Latest news with #Wintergeddon
Scoop
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Superheroes, Killer Robots, Cosplayers & Anime Icons Join Forces With A Scooby Snack At Wintergeddon On King's Birthday
Press Release – Armageddon Expo This King's Birthday Weekend, 31 May to 2 June, the Auckland Showgrounds will transform into a pop culture playground as Wintergeddon jumps in from the multiverse, bringing together superheroes, killer robots, cosplayers, and anime legends for a long weekend of pure fan-fuelled fun. At the heart of this year's star-studded lineup is Ioan Gruffudd, the charming Reed Richards from Fantastic Four and hero of Horatio Hornblower. He's joined by international stars Jeff Ward (One Piece, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.); T.J. Thyne (Bones); Kim Rhodes (Supernatural, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody); and Australian voice actor Neil Fanning, the voice behind Scooby-Doo himself! Kiwi fans are in for a very special treat with Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor, the iconic Xena and Gabrielle duo, reuniting on stage for a nostalgic deep dive into Xena: Warrior Princess (Sunday only). Rounding out the guest list are lineup is New Zealand's own Amie Donald (M3GAN, M3Gan 2.0) the actor/dancer whose unsettling moves terrified audiences worldwide. Plus anime voice stars Natalie Van Sistine (SPY x Family, Attack on Titan), Reagan Murdock (Chainsaw Man, One Piece), Jason Douglas (Dragon Ball, The Walking Dead), and Pete Capella (voice of Silver the Hedgehog). Together, they'll bring panels, signings, and unforgettable fan moments to life across the weekend. Cosplay fans are in for a treat too, with an all-star lineup of international cosplayers set to inspire with their craft and creativity. Alyson Tabbitha, master of transformations from Wonder Woman to Jack Sparrow, will appear alongside vintage crossover queen Rachel Maksy, Australia's own Vera Chimera, and international cosplay superstar Ridd1e – one of the main cast members on both season of the reality show, Heroes of Cosplay, and feature of two award winning cosplay documentaries. And it wouldn't be Wintergeddon without some crazy contraption to surprise and delight. This year marks the world debut of CARmageddon, a fully-drivable, fan-built supercar inspired by all those legendary cars from the likes of Batman, Nightrider and Back to the Future. This one-of-a-kind 1975 Cadillac Eldorado is packed with gadgets including a scissor-lift turret machine guns, missile launchers, smoke screens, voice warnings, and even a working flux capacitor – pure pop culture madness brought to life on four wheels. For fans of Stranger Things, costume designers Amy Parris and Daniel Selon will present an exclusive display of original costumes from the hit show, giving attendees a rare glimpse at the looks that defined the characters of Hawkins, Indiana – the fictional American town where all the supernatural events unfold. Amy has worked on television series and movies across various genres and time periods, including HBO's Westworld, Showtime's Yellowjackets, and Netflix's Stranger Things. And Daniel was an assistant costume designer on WandaVision, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Thor: Love and Thunder, and the head costume designer for Agatha All Along. Wintergeddon also brings epic gaming action, with two massive esports tournaments – League of Legends and Marvel Rivals – a Minecraft VR zone, an Airsoft shooting range, X-Shot battle arena, Spookers horror hall, Just Dance disco, a Catan board game library, and live performances by the Auckland Wind Orchestra. Fans can also look forward to cosplay parades, author panels, anime screenings, wargaming displays, D&D sessions by Questbook, and a pop culture shopping paradise across Artist Alley and the retail floor. Wintergeddon runs Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 9am-5pm, and Monday 10am-5pm at the Auckland Showgrounds. Tickets and the full event schedule are available at
Scoop
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Superheroes, Killer Robots, Cosplayers & Anime Icons Join Forces With A Scooby Snack At Wintergeddon On King's Birthday
This King's Birthday Weekend, 31 May to 2 June, the Auckland Showgrounds will transform into a pop culture playground as Wintergeddon jumps in from the multiverse, bringing together superheroes, killer robots, cosplayers, and anime legends for a long weekend of pure fan-fuelled fun. At the heart of this year's star-studded lineup is Ioan Gruffudd, the charming Reed Richards from Fantastic Four and hero of Horatio Hornblower. He's joined by international stars Jeff Ward (One Piece, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.); T.J. Thyne (Bones); Kim Rhodes (Supernatural, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody); and Australian voice actor Neil Fanning, the voice behind Scooby-Doo himself! Kiwi fans are in for a very special treat with Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor, the iconic Xena and Gabrielle duo, reuniting on stage for a nostalgic deep