The seasons, they are a-changin’! As we move from a (strange, confusing) summer to a (also strange, also confusing) fall, I’m feeling conflicted. Saying goodbye to summer means less time to spend (masked!) outside, and even more time spent inside comfort-watching Avatar: The Last Airbender in its entirety. It means that I’ll have to stop exclusively wearing denim cut-offs and start looking into sun lamps to combat the S.A.D.
But even though this summer to fall transition is bittersweet, there are so many things to look forward to. A few of those things are listed on our Geek About Town events calendar, where we feature the upcoming (and, now, mainly virtual!) events that we’re most excited for!
if you’re looking for a few great events to fill some of that white space in your schedule, be sure to check out the full calendar. In the meantime, here are just a few of the events that are making this between-season time a bit brighter for me:
Events looks pretty different these days than they ever have before. We’re hanging out with friends over Zoom and avoiding public spaces we used to love (oh how I miss you, concerts and movie theaters!). We’re tuning in to an endless stream of Instagram lives (may I recommend Ziwe Fumudoh’s genius live show on Thursdays and also every IGTV Sonya Renee Taylor has ever made?!). And, of course, many of us are protesting against anti-Black racism and police brutality, and spending our nights speed-dialing our electeds (P.S. here’s a cool tool to find your reps!)
So it’s no surprise that our most recent round up of upcoming events looks a little different than normal too. From virtual talks to drive in movies, check out our full Geek About Town events calendar to find out about all of the online (or physically-distanced in-person) events coming up that may just help you feel a little bit better about the strange, sad, confusing, and exhausting times we’re living in.
Here’s a sneak peek at a few of the upcoming events I’m most excited for:
It’s winter. It’s cold, it’s wet, and the vitamin D supplements are flowing freely.
During these long, dreary months, I tend to adhere to the “hibernation is best” policy. When darkness begins to fall at 4:00pm, I rapidly lose all motivation to turn off The Witcher, drag myself from the pile of blankets in the corner of my couch, put down whatever YA fantasy book I’m re-reading for comfort at any given time, and venture into the outer world.
So it’s a true testament to the quality of the upcoming events on the Geek About Town Calendar that even I am carving out some room in my busy schedule of making large pots of soup and admiring Geralt’s flowing white hair to explore some of the exciting offerings that the city has in store.
Be sure to check out the full calendar here, and in the meantime, here is a sneak peek of a few of my favorites:
I don’t know about you, but I could not be more ready for summer. As we move our hibernating, vitamin D-depleted bodies into sunnier days, be sure to check out some of our most highly-anticipated events coming up in the next few months!
The Northwest Folklife Festival is one of the largest community-powered festivals in the nation, bringing together over 5,000 performers, 500 volunteers, 40 food vendors, 150 local craft/import vendors, and upwards of 250,000 attendees. Since 1972, the festival has highlighted the brilliant cultural tapestry of our Pacific Northwest communities. We are proud to be for the people, by the people.
Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!
Shop, snack, and dance your way over 150 booths along with a summer beer festival with live music!
Previously, this festival has been held at the South Lake Union Saturday Market. Join us in a larger venue over two days. Music stage will be hosted inside the summer beer festival garden, so you must be 21+ to enter.
There is a required cash donation that benefits a local non-profit with a suggested donation of $3 per person, 2 for $5.
Up-close with the movers, shakers & boundary breakers who are pushing the LGBTQ+ movement forward. Join us at W Seattle for a Queer Me Out event, followed by Q&A for our amazing panelists, and drinks and a DJ in the Living Room. This is an Official PrideFest event and complimentary to the public (but register for a guaranteed seat)!
Who is Douglas? Well, apparently, Hannah Gadsby thinks he is the only one who can help her follow up on the trail blazed by her last show: Nanette. Hannah is all set to take the mysterious Douglas for a trot around America for her first ever US tour. Tasmania’s own Hannah Gadsby has come to the world’s attention through her multi-award winning stand up show Nanette which played to sold out houses across Australia, London, Edinburgh, New York and Los Angeles before launching on Netflix in June and stopping the comedy world in its tracks.
500 E Pike St, Capitol Hill (Seattle) 98102, 98112, 98122
A partnership between PrideFest and the Capitol Hill Art Walk, June’s show features queer artists at various venues around Capitol Hill (usually numbering 15-20 altogether). An easy, gentle June stroll through some of the best art the queer community has to offer.
Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!
Booklover’s Burlesque is the Pacific Northwest’s sexiest literary salon which matches titillating, inspiring, and empowering book readings with burlesque performances all in one show!
