Playing dress-ups is not for kids nor are comic books, and this fact will be proven on Saturday when hoards of adults pay homage to pop culture in Wollongong.
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Don't be afraid of caped crusaders, masked men or tiny people (children) in superhero suits roaming the city's CBD as they will probably be in town for Comic Gong.
Similar in spirit to events like Super Nova or Oz Comic-Con (minus the Hemsworth brothers), the free family-friendly event returns after a two year forced hiatus and will be played out amongst five locations - Wollongong Library, Wollongong Town Hall, the Art Gallery, the Arts Precinct and the Crown Street Mall.
For the first time this year the event will spill into the Crown Street Mall with trade stalls, artists and an "after party" featuring DJ Sandeux and the Steampunk Vagabonds from 3.30-5.30pm.
It'll be the first time to Comic Gong (and Wollongong in general) for stallholder Alex Boniwell and his two artsy children, who together screen-print movie scenes on t-shirts.
By day Boniwell is a Newtown hair salon owner but by night he's turning drawings by the two primary aged kids into cool shirts for public consumption - something he's been doing for seven years.
"My eldest daughter Lilith (who's 12) drew me a werewolf when she was five, and I took a picture of it and put in on my Facebook - my friends said 'that should be on a t-shirt'," he said.
"I've been doing it ever since ... it's not that difficult but you can make lots of mistakes, I've destroyed many t-shirts learning what to do."
Boniwell sells his wares at Supernova every year but has been hearing good things about Wollongong so is excited to add that to his list.
Meantime, Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the council's events team would be bringing back some "true fan-favourite events, activities and performances".
"Over in the Arts Precinct there will be a Superhero stunt show by Action Reaction, the Batmobile, music by the Con Artists, archery and sword-play demonstrations by Battlecry LARP," Cr Bradbery said.
"The Wollongong Library features a number of great family-friendly activities including Lego Robots, pinball machines, arcade games, board games, face painting and children's activities. Over at the Wollongong Town Hall, we will once again welcome trade stalls and artists to sell their wares and showcase their work."
Comic Gong started back in 2013 at Corrimal District Library and Community Centre. In 2014 it moved to Wollongong's city centre, and has grown to attract more than 10,000 people each year, according to the council's website. After a smaller-scale Comic Gong in 2021 (The Pandemic Arc), Wollongong's favourite pop-culture celebration is back.
HOW TO REGISTER FOR COSPLAY COMPETITION
Registrations open one hour before the competition round starts.
The registration desk is located at the front of Wollongong Art Gallery.
Competition categories include:
- 11am: 0-12 years
- 12noon: 12-17 years
- 1pm: Cosplay Parade (starts outside the Art Gallery)
- 2.30pm: 18+ years
- 3.15pm: Groups
WHAT'S ON WHEN
- 10am Event Welcome & Lord Mayor's Message ARTS PRECINCT
- 10am Sing Move Play: 2-5 Years WOLLONGONG LIBRARY
- 10.15am Action Reaction: Superhero Stunt Show ARTS PRECINCT 11AM Battlecry LARP: Fighting Demonstration ARTS PRECINCT
- 11am Illawarra Mercury Cosplay Competition: 0-12 Years ART GALLERY: BLUESCOPE GALLERY
- 11am Be Your Own Superhero: 3-9 Years WOLLONGONG LIBRARY
- 11.45am Action Reaction: Superhero Stunt Show ARTS PRECINCT
- 12pm Illawarra Mercury Cosplay Competition: 13-17 Years ART GALLERY: BLUESCOPE GALLERY
- 12pm Sing Move Play: 2-5 Years WOLLONGONG LIBRARY
- 12.30pm Battlecry LARP: Fighting Demonstration ARTS PRECINCT
- 1pm Cosplay Parade, starts outside Wollongong Art Gallery
- 1.15pm Be Your Own Superhero: 3-9 Years WOLLONGONG LIBRARY
- 1.15pm Action Reaction: Superhero Stunt Show ARTS PRECINCT
- 2pm Battlecry LARP: Fighting Demonstration ARTS PRECINCT
- 2.15pm Sing Move Play: 2-5 Years WOLLONGONG LIBRARY
- 2.30pm Illawarra Mercury Cosplay Competition: 18+ Years ART GALLERY: BLUESCOPE GALLERY
- 2.45pm Action Reaction: Superhero Stunt Show ARTS PRECINCT
- 3.15pm Illawarra Mercury Cosplay Competition: Groups ART GALLERY: BLUESCOPE GALLERY
- 3.15pm Be Your Own Superhero: 3-9 Years WOLLONGONG LIBRARY
- 3.30pm After party featuring DJ Sandeux UPPER CROWN STREET MALL
- 3.45pm Steampunk Vagabonds: Tales from the Seven Seas UPPER CROWN STREET MALL
- 5.30pm After party finishes, bringing Comic Gong 2022 to a close UPPER CROWN STREET MALL
WHAT'S EACH LOCATION HAVE
TOWN HALL
- Trade Stalls & Exhibitors
- Artists Alley
- Comic Gong Merchandise & Information
- Quiet Space in the Wattle Room: chill out space for anyone who needs a break
ARTS PRECINCT
- Event information & first aid
- Superhero stunt show by Action Reaction
- Battlecry LARP: demonstrations and training throughout the day
- Batmobile
- Music by the Con Artists
- Archer combat sports: demonstrations and training throughout the day
WOLLONGONG LIBRARY GROUND FLOOR
- Face Painting
- Comic Gong Merchandise & Information
- Graphic Novel Collection
- Pinball Machines & Arcade Games
- Sing move play (by KindArtEd)
- Be your own superhero (by KindArtEd)
- Star Wars cosplay group 501st Legion
WOLLONGONG LIBRARY FIRST FLOOR
- Project Bucephalus: LEGO Robots
- Board Games
- SydLUG - LEGO fan community
CROWN STREET MALL
- Trade Stalls & Exhibitors
- Artists Alley
- After Party: 3.30-5.30PM, with DJ Sandeux and Steampunk Vagabonds
WOLLONGONG ART GALLERY
ILLAWARRA MERCURY COSPLAY COMPETITIONS With categories for 0-12, 13-17, 18+ and Group Cosplay, there is something for everyone! Make sure you register early to secure your place. Registrations open one hour before the competition round starts. Registration desk is located at the front of the Art Gallery.
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