Face Painting

Sammie Top of Cooking with Colour Face Painting and Catering will not be catering for GeekFest. She will be painting faces however. Lash out the princely sum of $2.50 for a cheek, $5 for half a face OR $10 for a full face! And yes, she CAN do Darth Maul.

Contest reminder

Here we are, nearly Chirstmas, but more importantly, very nearly GeekFest 2017!
In case you hadn't noticed, or you need a gentle reminder, we're running a bunch of awesome contests, including:

• Cake decoration!
• Figure painting!
• Film making!
• Story writing!
• Lego building!

and many more! Check out the contests page from the menu or this very handy link, and get to work on your entries!

Trebuchets and tribulations with Grant Truman

The real thing at Cardiff Castle, Wales.

First time GeekFest presenter Grant Truman builds working model trebuchets. You know, the medieval siege catapaults? And at GeekFest, not only will be be talking about the making of medieval siege equipment, he'll be there to help you to build your own model trebuchet and then use it to flatten a castle!
He will be located in the palatial workshops of Coal Creek's joinery*

*I've never been in there. I just assume they're palatial. Your mileage may vary.

Animelab

Animelab will be returning to GeekFest 2017, screening a fine selection of Anime trailers and demos in the Mechanics' Institute.

Get Geeked with Dragon Ball Z

Ben Sinnbeck, luxuriantly bearded owner of Get Geeked, Wonthaggi's own dealer in the important things in life like TCGs, CCGs, Funko Pops, Boardgames and tiny pots of paint is pleased to announce that Get Geeked will be running a bunch of cool Dragon Ball Z stuff at GeekFest 2017!
There will be learn to play sessions, demo games and a beginner tournament on Saturday, followed by the DBZ championships on Sunday. There will also be a full range of DBZ cards and accessories on sale, and a magnificent custom play mat up for grabs!
Check out more details over at Get Geeked.

Minecraft!

The mighty juggernaut of Minecraft roles ever onwards - returning to GeekFest2017 for it's third gloriously pixelated year! This year Minecraft will be running in the auditorium in the entrance building.
Computers (with the all important game pre-installed) are supplied, and there will be events and stuff throughout the day.

Clockwork Colt

Clockwork Colt, makers of finest goggles, hats, jewellery and accessories in the Steampunk mode will once more be at GeekFest. All Clockwork Colt pieces are unique, and they are available for custom work to match any outfit you may already possess.

 
 

Keipa's Carpentary

Brendan Crawford of Keipa's Carpentary will be at GeekFest.
Brendan Crawford has been involved with Medieval Re-enactment for more than 30 years. He now runs Keipa's Carpentry and makes a variety of medieval items. These include wooden "Waster" training swords, children's Heraldic swords and shields for kids to design and paint their own heraldic devices on (paints, brushes and information will be available at his stall), and a variety of board games from the Viking, Medieval, Roman, and even Egyptian periods (He teaches these games as well).
Keipa's Carpentry can be found on Facebook

 

Giant Games

Feel like playing something big? Just beside the old bank building you will find the Giant Games Arena! Giant Chess, Checkers, Jenga and Toppollo will be running all day.
But wait, I hear you cry, what is this Toppollo of which you speak? For that matter, how does one play Jenga, or Chess?
Ah, gentle reader, allow me to lift the veil and reveal Toppollo, the brain child of Paint+Take organiser Owen, a dextrous dexterity game of staggering simplicity. Balance your odd collection of wooden shapes (or in the giant version, cardboard boxes) atop one another hoping they don't fall down. The first player to get rid of all their peices is crowned the victor, but beware - ANY blocks which fall off the stack in your turn are added to your pile... Full details of Toppollo are available here.

GeekFest Second Hand Stall 2017

Are you avoiding GeekFest because you know you will leave considerably lighter in pocket, and your pocket is already up there with hydrogen in terms of lightness? Are you looking for a way to flog off some old geeky ephemera? Are you looking for a place to buy pre-loved geeky ephemera?
If you have answered in the affirmative to any of these questions, then rejoice, for the Infamous GeekFest Second Hand Stall is back yet again once more!