Professional readers, actors, and/or local authors & writers read aloud a three to five minute piece of poetry, fiction (from any genre), memoir, non-fiction, etc, which is then followed by a burlesque performance inspired by the piece.
Volunteer Park Rd, Seattle, WA 98112, United States
The time of the annual Cosplay Picnic is upon us. Hayly and Kat are back it again with another meet up! We hosted the Christmas one back in December, and everyone was so great and had a good time so we thought it’d be fun to put something together for the summer! What could be better than a cosplay picnic? You get to dress up as your favorite character, hang with friends, and stuff your face with food! Definitely an all around good time. As per usual, we’re gonna kick it potluck style! So bring a tasty food, eating utensils, or beverage of your choice! (While you don’t HAVE to bring an item to attend, it would be much appreciated) just be sure to label your food in case of any potential allergies.
PACCAR Theater 200 Second Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109
Free!
Once again giant puppets, stilt walkers, floats, skywriters, dancers, sashayers and musicians from all over will parade on the streets of Fremont in a kaleidoscope of joyous human expression. We’re preparing right now and are inviting our friends and neighbors to make the 2019 parade and following Gasworks Park Celebration the best ever! Who can participate? Anyone! We believe in cultivating the spirit of celebration where everyone is an artist. This people-powered celebration is not only for Fremont, but for our entire Seattle community!
Once again giant puppets, stilt walkers, floats, skywriters, dancers, sashayers and musicians from all over will parade on the streets of Fremont in a kaleidoscope of joyous human expression. We’re preparing right now and are inviting our friends and neighbors to make the 2019 parade and following Gasworks Park Celebration the best ever! Who can participate? Anyone! We believe in cultivating the spirit of celebration where everyone is an artist. This people-powered celebration is not only for Fremont, but for our entire Seattle community!
Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!
Trans Pride Seattle 2019 is Seattle’s Celebration of Two-Spirit, Trans, Gender Diverse, and Non-Binary people in the heart of Capitol Hill produced by Gender Justice League.
Entering our 7th year – Trans Pride Seattle has become one of the countries largest celebrations of gender diverse people – focused especially on the communities in the Pacific Northwest.
Trans Pride Seattle bringing performers from around the country and Mexico to deliver ground breaking and amazing performances, musical talent, speeches, and comedy.
Trans Pride Seattle is an amazing opportunity to connect with community, make new friends, celebrate our collective strength and continue our communities resistance with riotous demands for equity and justice!
You will also find resources of more than 60 organizations local to Washington State at our tabling fair. Each year Trans Pride Seattle sees more than 15,000 people. It’s the perfect way to kick off Pride Weekend in Seattle.
The Dragon Fest event will feature cultural performances including Dragon and Lion dances, Traditional Korean drumming, martial arts demonstrations, the Chinese Girls Drill Team, and more. For Seattle’s foodies we are proud to bring back the Annual $3 Food Walk with over 40 restaurants offering a wide array of international $3 bites and a few bonus retail!
Relive the magic of your favorite wizard in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ in Concert. Based on the third installment of J.K. Rowling’s classic saga, the thrilling tale is accompanied by the music played live by the Seattle Symphony as Harry soars across the big screen. From the moment Harry uses the Marauder’s Map to when the Patronus Charm bursts from his wand, you’ll be transported back into the world you love.
Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!
During the summer months Seattle Shakespeare Company presents free, outdoor productions of classical plays performed in parks throughout the Puget Sound region. Grab a picnic, bring your family and join us for some free Shakespeare in the parks!
You’ve joined us for trivia… now join us for a magical scavenger hunt! This adventure will take you around major sites in Seattle with a wizarding flair, helping you find magic where you previously saw the mundane.
Lo and behold, it has arrived! An extra special holiday extravaganza version of Geek About Town, just in time for the holidays! Whether this is the most magical time of the year for you, or you’re finding yourself down and in need of some cheery distraction, we’ve got you covered. From board games to holiday lights, comic books to Christmas carols, we’re excited to spend the holidays with you, our favorite geeky community!
Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!
It’s ACT’s 43rd production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, adapted by Gregory A. Falls. Directed by Kurt Beattie, this celebrated adaptation follows the original Dickens tale taking audiences along on Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformational journey through time. Three ghostly visitors help Scrooge get into the holiday spirit, leading him on a trip through Christmases past, present, and future.
