8 January 2017

• GEEK is a three-day festival of games and play and returns to the home of entertainment, Dreamland Margate, for a second year.
• The 2018 edition of the event will have a space theme as it celebrates the 40th anniversary of Space Invaders.
• Visitors can expect hundreds of games from retro consoles to modern day technology, as well as coding, science and cosplay.

Thousands of dedicated gaming enthusiasts, families looking for half-term fun, and those who are simply seeking to indulge their nostalgia for retro consoles from their childhood are set for an unforgettable February as they meet, make and play.

Back for a second year and taking over the entire undercover areas of the park, GEEK 2018 will be transforming Dreamland with a space theme as it celebrates the 40th anniversary of the original Space Invaders. The festival will also commemorate the 10th anniversary of the release of Super Smash Brothers Brawl on the Nintendo Wii with a grand franchise tournament, a day dedicated to Minecraft will see a cave for build-battles and the Jedi Fight Academy will show budding Jedi’s light saber skills and much more - taught by actor Andrew Lawden, who starred in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

The family-friendly event will be bigger than ever as it showcases technology, creativity and fun at the iconic Dreamland site. It will present a behind-the-scenes look at gaming with a plethora of entertainment on offer. Featured games will include old favourites spanning generations to virtual reality experiences, all amongst the entertainment park’s very own vintage arcade and pinball machines.

The popular Cosplay Masquerade will return and those looking to put their gaming skills to the test can take part in tournaments in Street Fighter V, Pro Evolution Soccer 2018, Halo 4 and many more.

GEEK will offer a full programme of exclusive workshops and talks, and throughout February, there will be insightful educational activities with local schools and community groups - which aim to lift the lid on the gaming industry.

Rebecca Ellis, Senior Creative Producer at Dreamland Margate, said: “GEEK is beyond a festival of games; it reveals all of the facets of games making and playing in a social environment. Dreamland is a natural home for a festival of play and games, people have been coming to the park for years in this way.”

Kate Kneale, Co-Founder of GEEK, said: “This will officially be GEEK’s sixth year and eleventh event. The team is really excited about the content we have lined up for the 2018 edition. Play and games are powerful forces for good. GEEK’s objective is to encourage people to come along and have fun and to explore the creative aspects of gaming. This year promises to have more going on than ever before and we can’t wait for people to come and experience it. So come along to meet, make and play at GEEK!”

Tickets to GEEK are on sale now: bit.ly/GEEK2018.

Under 5’s go free. Dreamland Members get 10% discount. For more info on membership, visit: dreamland.co.uk/membership.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact Meg Molloy, PR Executive, on press@dreamland.co.uk .

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Notes to editors

About GEEK

GEEK is a festival of play and games. Launched in February 2012, it is held annually in Margate, Kent.

The festival is a half term family event. There are hundreds of games to play as well as workshops, talks and demonstrations. There will board games, card games, real world games, VR games and hundreds of video games to play on original consoles. The games trace the development of video games from the 1980’s right up to new releases.

Special areas will include the Boardgame Boardwalk, Indie Zone, tournament feature and VR lounges. Activities include a Cosplay Masquerade, VR masterclasses, robot games, workshops and talks as well as craft activities. There will be special activities for under 5’s on Sunday.

About Dreamland 

Dreamland Margate is considered to be the oldest-surviving amusement park in Great Britain: the site of Dreamland (as it was re-named in 1920) dates back to the British railway boom and the early 1870s when, in its original form, the ‘Hall by the Sea’ was operated by the circus tycoon, ‘Lord’ George Sanger.

Following a £25 million investment from Arrowgrass Capital Partners, Dreamland reopened in May 2017. The park has been re-landscaped and has meticulously restored vintage rides, world-class entertainment spaces, modern interactive art installations, contemporary street food, eclectic bars and live entertainment with a backdrop of Margate beach.

Dreamland was named runner-up for Best Family Theme Park in the Family Traveller Awards in November 2017. It is less than 90 minutes from London by train with Margate station only a 5-minute walk away.