If you have things to sell, you can either print out and complete this extremely convenient form before dropping them off, or simply turn up on the day (and fill in the same form, but in the certain knowledge that you are wasting time which could be spent on geeking out like a god-king.)

Spectator Gaming

At GeekFest 2017, we will be running a number of games in front of a live studio audience. In a church.
Come along and watch RPGs such as All Outta Bubblegum, where players try to solve simple everyday problems in the most extreme butt-whooping way possible and Everyone is John, in which the voices in John's head vie for control to try to achieve their outlandish aims. In these games nothing is certain except hilarity. And audience participation! Every time we play we will be inviting an audience member to join us on stage and join in the crazy.

But wait - there's more! We're also planning on playing But Wait - There's More the game of improvised late night telemarketing ads! Can we convince the audience to buy a horse... with wifi? What about a shovel which helps you get the man of your dreams AND extends from 6-12 inches at the touch of a finger? Come along to the Spectator Gaming Arena (okay, the church) to find out!

Tickets now on sale

Tickets for GeekFest 2017 are now on sale via TryBooking or the 'tickets' link in the menu at left.

All tickets cover entry to GeekFest and participation in all of the events.

GOLD PASS: $25. Adult 2-day entry and GeekFilm festival.
SILVER PASS: $15. Child 2-day entry.
RED PASS: $10. Adult 1-day entry.
YELLOW PASS: $10. Child 1-day entry.
BLUE PASS: $5. Adult observer (not participating in events), 1-day entry.
GEEKFILM PASS: $10, GeekFilm festival only.

Roleplaying Games in the Train

Once again, DM Brad will be running short one-shot RPG sessions in the second class carriage of the train at GeekFest 2017.

All Outta Bubblegum:

You're here to kick butt and chew bubblegum... and you're all outta bubblegum. In this super simple RPG, players are given a mundane task to perform, by rolling under the number of pieces of bubblegum they have. When they fail, they lose bubblegum. Which means eventually they run out of bubblegum and have no choice but to KICK BUTT! Ever wanted to travel to melbourne on a rocket-propelled emu on rollerskates just so you can get your uni enrolment in on time? Or use ninja stealth powers to steal a phone simply so you can be the first of your friends to download the Korumburra app? Then All Outta Bubblegum is for you.

Everyone is John:

John has problems. He's hearing voices in his head, and those voices keep telling him to do strange things. In this quick to learn competitive RPG, each player is one of those voices, vying for control over John as he spends the day at GeekFest. Each voice has three objectives they want to achieve, and a bunch of skills to try to achieve them, whether it's lifting ducks above your head, drawing moustaches on medieval enactors or smuggling an emu out of the park. At the end of the session, the voice who has achieved the most wins.

Both All Outta Bubblegum and Everyone is John are freely available online if you want to check out the rules before playing.

Late November update

Here we are a little under two months out from GeekFest - time for an update on freshly confirmed events!

MINECRAFT: Minecraft will be back in 2017 in the auditorium at the main entrance building.

RPGS: There will be sessions of popular (and wildly crazy games) Everyone is John and All Outta Bubblegum both days in the second class railway carriage.

SPECTATOR RPGS LIVE ON STAGE: On both afternoons, there will be RPGs and improvisational games taking place live on stage at the Church. With audience participation.

COLLECTIBLE CARD GAMES: There will be CCG events occurring - we're still ironing out details of exactly which games.

STAR QUEENS: We've confirmed the return of the hugely popular Star Queens for GeekFest 2017, stay tuned for exciting announcements about workshops with them!

COSPLAY WORKSHOP: Helena Evans will be running Cosplay workshops on both days. Stay tuned for more details.

ANIME LAB: Anime Lab will be at the park and screening anime once again.

COLOURING CONTEST: The children's colouring contest will be back with hourly prizes.

We're working on a schedule, which will be online soon, along with more extensive information about all of the events. We've also got exciting news about confirmed vendors, and will be posting extensive information as it comes in.

Paint+Take at GeekFest 2017

It is with great joy and almost unnerving pride that we announce that Paint+Take will return to GeekFest2017!