Let it glow, let it glow, let it glow Seattle’s wildest holiday lights festival returns with sparkling lights, faux snowball fights, up close animal encounters, hot chocolate and family delights. Experience brand new wild and wonderful light displays that will be featured throughout the zoo including a holiday light spectacular at the zoo’s south entrance which will now be open throughout the run of WildLights.
PNB’S best-selling holiday classic is a fantastical combination of Ian Falconer’s unique design, Tchaikovsky’s beloved score, and the entire Company in show-stopping roles. A memory making tradition for generations of families and friends, Nutcracker fun includes McCaw Hall gloriously decked-out for the season’s best photo ops.
Broadway Market 401 East Broadway, Seattle, Washington 98102
The Broadway Market Holiday Pop-Up Market features a variety of vendor members from Seattle Made, an initiative to grow and support the area’s urban manufacturing and producer economy. Vendors will be selling a variety of holiday gifts, wearables and hand-made merchandise, all with a focus on recycled and upcycled materials. This event is presented by Broadway Market, Blanton Turner and Seattle Made to celebrate Shop Small Saturday.
Pacific Science Center 200 2nd Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98109
Join us on Monday, November 26 as NASA makes history when its next lander arrives on Mars, the first mission dedicated to studying the deep interior of Mars. We’ll have presentations by Mars experts and space related activities throughout the day. We’ll broadcast the landing live in our PACCAR IMAX Theater from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Our educators will be on hand to answer your questions and walk you through what’s happening during the landing. This event is included with general admission and is FREE for Pacific Science Center Members.
Arcadia Seattle 943 NW 50th Street, Seattle, Washington 98107
Join us for another magical evening! The Witches’ Night Out Market returns on Friday, November 30th – bringing you an array of metaphysical merchants and artisans, community networking, readers and bodyworkers, and much more! Every event we do is a little different – this time we’ll be focusing a bit more on the market – we’re making space for a few more artists and witchy creators to expand your holiday possibilities. Also, as this season also marks a time of remembering our ancestors and those who have come before us, we will have an interactive community altar. We have more things up our sleeves that we will be announcing as we get closer to the event. You are not going to want to miss it! As always, our events are free and all ages – but we have a fabulous door raffle to benefit the Cabiri and Arcadia. Cash donations will transform into tickets for you to win delightful things!
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center 440 5th Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98109
Give gifts that give back! Find unique holiday gifts for family and friends from over 30 vendors and organizations that support great causes locally and globally. Looking to do more than just shop for holiday gifts? You can make your own gifts alongside local artists and join Sanctuary Art Center in creating one-of-a-kind gift cards. Free and open to the public.
Hale’s Ales Palladium 4301 Leary Way NW, Seattle, Washington
Drunken Science Nigh returns this December 1st to the beautiful Palladium Theater at Hale’s Ales in Fremont. Doors open at 6 and the Stage Show starts at 7 sharp. This is most fun you can have without breaking the laws of physics. Science Night is a hands on Science Experiment free-for-all, with dozens of ever changing exhibits to try. Blow things up with air! Levitate metal! Make homemade lightbulbs, cube-shaped bubbles, 3-d art, float stuff on air, and more! Ever wanted to shatter flowers with liquid nitrogen? See sound waves? Tesla Coils? Jacobs Ladder? Oh my! We have got you covered. This is not a lecture… instead its a fully interactive science fair. Come ready to have your mind blown.
Meadowbrook Community Center 10517 35th Ave NE, Seattle, Washington 98125
Friends of Meadowbrook Pond and the Meadowbrook Advisory Council are joining together to host our Annual Luminaria Walk. Please come enjoy good company and hot cocoa, while walking around the beautifully lit pathway. We are also looking for community members to help make this event happen; work parties are listed below!
Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!
A special day of art, culture, and creativity celebrating Indigenous families. Meet local Indigenous artists and makers. Create treasures to bring home. Stick around for more festivities after 1:30 p.m. including artist talks from yəhaw̓ artists in residence and a 4 p.m. film screening of Rumble.
Shop a market and open studios for art, “hand-knit hats, ceramics, jewelry, clothing, and more” and stop by Vichayapai’s solo exhibition, which she’s been preparing all through her artist’s residency.
Green Lake, Seattle Seattle, Washington 98103, 98115
Come join us for this FREE holiday event for the whole family! Stroll the glimmering Green Lake circuit, paths, and docks which will be lit with thousands of twinkling candles. And while you wander through the magic of the sparkling lights, enjoy complimentary refreshments and live holiday music. If the weather is good we’ll have hot air balloons again from 4:30-5:30pm only. You can also visit and like the Green Lake Pathway of Lights Facebook Page for updates on the event!
