Two years after its last edition, the Clermont Geek Convention (CGC) made its comeback in Clermont-Ferrand on March 19 and 20. Eagerly awaited, this group dedicated to geek culture attracted a very large number of visitors. Indeed, no less than 17,000 visitors were welcomed at the great halls of Auvergne during the weekend. The return was eagerly awaited, but was it successful?
VIP guests!
The Clermont Geek Convention hit hard this year. Indeed, many guests were present to the delight of visitors. And when you look at the list a little closer, you quickly realize that the organizers wanted to mark the occasion. Youtubers, speakers, a music group, cosplayers, authors, … and even an actor! Lectures on your favorite animation studios (Pixar) or on the adventures of famous pirates (One Piece), meetings with genius voice actors, the opportunities were diverse and varied. Regardless of your interests, you were sure to meet a guest you would be interested in. In addition, the time of the meetings was also very well organized. Indeed, slots were dedicated to signings for youtubers, actors and even the music group (Starrysky). Regarding the authors, you had to explore the places to cross them. Indeed, many authors were available on the stands of their publishers. Whether for Marvel comics with JL Mast, manga with Zelihan (H2T), Romain Huet (Dôshin Edition), or independent authors like Aerinn (whom we had the chance to meet in a previous edition of the convention), all these authors were accessible. And that is one of the strengths of this kind of convention. Independent or lesser-known authors are usually present. So you had the opportunity to discover new and very interesting series. Manga, Light Novel, Novels, … Readings all as intriguing as each other in very different formats. You no longer have any excuse to refuse to immerse yourself in a good book. And what could be better than having the story and its characters explained to you by the author himself? And for the lucky ones among us, a meeting with an international star was also possible. Indeed, an actor from the Harry Potter saga, Devon Murray, was present throughout the weekend. Dedications, photos, conferences, the actor gave precious time to his fans. Two conferences had been organized. This allowed those who could only come one of the two days to enjoy anecdotes of filming concerning the saga of JK Rowling, but also to discover the interests of Devon Murray, as well as his plans for the future. And what we can remember is that truffade (an Auvergne specialty), will have been to the taste of the actor (although this dish is not in his top 10).
Exhibitors for all tastes!
On the exhibitors' side, we were also spoiled. Indeed, again, whatever your tastes, you found a stand ready to sell you dreams. Goodies of all kinds, food straight from Japan, clothes, artisanal creations, dehydrated fruits, frozen yogurts, replicas of your favorite weapons, … and so on since the list is still very long. Whether you like manga, kpop, video games, or plants (to name a few themes), all were present this weekend. And it was again with great pleasure that we were able to discuss with the exhibitors. Artisans explained how their creations came to be, food vendors made your mouth water with mochis or sweets in the colors of your favorite animes. Who has never dreamed of walking around with a replica of his favorite sword? This year, anything was possible! In case of hunger, many food stalls were also present. Hot Dog, Ramen, Curry, Japanese waffle, … Many specialties straight from the land of the rising sun were offered. Ramunes (Japanese lemonades) were also on sale. Watermelons, grapes, mango, cola, … many possibilities were offered to you to discover a popular drink in Asia.
Various activities!
Once again, the organizers thought big. Unlike previous years, a multitude of activities were offered. On the video game side, many consoles both current and retro were available. For the most passionate, a virtual reality stand offered you to discover some games in a new light. An escape hunt was also proposed. Do you prefer manga or anime? Don't panic, an exhibition dedicated to Hajime Isayama's famous series, Attack on Titan (Shingeki No Kyojin) was also available. The opportunity to discover a titan in papercraft, to be amazed by a magnificent figurine of Livai, or to appreciate boards straight out of the series. The activities proposed above do not convince you? If we tell you that this year again, the Clermont Geek Convention hosted the Cosplay France Cup? The opportunity to discover cosplayers just as talented as each other. And this is also the case for the jury. The latter consisted of four cosplayers, Chimeral Cosplayart, Kazumi Cosplay, Nevir Cosplay and Props it Yourself. These cosplayers also had a booth where you could see some of their creations. Enough to make you want to start creating home. The only "weak point" of this cosplay contest is that there were fewer participants than in previous years. However, the organizers could not do much about it. Indeed, it seems that the contest attracted fewer people this year (due to the health crisis of the last two years?). In any case, the participants present that weekend were all motivated and it was very pleasant to attend their performances. For the more adventurous visitors, a mechanical unicorn was also available. The opportunity to test your reflexes and have a good time. And for those who prefer quieter moments, a "board games" workshop was offered. You could discover many diverse and varied games, including the famous game of Go. One of the highlights of this year is the fact that even if you are not a geek or otaku at heart, activities that you might enjoy were offered. This revival allowed the Auvergne convention to reach a wider audience. We must admit, the Clermont Geek Convention has made a very successful comeback. Whether through a well-crafted organization, distinguished guests, diversified exhibitors and very valuable activities, the GSC has made an impression! We can't wait to hear what the organizers have in store for us for the next edition.
