First-Ever Adirondack Retro Nerd Fest Set for This Spring

Billed as “The coolest thing to hit the Adirondacks since the Ice Age,” several student clubs and organizations at SUNY Adirondack are partnering together to host the first ever Adirondack Retro Nerd Fest this spring.

The Nerd Fest will take place on April 15th from 10am to 4pm, located in the Northwest Bay Conference Center in Adirondack Hall on the college’s Queensbury campus. Admission is open to the public–free for ADK students with a valid college ID and $5 for nonstudents.

The event is described as a Comic Con-style experience featuring pinball machines and arcade games, live DJs playing music from vinyl records, a Smash Brothers video game tournament, cosplay costume contest and an array of vendors selling records, comic books, tabletop games, action figures, trading cards and other retro pop culture items.

The event is being planned and hosted by the Adirondack Broadcast Association (ABA) with additional help from the college’s Media Arts Club (MAC) in designing the cosplay contest. The Gaming Club will operate the Smash Brothers tournament, and snacks and refreshments will be prepared and sold by the Culinary Arts Club. 

As current ABA President, I asked some of my fellow club members what they were most excited to see or do at the Nerdfest. Tyler Hendrickson expressed his intent to try his hand in the Smash Brothers tournament, while Data Murdie said, “I heard there’s gonna be records, and I’m really excited for records.”

ABA Secretary Carson Costine said he was most looking forward to the cosplay contest, for the chance to see everyone’s creative sides on display. Aiden Moulton also declared excitement for the cosplay contest–albeit for a slightly different reason.

“I’m anticipating at least five different Kurt Russells to show up,” he said. As a fan of Kurt Russell, Aiden has been attempting to get several others to join him in dressing as iconic characters portrayed by the actor.

The Adirondack Retro Nerdfest will also be produced with the help of Cooper’s Cave Games, Sweet Side Records and SUNY Adirondack’s college radio station, WGFR.

“It’s a throwback to the days of analog and early digital entertainment,” said ABA faculty advisor Kevin Ankeny. “Old-school stuff is trendy and it’s being driven by the resurgence of music on vinyl records. This event combines these retro aspects with the pop culture convention atmosphere that’s been happening for a decade or so.”

Updates and details are available at wgfr.org. Vendor space is available by contacting the organizers through the webpage.