The inaugural race was so much fun, we wanted to bring it back, see all the costumes, and get into the holiday spirit. In the spirit of Star Wars, this will be a FUN opportunity to get out your light saber and practice your best Darth Vader impersonation, as well as dress up in your favorite holiday race outfit! The run/walk is for FUN, no official timing, but there will be a running clock.
The Factory Luxe 3100 Airport Way S, Seattle, Washington 98134
Once upon a time there was darkness, So we made light. Once upon a time there was cold, So we kindled fire. Once upon a time there was fear, So we faced it together with song and speech and light A proof by example: We are not alone. Join us to celebrate humanity’s accomplishments, reflect on our past, and consider the future with food, light, song, and camaraderie. Your donations help us cover venue, audio/video equipment, permits, and supplies, ensuring that we can continue this tradition year after year. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seattle-secular-solstice-2018-tickets-47498714935
Do you love board games and enjoy teaching others how to play? Explore the board/card game hobby and meet folks happy to teach you their favorite board games! Come and play with folks who love playing games. And the best part about the GeekGirlCon (http://www.geekgirlcon.com/) game nights with our friends at Wayward (http://www.waywardcoffee.com/)? They are absolutely FREE with no cover charge!
As I write this—sitting in my hotel room just hours away from the official start of the convention—I am thrilled, excited, and relieved. Another year of hard work and we’re finally ready to share it with all of you. My outfit is spread out, my bag is packed, and I’m ready to commence a weekend of geeky fun as we celebrate the importance of diversity and inclusivity in this community.
Brought together by our love of fandom, popular culture, STEM, fashion, gaming, comics, and just about anything that we can possibly geek out about, GeekGirlCon gives us the ability to express what we love and share those passions with our friends and peers. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or this is your first year, we welcome you and we are honored that you’ll be apart of this journey alongside us.
This year’s content lineup includes a plethora of panels, events, workshops, and meetups for you to learn something new or explore an old favorite (with some added spooky happenings for Halloween!)
So without further ado, here are but a few things you can looking forward to during the first day of GeekGirlCon 2018.
Panels
Cosplay Quickfire
10am to 11am in Garnet
A roster of experienced cosplayers will instruct you on how to make any costume for under $100 in less than 7 days. No costume is unattainable. With a mix of suggested costumes from internet polls and ideas from the audience, the goal is for everyone to gain crafty, affordable methods of costuming.
Featuring Jay Justice and Emily Finke.
25 Years of MYST & MYST Fandom
11:30am to 12:30pm Samus
Since its release in 1993, MYST has had a dedicated following, built a complex world and lore, and Cyan has continued to push expectations of what is possible in video games. Join us as we reminisce on the joys, sorrows, and mayhem of the D’niverse, and ponder the future of Cyan and their fans.
Featuring Eleri Hamilton, Rand Miller, and Melinda Rose.
Feminist Frequency Radio Live!
1:30pm to 2:30pm in Storm
FemFreq Radio is a podcast tackling feminism & pop culture from the folks that ruined your favorite video games! Anita, Ebony, and Caro deliver funny, irreverent, take-no-prisoners opinions on the good, bad, and ugliest media that pop culture has to offer.
Featuring Ebony Aster, Anita Sarkeesian, and Carolyn Petit.
This month is the month, people! GeekGirlCon has arrived (basically)!
Throughout October, look to our blog for everything you need to know about the weekend, from Panel Highlights to Cosplay Contest announcements, we’ve got you covered.
Though our epic panels are what attract a lot of folks to GeekGirlCon (me included), they don’t comprise the whole of the weekend’s festivities. Today, I’m going to walk you through some of the other kinds of activities we have in store.
First up, meetups, the perfect event for meeting like-minded attendees to share the weekend with. To name a few of our offerings this year, we have meetups for first timers, Black Panther fans, Star Wars/Star Trek enthusiasts, and more! Meetups will take place throughout the duration and venue of the con, so check out the schedule for specifics.
[Image Description: Data from Star Trek saying to Worf, “You have friends here.”] Source: MRWGIFS
One especially exciting meetup we have slated for this con is Meet & Geek: A Networking Event for Mavens-in-the-Making. This is the event for folks who are looking for mentors and advice to assist with anything geeky-career related. Bring your questions and look forward to discussions of everything from writing to digital media to game design. In addition to the meetup, GeekGirlCon will be hosting a Mentor Booth in the Connections area of the Exhibitor Hall where you can sign up for one-on-one sessions with a mentor who can look at your resume and give you tips for breaking into the geeky career of your dreams!
