World Famous Live Entertainment!
From high-adrenaline sword fights and fire breathing, to interactive theatrical events and sketch comedy, there’s always something amazing to watch at METROCON! We’re focused on creating and sharing theme-park-style experiences and shows – immersion and entertainment are in our DNA, and it’s motivated us to create a unique convention experience unlike any other. Starting with the very first Anime Human Chess Match in 2004, METROCON has been bringing high-quality cosplay entertainment to the convention scene for over twenty years, and we’re teaming up with new groups from all over the country to join the roster of our in-house productions. You won’t want to miss any of these signature shows and events – learn more about each show by clicking below!
Click above to learn more about each event!
The ALL-NEW Anime Action Spectacular!
METROCON has a long history of high-intensity live-action cosplay entertainment. Starting in 2004, METROCON produced the VERY FIRST Anime Human Chess Match – after over two decades of producing and expanding on that format, we’ve upped the game even further and evolved!
DREAM/fight LIVE! is the newest in-house show at METROCON returning for it’s second year in 2025 – we’re taking your favorite characters and pitting them against each other in an action-movie style adventure, so expect to see NEW thrills, NEW stunts, and even more of the action you know and love in METROCON’s fight shows.
DREAM/fight LIVE! 2025 Info COMING SOON!
It’s an average day out for the Forger family – a quiet family outing turns into a high-stakes espionage adventure! DREAM/fight LIVE! is coming to you with a classic twist on an action favorite – SPY GAMES! Join us at METROCON 2025 for a jazz-fueled romp through the underworld of assassins, kidnapping, and peanuts!
DREAM/fight LIVE! takes place in Main Events, in the West Hall of the Convention Center. Check our programming schedule for specific showtimes and days!
Choreographed REAL Fire Dancing and Fire Breathing!
The METRO Fire Show is a themed live-fire performance, choreographed to a fitting soundtrack, that is sure to astound all of the senses and keep you at the edge of your seat. The show includes live fire-breathing, as well as fire dancing with poi, staff, rope dart, juggling, and the occasional twelve–foot–tall fire–breathing dragon (no, really, it happened in 2016!).
The METRO Fire Show is an immersive video and audio experience as well – leveraging 200′ of projected video and a full concert lighting and sound system, there truly is no other fire show like this one!
METRO Fire Show 2025 Info COMING SOON!
“You can die anytime, but living… that takes true courage.”
The Paramount War promises to change the face of the world’s oceans. As the new generation is scattered to the wind and the Marines are left in disarray, the impact of a single flame can be seen across the seas.
Come along with us for this year’s incredible one-of-a-kind theatrical fire adventure, Fire Show: 3D2Y – A One Piece Tribute Show. Join the Straw Hats and other familiar faces as we dive deep into the iconic visuals and fan-favorite moments from throughout the series. Much like One Piece, the show promises to find a way to be silly and heartfelt at the same time – unrelenting in its happiness and the joy created by bringing a dream to life. Fire Show: 3D2Y draws inspiration from the story of One Piece starting near the Battle of Marineford through the reunion of the Straw Hats, and looks to explore the spectrum of relationships, hope, heartbreak, and emotion that every pirate has to experience if they ever want to make it through the Grand Line.
The METRO Fire Show takes place Friday and Saturday night of the convention, in the Main Events Room (West Hall). Check out our full schedule for detailed times/listings.
The METROCON players successfully abridge (read: butcher) another classic series from anime and video game history!
Nowhere is safe from the undead. Raccoon City, the Arklay Mountains, Kijuju…
And now… Tampa, Florida.
This time, the nightmare is live, in-person, and extremely understaffed. Even the actors don’t know what they’re in for this year…
METROCON is proud to bring you The Complete Resident Evil: Abridged in 2025! Drawing great inspiration from the famous “Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)”, a small cast stretched thin enough to snap will attempt to recreate the entire continuity and plot of the Resident Evil Franchise in just under one hour!
As the actors gather this year, however, they realize there’s a mysterious hand guiding their choices – a particularly well-known figure in the Resident Evil mythos is seeking out global saturation once again…
Be sure to join us and clap LOUDLY for this comedic endeavor – or the next T-Virus test subject could be you!
Complete Works: Abridged takes place in Main Events (West Hall) at METROCON – check the full schedule for specific times and days!
Pro-Wrestling Style Mayhem with your Favorite Monsters!
Kaiju Big Battel is returning to METROCON 2025, and celebrating their 30th Anniversary in a BIG WAY!
Kaiju Big Battel has been called “One of the weirdest things you’ll ever pay to see!” by MTV News!
An amalgamation of nostalgia, pop culture, pro-wrestling, and the utterly strange, Kaiju Big Battel is an exciting wrestling event with the nastiest monsters this side of the Sea of Japan! Watch these high-flying beasts enter the ring and wreak havoc on their opponents at METROCON 2025!
From the folks at KBB:
Kaiju Big Battel is a modern conflict of epic proportions. Planet Earth is under threat: scattered throughout the galaxy is a monstrous mob of maniacal villains, menacing alien beasts, and giant, city-crushing monsters that are waging war against one another. Presiding over this mayhem is the Kaiju Commissioner, an enigmatic human-arbiter appointed by a clandestine cadre of world leaders to regulate Kaiju rage. If the Kaiju Commissioner doesn’t do his job perfectly the entire world could get caught in the crossfire.
Currently, the Kaiju Universe maintains an active roster of approximately 30 monsters and a despicable, square-headed mad scientist known as Dr. Cube. In addition to the Kaiju Commissioner, a few other privileged humans also get a piece of the action, including Referee Dundee, a mustachioed official who enforces fairness and civility in the ring, and Anthony Salbino, an urban renewal expert who reconstructs crumbled cityscapes between Battels, and one tuxedo-wearing, mouth-running MC
Kaiju Big Battel 2025 Info
