( CNN ) -- It has all the right ingredients for a tense situation : Scorching hot weather . Relentless humidity . Sidewalks , subways and hotels packed to capacity . Long lines . Nerds and jocks . But instead of being a pressure cooker , downtown Atlanta , Georgia , is serving up a huge party . Labor Day weekend finds the city of Atlanta host to several well-attended events , including Nascar , Georgia Tech 's season opening football game , the Decatur Book Festival and Atlanta Black Gay Pride . The weekend 's two largest events , DragonCon and the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game , happen only a few blocks away from each other , essentially taking over the downtown area . Atlanta 's long-established science fiction and fantasy convention DragonCon and Chick-fil-A 's college football extravaganza are the strangest of bedfellows . Event organizers and attendees readily admit that three years ago , the first pairing of DragonCon and the kickoff game was as an awkward , giggly mashup of Storm Troopers and face-painted alumni . But all are quick to point out that it did n't take long for fans to foster an enthusiastic weekend of unabashed celebration and mutual respect . `` It 's kind of like the ultimate pop culture weekend , '' said Katie Wall , a digital marketing consultant . `` Where else can you find a place full of sci-fi and fantasy fans next to beer-guzzling football fans , all decked out in their school colors ? It 's like everyone 's in costume for the weekend . `` But I think at the end of the day it 's just a lot of people getting excited about what they love and coming together to celebrate it with other people who love the same thing , '' she said . `` I do n't know that there 's so much of a difference , except that we 'll all be wearing Carolina Blue and they 'll all be wearing costumes . '' The University of North Carolina will be playing Louisiana State University in the big game . Kris Harter , a chemist and DragonCon attendee , says it 's not always easy for the two groups to get along , but there 's enough room for everyone . `` I think they are as amicable as possible with each other , '' Harter said . She says that three years on , DragonCon attendees are more accepting of the football fans and are joining in during the buildup toward the game . `` They 're more willing to say 'Roll Tide ! ' or 'Go War Eagles ! ' or 'Geaux Tigers ! ' which you 'll hear a lot of this weekend , '' she said . As early as Thursday night , people dressed in Steampunk garb were checking into hotels next to people dressed in purple and gold or Carolina blue . And the organizers of the two events are digging the vibe . `` The truth is , most of DragonCon attendees have a college football preference . It 's not the old style stereotype of someone who 's reading comic books and avoiding sports or not caring about sports , it 's someone who 's reading comic books while they 're watching sports . I 've had a running e-mail chain for weeks with the chairman of DragonCon about ACC versus SEC , '' said DragonCon spokesman Dan Carroll . Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO Gary Stokan sent an open invitation to DragonCon attendees for exactly that reason . `` We 've reached out to them this year to say , 'Hey , you have your parade , if you want to come down to Centennial Olympic Park [ for the ESPN College Game Day broadcast prior to the Kickoff Game ] let 's get the groups together and see what happens here , ' '' Stokan said . `` I actually know they 'll be getting a lot of takers , '' Carroll said . `` We do have a group that 's all ready to go right after the parade . A lot of people [ will be ] in costume , and we 're going to be going over to ESPN , to their Game Zone area by the stadium , and just getting to meet some of the football fans . '' Sometimes called `` Comic Con 's little brother , '' but fiercely defended by attendees as the country 's most fan-oriented convention , DragonCon had more than 30,000 preregistered guests as of Thursday night , Carroll said . Celebrities on the Con circuit anticipate an attendance closer to 70,000 people this year , based on over-packed hotel rooms and local visitors . `` It 's not intimate . It 's not a small convention , '' Harter said . Because it 's so massive , DragonCon attendees need to prepare , Harter said . `` First thing on my list , a good pair of shoes . `` You definitely need to bring your patience . There are long lines , there 's a lot of people , you definitely need to fight your way through crowds . And you need to bring something nerdy , '' she said . Harter suggests wearing a T-shirt with a nerdy quote on it ( like one from `` The Big Bang Theory '' that says `` Bazinga , '' or `` See DOS run '' ) or a costume . Bringing food can also be advantageous for long lines , she said . This year the convention spans four of downtown 's largest hotels . Sharing some of those packed rooms will be the close to 20,000 LSU and UNC fans in town for the Kickoff Game . Stokan said they are still selling tickets and hopes this year will be another sold-out game .
What happens when nerds and jocks share Atlanta for Labor Day weekend ? Fairy wings and vampire fangs or football jerseys and face paint , everyone is in costume . I was at the game last night with my wife who has been a Hawks fan since she can remember. Over 100,000 nerds and jocks could be in downtown Atlanta at the same time this weekend .