[Image Description: Winston from New Girl at a job interview saying, “I know Word. I can open a document, Save, Save As, Print, Print Preview.] Source: Rockwood Search
Also in the Exhibitor Hall will be VAIN’s booth for impromptu hairstyle sessions. Need a touch up on your cosplay look? Need a general spruce? VAIN, a longtime supporter of GeekGirlCon, will be there to save the day.
[Image Description: River Song fluffing her hair and mouthing, “The hair!”] Source: Giphy
And last but far from least is the QUEST, our con-wide scavenger hunt. We set up this event each year to help folks touch base with everything GeekGirlCon has to offer, and this year is no different. To play, you’ll need just your program and sense of enthusiasm. There are six checkpoints: attend a panel, play a game on the gaming floor, attend a workshop/meetup, post on social media using #GGC18, do an experiment in the DIY Science Zone, and complete the con survey. You’ll receive one stamp per activity you complete, and each stamp gains you an entry into a raffle for a bag of the sweetest goodies from our vendors. It’s up to you whether you collect one stamp or six! If you do complete every step, you’re rewarded with a pin of the GeekGirlCon avatar of your choice. And if you fill out the con survey at the GGC QUEST table, you can receive a second avatar pin of your choice!
More details about the checkpoints and how to get your stamps will be included in the program, but until then, get your game face on!
[Image Description: Sherlock walking out of a door saying, “The game, Mrs. Hudson, is on.”] Source: SteemKR
GeekGirlCon Costume Contest at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, WA, on Saturday, September 30, 2017.
This year I started dabbling in cosplay, and very quickly came to learn that making a costume is not only an expression of love for a fandom, but it’s also a great opportunity to show off your creative side and your design skills! A LOT of hard work goes into creating outfits, weapons, gear, and props, and it’s only right that if you’ve put in the time for that, that you be recognized for it.
That’s why we’re bringing back the Costume Contest to GeekGirlCon this year! Register in one of the two age categories: adults (13+, holding an adult GeekGirlCon pass), and kids (12 and under, with child passes). Adults can also register as a group of no more than five, if you have a squad effort happening.
Show us what you’ve sewn, hot glued, welded, knitted, or otherwise put together to celebrate your favorite geeky characters.
Image description: a cosplayer holds a R2-D2 parasol while in a ballet-themed R2-D2 costume. Photo by Danny Ngan.
After you register for the category that best suits you, you’ll also be given the option to meet our amazing panel of judges backstage. They’ll be to ask questions about your costume and look up close at it. (This is optional and you can chose not to participate in pre-event judging.) Then, all you need to do is show up on the day for the contest and strut your stuff.
Plus, there are fabulous prizes to be won for your efforts!
A participant in the kids’ costume celebration is asked about their Child of Light cosplay. Photo by Danny Ngan.
Registration is NOW OPEN and will close when all of the spots are filled, or at the time of the convention, whichever comes first. Spots are limited, so make sure you get in quick to snag yours.
We already told you all about this weekend’s Seattle Mini Maker Faire in this month’s Geek About Town, but what we didn’t share is that MoPOP invited GeekGirlCon to participate! Come check out our talk on exploring and celebrating the contributions and legacy of women in science, technology, comics, game design, and more, then stop by our booth to get your tickets to GGC18!
Source: Giphy. Description: a corgi jumping excitedly as he waits for his bowl to be filled.
When? Saturday, August 18th to Sunday, August 19th
Where? Museum of Pop Culture, 325 5th Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98109
What? Seattle Mini Maker Faire is the greatest show (and tell) on earth! Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is a gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. You won’t want to miss it!
Do you love movies? Events? Community? If so, join us Friday, August 10 for the 16th Annual Skyway Outdoor Cinema Festival’s showing of Wonder Woman! GeekGirlCon will once again be emceeing the pre-show with a trivia contest to give away some 2-day passes to the con!
Source: Giphy. Description: a gif of Wonder Woman climbing out of a trench into enemy fire and stopping a bullet with one of her gauntlets.
The showing will take place at 12702 Renton Ave S, Seattle 98178 behind the 7-11. The pre-show will kick off at 8:00 p.m., so plan to arrive and get settled by 7:00 p.m.
For additional details, info about which food trucks will be there, helpful tips, and more, check out the Facebook event page.