punching a hole in (or otherwise defacing) the child's badge. A child who excessively misbehaves is subject to having their free-roaming privileges or their entire membership revoked.

All children aged 8 and under must be accompanied with an adult, unless in Turtle Track (Childcare) or in the Fast Track con areas as appropriate to their membership type. Any unattended children (which includes: children not picked up at Fast Track/Turtle Track; children who do not have free-roaming ribbons found outside of Fast Track) will be brought to Arisia Security, who will follow procedure to ensure the safety of the child. Fast Track has limited day-time hours only; please check the schedule below.

Please remember that many of the costumes, the outfits the attendees will be wearing, and the displays in the exhibit areas may be made of delicate and easily damaged materials that your child should not handle without permission.

Some panels and sessions dealing with adult topics may be closed to individuals under 18 years of age. Although children under 18 years of age may register as "adults', membership in the convention in no way supersedes any local, state, or federal laws.

Fast Track is a children's program open to fans aged 6-12 years old. Fast Track is billed as a con within a con; offering a wide variety of program items, including crafts, costuming, magic shows, science, song, discussions, demos, storytelling and games. Fast Track is not child care.

Fast Track cannot provide snacks and meals. Arrangements must be made to feed your children.

Please remember to pick your child up if he or she is wearing a red ribbon.

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