Darwin Library Packed for Geektacular Cosplay Celebration

A suburban Darwin library transformed into a wonderland of Ghostbusters, Na'vi warriors, and video game villains when hundreds gathered Saturday for Geektacular, a celebration of all things geeky.

The timing couldn't be better. Netflix's Stranger Things finale just wrapped up the story of nerdy kids playing Dungeons & Dragons, and the show became one of the most watched series of all time. Now Darwin locals are showing that geek culture isn't just mainstream entertainment; it's a thriving community.

Cosplay judges Shana Mcloughlin and Con Kosta Iliou arrived dressed as Prince and Dr. Robotnik. They've watched attitudes shift dramatically over the years.

"It's definitely become more mainstream," Mcloughlin said. "Gaming, Warhammer, Dungeons & Dragons, board games. There's so many fun things to do, and being a geek is awesome."

Iliou pointed out that the community was always there, even when society didn't celebrate it. "It's never gone away for me," he said. "There's no maliciousness, it's all about fun."

The Ripple Effect

The shift from hobby to livelihood shows how far geek culture has come. David Moore founded Darwin's first esports league and now runs a gaming business. At Geektacular, he set up PC games, arcade machines, and Mario Kart in a back room.

"I run gaming events as part of my business, so anyone can do it," Moore said. "Whether you're into pop culture, movies, anime or gaming, just own it. It's getting bigger and better."

Tim Read from the NT Ghostbusters team welcomed newcomers with open arms. "The community will embrace you," he said. "We just love being able to see people's hard work in their costumes. That's where most of people's joy is."

The event drew entire families, with parents and children dressed up together. Local mother Jo brought her three kids to share the pop culture she grew up with.

"There's a lot of generational pop culture we can share: Doctor Who, Terry Pratchett, Red Dwarf," she said. "It's not very often that people can connect on a pop cultural level."

From creative costumes to career opportunities, Geektacular proved that geek culture has grown into something bigger than a trend: it's a judgment-free community where passion is celebrated and everyone belongs.