Over a dozen attendees outfitted in character costumes came to George’s Pub in the Northern Motor Inn for the first-ever cosplay event on Jan. 26.
The Skeena Valley Cosplay Corp. and the ValhallaFest Roadshow hosted Cosplay N’ Beats, with a contest for the best-dressed cosplayers to raise money and awareness for upcoming 2019 ValhallaFest.
“I’ve been living in Terrace for 15 years and for them to have a Cosplay event, is just fantastic. It was never anything that I expected,” says cosplayer Melanie Sinnott, dressed as Athena from the online virtual game Game of War.
With appearances from Tinkerbell to supernatural hero The Crow, Princess Toadstool and even Marvel’s Ghostrider, it was a night for many to celebrate a shared interest that can be overlooked in smaller communities like Terrace.
Sinnott says that cosplayers generally have to travel to larger cities like Vancouver for cosplay conventions and the opportunity to express themselves. Having to only drive a few minutes to meet other people alike is great, she adds.
“It’s being able to embrace the passion that we have for a particular character… when you meet (other cosplayers), it’s almost like an instant family. It’s not just for the nerdy, but it’s for the people who kind of want to embrace their youth, want to have a good time and have fun,” says Sinnott.
READ MORE: ValhallaFest kickstarts first year in Terrace
In the last few years, Prince George has hosted an annual Northern Fancon which has attracted hundreds of cosplayers — but it’s still a long and expensive way to go for some.
Jordie Laidlaw, director of art for ValhallaFest, says that he wanted to bring the cosplay event to Terrace as it is a culture that meshes in with their festival’s platform.
“We’re trying to get people to be whoever they want to be and if people are into making costumes, acting and being in whatever role they want to be in, for us that’s a natural community to blend in with.”
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The cosplay event doubled as a contest and fundraiser for the 2019 ValhallaFest, where participants could win tickets to this year’s festival from June 21-23 and win a 3D printed character prop of choice.
Following the cosplay contest, electronic music artists Millertime, Flip, Funkt and Emersonic all made an appearance on stage to play for the crowd.
natalia@terracestandard.com
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