Miniature Painting (sometimes called Figure Painting) is a popular hobby, and growing more popular every day. Whether you use your figures for wargames such as Warmachine, Bolt Action or Infinity, or RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder, or you just like to display them as tangible icons of your awesome skills, nothing brings a miniature to life like a great paint job.
Have you always wanted to try your hand at the hobby, but never worked up the courage to jump in? Do you not want to spend money on paints and brushes without trying the hobby out first? Then come to Paint+Take!
There will be a range of Sci-Fi and Fantasy figures from Reaper to choose from, along with brushes and paints. The rules are simple: you can take what you paint, so come along and have a play, get some paint on your fingers, make a mess, have fun!

But wait, there's more! Over the two days on GeekFest, we'll be running painting classes for some more advanced techniques, such as washing, dry brushing and highlighting. These classes are intended to improve the skills inexperienced painters and help them learn useful techniques.

Day One	14th January 2017
1100-1230	Skin and Fur
1330-1500	Armour and Cloth
Day Two	15th January 2017
1100-1230	Armour and Cloth
1330-1500	Skin and Fur

But wait, there's EVEN more! We are also running a figure painting contest. You can find the rules over on the Contests page. Judging will take place Sunday afternoon, and the winners will be announced at the Paint+Take venue about 1600.

GeekFest 2017 Dates Confirmed!

GeekFest 2017 will be held on Saturday 14th AND Sunday 15th of January. That's right, we're expanding to two days to fully encompass all the glorious geeky insanity we have planned!
Add the date to your calendars! Tell your friends! Tell your family! Tell your goldfish!
It's going to be epic!

GeekFest 2017 contests announced.

The contests from GeekFest 2017 have now been announced and can be viewed here!

New contests this year include:

• Geeky Art
• Geeky Handicraft
• Geeky Writing
• Videogame Design

Please note that entry due dates have not been finalised at this time, however we wanted to give plenty of warning so people could start work on entries nice and early. Please stay tuned for deadline and prize announcements.

Easter Sunday Paint+Take

After the huge success of Paint+Take at GeekFest 2016, we have decided to run a special Painting Day as part of Coal Creek's Easter Sunday celebrations. The cost is $10, which entitles you to come along and have a go at painting fantasy figures. There will also be two classes on more advanced painting techniques (each with six places available). Classes are recommended for students over 10, Paint+Take is open to all ages and abilities. This time we'll be in the gallery in the main building instead of the school house.

1200-1600: Paint+Take

Try out the wildly popular hobby of miniature figure painting! It's simple. We provide paints, brushes and figures plus instruction sheets. You get to take home anything you paint.

1300-1400: Advanced Painting Lesson 1: Skin and Fur

Learn more advanced painting techniques such as washing, highlighting and colour mixing, concentrating on painting skin and fur. Limited to six places.

1500-1600: Advanced Painting Lesson 2: Armour and Cloth

Learn more advanced painting techniques such as washing, highlighting and colour mixing, concentrating on armour and cloth. Limited to six places.

1600-1630: Best Painted Contest

Anyone who takes part in Painting Day is eligible to enter their figures in our painting contest. To be included, you must fill out the entry list and your figure must be in the display area at 1600. Winners will be announced by 1630.
First Prize: Reaper Bones Fire Giant Warrior, Greater Chocolate
Second Prize: Reaper Bones Bugbear, Chocolate
Third Prize: Lesser Chocolate

Code of Conduct and Weapons Policy.

Coal Creek has just updated it's code of conduct to take into account cosplayers. You can find the complete code on the Coal Creek website.

The following restrictions apply to cosplay weapons:

 One Metre (1m) Length Restriction: All props and weapons cannot be over 1m in length inside Coal Creek Community Park and Museum. 

 No Actual firearms: These include bb/airsoft, modern, hunting or historic, either functioning or de-commissioned. 

 No Replica firearms: Anything that is designated a replica made from metal; solid resin/plastic/rubber is not to be brought onto expo grounds. 

 Toy/Prop Guns require Orange Tips: These are required to have orange safety tips at all times, however they can be removable for photography or competition purposes as long as they are re-attached when moving around the Park. They may not be made out of any prohibited material listed for replica weapons including metal. 

 No firing projectiles: Props or weapons capable of firing any projectile of any kind are prohibited. 

 No utilising of powder charge or flammable fuel: Props or weapons that utilise a powder charge are prohibited, including cap guns. So too are any items that contain flammable fuel (liquid or gas). 

