Geeks and nerds, assemble! Goulburn Comic Con set for return after four-year hiatus

All things gaming, cosplay, wrestling, comics and more will be showcased when the return of Goulburn Comic Con brings a four-year hiatus to a close this weekend.

Goulburn Mulwaree Library manager Erin Williams said she and the team at the library had organised plenty to keep people busy on the day.

“If you’re looking for something, there’ll be something, I think!”

Goulburn Comic Con will be held at the Goulburn Recreation Area across two stadiums between 10 am and 5 pm on Saturday (18 March).

One stadium will be the place to be for gamers, with various tournaments and competitions planned.

Additionally, the Australian Esports League will be attending for the first time, after first being set to attend the 2021 event, which was cancelled.

Gamers will need to register in advance for the tournaments of tabletop gaming and esports, which can be done via the library’s website.

All the entertainment and stallholders will be gathered in the other stadium.

This will include Alice in Wonderland and Star Wars-inspired stunt shows, demonstrations, wrestling matches, stilt walking, and comic artists running games of Pictionary.

Additionally, more than 80 stallholders will be present on the day, giving visitors plenty of wares to browse from professional writers, illustrators, artists and creatives of all stripes.

“It’s the biggest number of stalls we’ve ever had, because we were just inundated with applications for stalls this year, which was really great,” Ms Williams said.

Stallholders will be converging on Goulburn from across New South Wales, and as far away as Perth.

“We had to work really hard to fit everybody in, but we’ve managed to do that,” Ms Williams said.

Aussie NightMarkets will also be attending from noon, bringing their international food trucks and a kids’ zone to keep youngsters entertained.

Cosplayers will have their chance to strut their stuff, with multiple competitions for best dressed.

If individuals and groups have missed out on their chance to register online, Ms Williams said registration would be open on the day.

Goulburn Comic Con debuted in 2015, and the initial plan was to run the event every two years.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic meant the 2021 outing had to be delayed until now.

“Here we are now in 2023, running our fourth Goulburn Comic Con – and the first one in four years, which is super exciting!” Ms Williams said. “We’re really looking forward to it.”

Ms Williams said organisers weren’t expecting the COVID-forced hiatus to dampen community excitement for the event, with past years seeing thousands of people attend.

“We’re hoping to get at least as many,” she said.

Entry to Goulburn Comic Con is free.

Goulburn Recreation Area is at 47-131 Braidwood Road.