LYNNWOOD—Geek Fest West – a community-driven pop culture, gaming, and fandom expo – kicked off its first ever year at its new Lynnwood Event Center home, from Friday, July 17 through Sunday, July 19, breaking all-time attendance records at more than 6,000.
“I’m excited Geek Fest West is here in Lynnwood. We talk about All Are Welcome and having an event like this where there’s such diversity of people, and really diverse entertainment – from boardgames, to old arcade games – that’s just a great example of people being able to enjoy and have fun in different ways,” Lynnwood Mayor George Hurst told the Lynnwood Times. “I’m just blown away by all the vendors, displays, there’s even a class being taught on how to design your own game. I’m just happy they chose Lynnwood and we want them to say.”
Geek Fest West’s mission is to create one of the Pacific Northwest’s most welcoming and approachable fan conventions, where attendees of every experience level can discover new hobbies, build lasting friendships, and celebrate geek culture together.
Whether it’s someone’s first tabletop RPG, first cosplay contest, first tournament, or first convention, Geek Fest West was designed to be approachable, welcoming and low-pressure for fans of every experience level.
“Everyone has a first convention,” said GeekFest West showrunner Nathan Mumm. “Everyone has a first board game, a first roleplaying session, a first cosplay, or a first tournament. Our goal is to create a place where people feel comfortable taking that first step, knowing they’ll be welcomed by a community that’s excited to share what they love.”
The three-day convention was stacked with all things related to tabletop role playing games (TTRPGs), board games, trading card games (TCGs), video game tournaments, videogames, retro arcade and pinball, cosplay competitions, cosplay lip syn competitions, an artist alley, exhibitors hall, indie boardgames, indie video games, workshops, and family programming.
The first Geek Fest West kickstarted three years ago when two individuals, and passionate geeks, wanted to bring a gaming convention to Snohomish County. Its first year, back in 2024, spread among multiple locations in Everett before it settled in the Angel of the Winds Arena in 2025.
However, according to Mumm, the even began to feel “too arena-like” and wasn’t conducive to having the panels, workshops, and vendor layouts originally envisioned.
The convention’s new location in Lynnwood now offers a centrally located venue with excellent transit access and an environment designed to support the event’s welcoming, community-first mission, Mumm told the Lynnwood Times.
“We’re already pretty packed so we’re going to have to get a larger facility built soon here, which is the goal and once we fill that up, we’ll have to figure out what we’re going to do next,” said Mumm. “Though our agreement with the District was for one year we are actively working with them to return in subsequent years.”
Through a partnership with Community Transit, every Geek Fest West badge holder also received a free 30-day ORCA card which made travel to the convention, and surrounding Puget Sound Region, more accessible than ever.
“We’re always asking ourselves how we can make the convention experience easier and more approachable,” said Rosie Tomyn, GeekFest West’s marketing and community relations lead. “That includes everything from how people travel to the event, to how they navigate it once they’re here, to creating opportunities where someone can sit down, learn a new game, ask questions, and simply enjoy themselves without feeling like they already have to be an expert.”
Since launching in 2024 Geek Fest West has welcomed 11,358 attendees from across Washington and beyond.
At last weekend’s event more than 100 artists, makers, vendors, food trucks and other small businesses filled the Event Center selling their inventories of boardgames, TTRPG books, video games, Pokémon Cards, collectible toys, and more.
Artists also showcased original handcrafted creations, and an Interactive Arts Award ceremony celebrated indie video and board game creators.
“I’m excited, as our Council President here in Lynnwood, I’m excited as the founder of the first board game café in Lynnwood, I’m excited as the former Vice Chair of my college’s anime club, I’m excited as a geek, I’m excited as a gamer, and I’m excited everyone is here in Lynnwood to see our transformation over the next five years,” said Lynnwood Council President Nick Coelho.
GeekFest West is actively collaborating with fellow conventions throughout the Pacific Northwest and plans to host informational tables during various events, along with recurring regional meetups where convention teams can collaborate, share ideas, and strengthen the convention community together.
The convention organizers continue to expand partnerships with local organizations, volunteers, creators, businesses, schools, e-sport organizations, and transit agencies – with the overall goal of strengthening those partnerships long after the weekend ends.
GeekFest was the District’s first ever multiple day, indoor/outdoor festival.
“We work really closely with the city on bringing these types of events that benefit everybody and we were so excited when we were approached by Geek Fest to move to this site, because we really believe we can give everything that we can offer. We have the 13-acres outside and the free space, and of course all the cool stuff taking place in this building,” said the District Executive Director Janet Pope.
GeekFest West is an entirely volunteer-driven operation.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