 Nerf guns must be unloaded: Nerf guns, Nerf bows and other foam dart guns (including modified versions) are allowed, but must be unloaded – foam darts/projectiles are prohibited on expo grounds. 

 No functional bows/slingshots/crossbows: Real, functioning bows, slingshots and crossbows are not permitted on expo grounds. Non-functional prop versions are permitted provided they are not over the length limit, not made of metal and have no high-tensile stringing. Real arrows and other items used in bows or slingshots are also prohibited, however prop arrows are permitted provided they not made of prohibited material such as metal and carbon fibre, are securely attached to your costume and not loose at any time. 

 No Laser Pointers: If you have a laser pointer in your prop or weapon, make sure it cannot function (e.g. removing the batteries). If you are seen to be using a Laser Pointer anywhere within the expo, it will be confiscated and returned at the end of the event. 

 No Metal Weapons or Props: Due to the weight and the sharp edges involved with metal items, these are not permitted within Coal Creek. Items bought at Coal Creek which are metal must remain in packaging until you leave the site. This includes all Cast, Laser Cut and Forged props of any kind. Example prohibited materials: Steel, Aluminium, Bronze, Copper and Brass. Props included but are not limited to: Shields, Swords/Daggers/Knives and Poles/Rods. 

  No active martial arts weapons: Examples include nunchaku, throwing stars and any weapon made for actual martial arts combat. Prop versions are allowed as long as they are not made of metal or have sharp points or edges.

Paint+Take contest

Up for grabs: Fanticide Fae army!

Here at GeekFest we realise that walking around all day with a painted miniature from the Paint+Take room in your pocket is not practical. Which is why we're providing a display case for you to leave them while they dry. As an extra incentive to use the case, there'll also be a Paint+Take prize offered.
So long as your figure is still in the case by 1630, you are eligible. The winner will be announced then and showered with fantastic prizes from Eureka Miniatures. Just not literally. Cause, you know, that'd hurt.

FIRST PRIZE:
1 Magnificent hard-cover copy of the Fanticide rulebook with activation and event card deck.
1 Spectacular and awesome Fanticide starter army
1 Black and sinister Coal Creek laptop bag

SECOND PRIZE:
1 Spectacular and awesome Fanticide starter army
1 Black and sinister Coal Creek laptop bag

THIRD PRIZE

1 Magnificent hard-cover copy of the Fanticide rulebook with activation and event card deck.
1 Black and sinister Coal Creek laptop bag

Event Schedule finalised

The 2016 GeekFest event schedule has now been confirmed.
You can check it out on the events page.

Guest Speakers

Craig Fison

Craig Fison was a very popular speaker at our first Geekfest and we're excited that he'll be back for the second!
Craig has worked in Art Direction, Production Design, Construction, as a Props Model maker, a sculpting and miniatures maker and finisher, in Set Decorating, and as a Scenic painter in Australia and worldwide.
His film projects include working in the art department on commercial films like Moulin Rouge, Mission Impossible II, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, The ...Matrix Revolutions, Ghost Ship, Superman Returns, and more independent productions like Peter Pan and Where the Wild Things Are.
He worked as a sculptor and prop maker on Guillermo del Toro’s and Troy Nixey’s film, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, and also worked on the yet-to-be released The Moon and the Sun, starring Pierce Brosnan.
Craig moved into art direction as the Art Director on Adam Elliot’s awarding winning animated feature film, Mary and Max.

Shaun Freeman

Shaun Freeman, one of our Geekfest speakers, is an Australian animator who lives on a small farm in Korumburra. He has worked in the industry since 2003 on commercials, games and feature films (both vfx/creature anim and character animation). His movies include 'The Book of Life', 'I, Frankenstein', 'The Nut Job', 'Free Birds', 'After Earth', 'Ted', 'Happy Feet' & 'Happy Feet 2', 'Open Season' (2 & 3), 'Princess' and 'Everyone's Hero'. Short films include: 'Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem', Daffy's Rhapsody', 'Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas', 'Rabid Rider' and 'Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five'. Much of his work has been done here as a remote animator, although sometimes he is required onsite

