Important Schedule Details

FRIDAY:

• 9:45am- Building doors open to participants. Doors are located at the Mt Vernon South Entrance. *You must show puzzle proof. Please have your ticket tailor receipt open on your phone or a printed copy. Look for USA Jigsaw Nationals signs, which will lead participants to the right side of the grand lobby. You will be required to walk through security so we advise that you arrive early.

• 11am- Building opens to the General Public. You no longer need to show puzzle proof to enter the building.

• 1pm- Awesome Con officially opens to the Public.

SATURDAY:

• 8am- Building doors open to Participants and the General Public.

• 10am- Awesome Con opens.

• 1pm- Artist Signing at the Ravensburger booth in the Exhibit Hall.

• 6pm- Special Announcement at the start of the Pairs Final.

SUNDAY:

• 8am- Building doors open to Participants and the General Public.

• 10am- Awesome Con opens.

• 2:30pm- Artist Signing at the Ravensburger booth in the Exhibit Hall.

• 4:30pm- Awards, Speed Run Winners, and Special Announcement

Registration Information

All registered participants can identify their Heat Assignment and Table Number by searching for their name in this Google Doc. *There will be no check-in this year. Please go directly to your table number. More information on Competition details below.

Changes to preliminary rounds will not be allowed. However, if you cannot make it to your round, please email us at contact@usajigsaw.org.

Still want to register for solos, pairs or teams? The individual and pairs divisions at Nationals are sold out, but it is possible there will be no-shows or last-minute cancellations.  So, there will be a wait line for each preliminary competition at Nationals!  We will have a Wait Line near the Welcome table outside the competition area. It will be on a first come, first served basis so be sure to arrive early (at least 15 minutes before the round starts) if you want a spot. Plan to scan a QR code to register and pay. You may enter the line as a solo for pairs and teams and we will do our best to create some new teams! If you do have a partner/team, you must all be in line together to get a spot.

Competition Details

• Please arrive at least 15-30 minutes before your heat begins. Right before the competition starts, empty tables will get filled with wait-listers, and you will not get a refund, so don’t be late.

• For those new to Nationals, the competition space will be closed off before each heat/final. This allows volunteers to prepare the space. 15 minutes prior to start, the doors will open, and everyone can flow in and find their table.

• Each table will have a Table Card with the table number and your registered name. You will also see a timesheet with the same information. If any changes need to be made to your name(s), just cross out the incorrect name and put in the correct one.

• The puzzles will be in opaque bags on your table. You are NOT ALLOWED to handle the bag or look at the puzzle prior to the start of the timer. If we see you opening the bag or looking into it early, it is grounds for disqualification.

• Rules and Announcements will occur before each round. You will have time to put your personal belongings under your table, and prepare your space.

• Our very talented emcee for the weekend, Aly Krasny, will go over everything and give you a heads up on when the count down will begin.

• At the end of the count down, the timer will begin and puzzlers can open their bags.

  • You should have no problem opening the box, as all puzzles should have the stickers sliced in advance. You will find an unopened bag of pieces inside the box.

  • If your puzzle box will not open due to stickers still being in place, get the attention of a volunteer to assist in opening the box and they will write down your delayed start time so you are not penalized for the error.

• When you or your team is close to finishing, raise your hand to get a volunteer’s attention. Most likely someone will be close by, but in the case that many people are finishing at once, flag someone over so they can be there to write down your official finish time.

• Once finished, please be respectful of other participants and exit quietly from the roped off competition space.

Spectators

• Spectators also need Awesome Con badges.

• Spectators will have a little space around the perimeter of the room to watch their friends and family. Please be cognizant of those competing around you. Random chatter can be very distracting.

• NEW this year! For even better spectating viewing, we will have the livestream projected on a large screen in the competition space.

Results

• Results will be tabulated live and posted on the World Jigsaw Puzzle Federation website when available. (Just look under the “Results” tab for this event.) If you qualify for the final round, you will have a Q next to your name.

• Table Assignments for Finals will be posted on WJPF’s website as well as in the original Heat Assignment Google Doc.

• There will also be a monitor set up in the competition space displaying live results.

Live Stream Details

Because of Ravensburger’s support, we are able to live stream all of our competitions!

• Your friends and family can watch from home on YouTube or Twitch.

• Tune in to watch as the world’s best jigsaw commentator, Valerie Coit, interviews special guests all weekend.

• Note to puzzlers: there will be three video cameras on the competition floor. They will do their absolute best to not interfere with your puzzling.

Volunteer Information

Volunteers, check your email for specific directions for volunteering.

Additional Details

• Ravensburger will be selling puzzles in their “shop” in the East Salon. Look for their convention deal to win a fun surprise; otherwise, competition puzzles will be for sale on their website end of day Monday, April 7th.

• The Convention Center has a strict no outside food or beverages policy. There is a food court within the convention center and water bottle fill stations. Learn more about the Convention Center here.

• There is no specified swap table, but you can try out some puzzles in Ravensburger’s exhibitor booth. Find the convention map here.

• Logistics and Parking: https://awesome-con.com/travel/ 

• Accessibility: https://awesome-con.com/accessibility/

• Getting around DC

• Lost an item? See if it got turned in to the Lost and Found, at the Welcome Table.

• Need first aid? Ask anyone in a Ravensburger shirt.

  Thank you to our wonderful sponsor, Ravensburger, for making this event possible!