La venue des cosplayers constitue l’un des temps forts du week-end. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE
In addition to the entertainment, YouTubers and TV stars are expected on December 14 and 15, at the gates of the capital of the Cévennes, in the Gard, for a new edition of Ceven Geek Week.
“I run, I run. I'm all about the balls!” Krim Mekrarbech, the president of the Ceven Anim association, has his nose to the grindstone. He is making the final adjustments to the 4th edition of the Ceven'Geek Week trade fair, which he is co-organizing this Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15, at the Méjannes-lès-Alès exhibition center (*). And, already, he assures that “it looks very, very good” . Even “better than last year. We took fewer guests, but it will be bigger…”
A large audience, aged “from 6 to 60”
Last year, the festival “exceeded the 8,000 visitors mark” and, for two days, it will be in line with the three previous opuses. In short, “multimedia geek culture” will be in the spotlight, with its television series, manga, video games, cosplays (read below) and others. Enough to attract a large audience, aged “from 6 to 60 years old”, smiles the initiator of the show. Because alongside today's young people, there are those who played on a console in the early 80s and fans of sitcoms such as “Hélène et les garçons”.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000The cosplayers will arrive in force
During these "two days of pure pleasure", according to Krim Mekrarbech, cosplayers, those who slip into the skin of a fictional character, will once again be in the spotlight. Thus, on Saturday, December 14, a solo cosplay parade is planned from 10 a.m., followed by a competition at 3 p.m. And we will do it again the next day for groups, at the same times. Just to rub shoulders with “what we are not used to seeing in Alès”, smiles the organizer. The first year, these enthusiasts were only a small handful; This time, to go on stage, there will be between 15 and 20 of them, which is the maximum that the president of Ceven Anim had planned.
Precisely, among the guests of this 2024 edition, the public will find Patrick Puydebat, who played Nicolas, Hélène Rollès' boyfriend. He will be present at the exhibition center throughout the day on Saturday, along with Manon Schraen, his partner in the series “Les mystères de l'amour”, broadcast on the TMC channel, to take part in photo sessions and signings. The next day, two other distinguished guests are called to take over: the YouTubers with millions of subscribers that are Lebouseuh and Dobby.
In parallel, a multitude of activities are planned, with the presence of manga authors, illustrators and 3D creators. Not forgetting Pokéball workshops, video game areas, including two retro ones, the arrival of Gina, the Just Dance champion or the Scooby Doo van.
The 2025 edition is already in the sights
Undoubtedly, this event“is anchored in Alès”. Its founder remembers the beginnings in 2019, “complicated to set up” with 15 exhibitors, while nearly 90 are expected this weekend, not counting the entertainment. Today, Ceven'Geek Week has not yet started and Krim Mekrarbech is already thinking about volume 5. While keeping it “on a human, family scale”, he hopes to “professionalize it, franchise it”. For 2025, stands have already been reserved and contacts have been made with potential future guests. The arrival of one of them has even already been scheduled. The president of Ceven Anim keeps his identity secret, but lets slip that he is “an American who plays in a series broadcast on Netflix”.
(*): Open from 10 a.m. (from 9:30 a.m. for pre-sale ticket buyers) to 7 p.m. Prices: €9 for a day, €15 for a weekend pass, free for children under 6. Full program on social networks. I subscribe to read the rest