SUNY Adirondack clubs host Retro Nerdfest

Daylong event celebrates vinyl, arcade games and more; Vendor spaces available

QUEENSBURY, New York (March 7, 2023) — Billed as “The coolest thing to hit the Adirondacks since the Ice Age,” several SUNY Adirondack student clubs will partner to host the first-ever Adirondack Retro Nerdfest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 15 in Northwest Bay Conference Center on the college's Queensbury campus.

Admission is free for students with a valid college ID and $5 for nonstudents.  

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

Several SUNY Adirondack student clubs will participate in Adirondack Retro Nerdfest. Adirondack Broadcast Association (ABA) and Media Arts Club (MAC) are planning and hosting the event. The college's Gaming Club will operate the Smash Brothers video game tournament, and snacks and refreshments will be prepared and sold by the Culinary Arts Club. 

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

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

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