The definition of a geek is "Someone with passionate interests who needs to share them with the world."
So says Kristine Hassell, director of outreach and community engagement for GeekGirlCon, coming up Saturday Oct. 27 and Sunday Oct. 28 at the Washington State Convention Center.
Hassell says that to achieve geek status, it doesn’t particularly matter what your interest is.
“If you are excited about that thing and want to tell people about it, you are a geek.”
Among the pursuits sharing space at GeekGirlCon: games, both electronic and tabletop, art, comics, animation, costumes, technology and science. And all of it is family-friendly, for men and boys, women and girls and those who don’t identify with a gender.
The DIY Science zone offers a variety of experiments to try. This year, in keeping with the Halloween-adjacent timing, kids can mummify a gummy shark. Among the games in the gaming areas are new titles for kids, and your kids can give their own feedback to the designers, or maybe try their hand at game design themselves. There’s a children’s cosplay (short for costume play) contest, complete with runway walk.
Cosplay (costume play) is among the wide variety of activities available at GeekGirlCon. Photo: Danny Ngan
The organizers' commitment to families doesn’t stop with providing tons of cool stuff. They also work on the general environment, continually revising according to intersectional feminist perspectives, Hassell says. New this year: different-colored lanyards for attendees indicating whether they would or would not like to be photographed.
Part of the commitment to feminism means taking family-friendliness seriously. Strollers are welcome on the expo floor. There’s a nursing area for those who would like to feed in quiet. Panelists and participants are held to a code of conduct that includes avoiding profanity and imagery that would not be suitable for children. There are adult-themed happenings, but those are clearly labeled, and scheduled in the evening, when kids are not around.
The DIY science area is set up to be inclusive, regardless of anyone’s needs. ASL interpreters are on hand for those who need them.
A day of learning and playing in this environment can stay with you for a long time, Hassell says.
“You leave with a sense of optimism and excitement, and I think in 2018 that’s so important,” she says.
Weekend passes are $10 for children under 13, and free for children under 6. Children under 12 should be accompanied by a paying adult. Adult passes are $55 for a weekend or $40 for a day.