Alison Goodman

Alison Goodman, author and steampunk aficionado, will be coming to Geekfest to do a reading from her latest novel and to teach us a Regency/Victorian 'finishing dance' - a fun dance to end a ball when everyone's had a bit too much to drink!
Alison is the author of EON and EONA, a New York Times Bestselling fantasy duology. Her latest novel --Lady Helen and the Dark Days Club-- is Book 1 in a new trilogy; it was published in Australia this month and will be published in the USA and UK in January. It has been reviewed by Publishers Weekly as "a delicious collision of Regency romance and dark fantasy". Alison calls it "Pride and Prejudice meets Buffy in English high society".
EON, which has recently been optioned to be made into a movie, was short-listed for Victorian, NSW, and WA Premier’s Literary awards, and won the 2008 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel. It was also listed as an American Library Association Best Young Adult Book (2010), a James Tiptree Jr. Honour book, and a CBCA Notable Book.
Alison’s first novel, Singing the Dogstar Blues, won the 1998 Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Novel, and was also listed as an American Library Association Best Book (2004) and CBCA Notable Book. Her second novel, a crime thriller titled Killing the Rabbit, was shortlisted for the 2007 Davitt Award.
Alison lives in Melbourne with her husband and their Machiavellian Jack Russell Terrier, and is currently working on Book 2 and 3 of The Lady Helen series.

James Graewolf

An introduction to Steampunk’, the pros of steampunk, the aesthetics and inspirations for steampunk, some ‘show and tell’ of some costumes and props, a couple of brief ‘do it yourself’ sections and finishing with a Q&A

Star Queens present the

Drag Queen makeup workshop

Want to experience the glitz and glamour of being a Drag Queen?
If so Come along and learn the secret tips and tricks to create your own drag persona!

Introduction to Cosplay

Cosplay is a hobby where fans dress up as their favorite character from a fandom (anime, manga, tv series, movie, etc) for fun. There are many competitions all around the world for cosplay and it is growing in popularity.

Alternate Worlds will be at GeekFest 2016!

Dealers in the finest in comics, collectibles, games, toys and drool-inducing merch, Alternate Worlds will have a stall at GeekFest 2016.

Paint+Take

Painting miniatures and figures is a popular and fast growing hobby, whether you use them for popular Wargames such as Warmachine, Bolt Action or Infinity, or such role-playing games as Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder or Savage Worlds, or you just like to display them proudly on a shelf, there is nothing which makes a miniature pop like a good paint job. Have you always wanted tot ry your hand at painting, but never had the confidence or been put off by the number of paints you need or the small size of the figures?
Fear not, this year's GeekFest will feature a Paint+Take!
Drop into the School House any time through out the day, pick a free miniatures from the wide range of Fantasy, Sci Fi and Steampunk offerings, and spend some time painting it with the brushes and paints provided! Best of all, you get to keep what you paint!

There will also be a display of painted miniatures, wargames terrain and sundry other geeky modelling artefacts.

The Infamous Second Hand Stall

Are you avoiding GeekFest because you know you will leave considerably lighter in pocket, and your pocket is already up there with hydrogen in terms of lightness? Are you looking for a way to flog off some old geeky ephemera? Are you looking for a place to buy pre-loved geeky ephemera?
If you have answered in the affirmative to any of these questions, then rejoice, for the Infamous GeekFest Second Hand Stall is back!

If you have things to sell, you can either print out and complete this extremely convenient form before dropping them off, or simply turn up on the day (and fill in the same form, but in the certain knowledge that you are wasting time which could be spent on geeking out like a god-king.)

Cosplay at GeekFest 2016

Cosplay is a hobby where fans dress up as their favorite character from a fandom (anime, manga, tv series, movie, etc) for fun, usually to take photos through photoshoots and/or to attend a convention or meet up. There are many competitions all around the world for cosplay and it is growing in popularity. People can make or buy cosplays to wear and here at GeekFest we would love to see a wide range of different cosplays! 
We are running a panel, called; “Introduction to Cosplay” which will be run by national cosplay competitors to get the word out about cosplay and hopefully make it a hobby that is well known throughout the community, because who doesn’t like a good excuse to dress up? 
So come and join us at GeekFest 2016, dress up and attend the Cosplay Introduction Panel! We look forward to seeing you there!