MEET | CONNECT | PLAY
Geektacular is returning in 2024 with all the usual FREE geeky fun, created by fans for fans!
Created by young people for young people, Geektacular is a space to experience and celebrate YOU! This 100% free event includes:
– A minimarket of local young creatives
– Cosplay competition
– The GG Social Club Board Games Arena
– Dungeons & Dragons
– Stepping Stones art exhibition
– Next Tier Gaming & Esports (sponsored by The Northern Territory Government)
– Art workshops
– Karaoke
– Cooking workshops and so much MORE!
Geektacular is recommended for young people 15-25 years of age.
Saturday 20 January
2pm – 6pm
Casuarina Library
17 Bradshaw Terrace, Casuarina
STAY TUNED to the LAUNCH Darwin Instagram & Facebook for updates
Geektacular is a collaboration between City of Darwin Libraries and LAUNCH (City of Darwin Youth Programs).
The Geektacular world map and program is live!
As well as the activities listed in the schedule below the following run all day:
- Start Point with AnnahLou Studios and Moonloaff
- Geektacular Minimarket
- Local games with Larrikin Interactive
- Badgemaking
- Lit Labyrinth (scavenger hunt)
- Quiet corner in the Lo-fi Lounge
- Stepping Stones Art Exhibition
- Dungeons & Dragons
- GG Social Club Board Games Arena
- Showcase Alley with Ghostbusters NT, Tangled Ventures, Darwin Sword Academy + Wild North Comics
- Karao’geek
- Photobooth
Pre-register for the Esports Tournaments!
Have you signed up for the Geektacular Esports Open 2024 yet?
It’s time to show off your skills in three epic competitions that are open and completely FREE to enter! Join us for the Brawlhalla (1v1 comp, ages 11-25), Crash Team Racing comp (ages 11-25), and Tekken 7 (1v1 comp, ages 16+) tournaments! PS: This is your last chance to compete in Tekken 7 before Tekken 8 Launch!
Pre-register NOW or register in person between 2pm-3pm. You don’t want to miss out on this incredible event!
Amazing prizes await you, including a prize pool over $200 worth of gift cards and esports medals!
Consider yourself more of a casual gamer?! Enjoy FREE TO PLAY awesomeness with gaming laptops featuring FORTNITE and ROBLOX, other consoles, and even a RACING SIMULATOR!
Cosplay Comp
No need to pre-register for the cosplay comp, just head to the judging desk on the day!
2.00-2.30 Roving judges
2.30-3.30 Judging lounge open
4.00 Prize presentation in the stage area
There will be four prize categories:
- Winner – $150
- Runner Up – $50
- People’s Choice – $50
- Creative Reuse of a Material – $50
Geektacular FAQ
How much does it cost?
Geektacular is 100% free, yep even the food! The only thing you need money for is to buy lovely things from the young artists at the minimarket.
Is the event inclusive for sensory sensitive humans?
Yes! This year we are introducing the ‘Lo-fi Lounge’ to Geektacular. We trialled it at Tropicon in November and it was a huge success. Lo-fi Lounge offers hands on art and craft activities, comfy furniture and up to 30 sets of headphones tuned to offer a choice of fantasy soundtracks, nature sounds and lo-fi beats (of course!).
Why is the event “recommended for 15-25 years”?
Geektacular is created by young people, for young people to meet-connect-play. The activities on offer are designed for teenagers and young adults. There are plenty of other community activities and events that target children (under 12s) so we ask that people please respect Geektacular as a space for young people. Young people a year or two younger than the 15-25 age range are welcome as long as they have the maturity to hang out with an older crowd.
Why is the event at Casuarina Library and not a bigger venue?
Geektacular started its life as the Geektacular Playhouse at GeeCon 2017 as a pop up space created by City of Darwin’s Libraries and Youth Programs team. Geektacular aims to connect young people (who are the smallest demographic of library users) with an amazing, free community resource … the library! Basically Geektacular IS all about the library, it won’t ever move to a different venue.
Why does Geektacular only go for four hours?
Sure it’s short, but we promise it’s very very sweeeet. As Geektacular takes over the whole library we can only run it when the library is closed and we need time for set up and packdown (and for the project team to get home at a decent hour after putting in maximum effort in the lead up to the event).
Why don’t you have food vendors at Geektacular?
1. In a world where everything is commercialised we want to keep Geektacular FREE so less-cashed up humans can access the same experience as everyone else.
2. Geektacular isn’t held during a time when a meal is generally eaten so we’re all about snack sized treats.
3. City of Darwin has ‘healthy food guidelines’ for community events so you’ll never find us slinging high-fat, high-sodium, high-sugar takeaway at ya face (AKA we care about you and your long term quality of life).
4. We work hard to find creative solutions to keep the Geektacular crowd hydrated and tummy-grumble free. Last year’s hugely popular cooking workshops were one of our innovations for providing creative food. Expect some new offerings in 2024!
5. The size and demographic of the target audience (and time of day) doesn’t make for a financially lucrative opportunity for food vendors so we would have to pay them to attend and we’d rather spend YOUR money on awesome activities.
6. And, besides, if you’re not 100% satisfied with the free catering at Geektacular the largest range of food in the entire NT is available at Casuarina Square (less than 100m away) 👌