dive into Xena: Warrior Princess (Sunday only). Rounding out the guest list are lineup is New Zealand's own Amie Donald (M3GAN, M3Gan 2.0) the actor/dancer whose unsettling moves terrified audiences worldwide. Plus anime voice stars Natalie Van Sistine (SPY x Family, Attack on Titan), Reagan Murdock (Chainsaw Man, One Piece), Jason Douglas (Dragon Ball, The Walking Dead), and Pete Capella (voice of Silver the Hedgehog). Together, they'll bring panels, signings, and unforgettable fan moments to life across the weekend. Cosplay fans are in for a treat too, with an all-star lineup of international cosplayers set to inspire with their craft and creativity. Alyson Tabbitha, master of transformations from Wonder Woman to Jack Sparrow, will appear alongside vintage crossover queen Rachel Maksy, Australia's own Vera Chimera, and international cosplay superstar Ridd1e – one of the main cast members on both season of the reality show, Heroes of Cosplay, and feature of two award winning cosplay documentaries. And it wouldn't be Wintergeddon without some crazy contraption to surprise and delight. This year marks the world debut of CARmageddon, a fully-drivable, fan-built supercar inspired by all those legendary cars from the likes of Batman, Nightrider and Back to the Future. This one-of-a-kind 1975 Cadillac Eldorado is packed with gadgets including a scissor-lift turret machine guns, missile launchers, smoke screens, voice warnings, and even a working flux capacitor - pure pop culture madness brought to life on four wheels. For fans of Stranger Things, costume designers Amy Parris and Daniel Selon will present an exclusive display of original costumes from the hit show, giving attendees a rare glimpse at the looks that defined the characters of Hawkins, Indiana - the fictional American town where all the supernatural events unfold. Amy has worked on television series and movies across various genres and time periods, including HBO's Westworld, Showtime's Yellowjackets, and Netflix's Stranger Things. And Daniel was an assistant costume designer on WandaVision, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Thor: Love and Thunder, and the head costume designer for Agatha All Along. Wintergeddon also brings epic gaming action, with two massive esports tournaments - League of Legends and Marvel Rivals - a Minecraft VR zone, an Airsoft shooting range, X-Shot battle arena, Spookers horror hall, Just Dance disco, a Catan board game library, and live performances by the Auckland Wind Orchestra. Fans can also look forward to cosplay parades, author panels, anime screenings, wargaming displays, D&D sessions by Questbook, and a pop culture shopping paradise across Artist Alley and the retail floor. Wintergeddon runs Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 9am-5pm, and Monday 10am-5pm at the Auckland Showgrounds. Tickets and the full event schedule are available at
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Wintergeddon Returns With Global Stars And A Pop Culture Powerhouse King's Birthday Weekend
Armageddon Expo | May 31 – June 2, 2025 | Auckland Showgrounds Auckland's favourite celebration of fandom returns this King's Birthday Weekend as Wintergeddon brings a stelar line-up of international stars, cosplay royalty, interactive exhibits, gaming and more to the Auckland Showgrounds. Leading the celebrity guest list are four powerhouse names from the worlds of sci-fi, fantasy, and gaming: Ioan Gruffudd, best known as Mr Fantastic in Fantastic Four and the heroic Horatio Hornblower. Renee O'Connor, beloved globally as Gabrielle in Xena: Warrior Princess. Kim Rhodes, a standout in Supernatural as Sheriff Jody Mills. Jeff Ward, breakout star of One Piece and fan-favourite in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. They're joined by a stellar supporting cast including T.J. Thyne (Bones), Aime Donald (M3gan), Neil Fanning (voice of Scooby-Doo) and Kiwi acting legend Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess) drops in for an exclusive Sunday panel as well. Cosplay fans are in for a treat with four of the world's biggest cosplayers: Alyson Tabbitha, Rachel Maksy, Vera Chimera and Ridd1e leading panels, judging contests, and showcasing jaw-dropping costume artistry all weekend. New for 2025 is the world-first appearance of CARmageddon – a fully-drivable custom Cadillac inspired by the Batmobile and KITT, complete with scissor-lift turret, voice commands, and a working flux capacitor. Fans can also explore an exclusive Stranger Things costume exhibit featuring original Netflix screen-used wardrobe, and dive into a massive range of activities including: Two national esports tournaments (League of Legends and Marvel Rivals) Minecraft VR Zone Airsoft range and X-Shot battle arena Spookers Horror Hall and Just Dance disco Live music from the Auckland Wind Orchestra Anime screenings, D&D adventures by Questbook, board games from Catan, pinball, wargaming, and cosplay parades
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Wintergeddon Returns With Global Stars And A Pop Culture Powerhouse King's Birthday Weekend
Auckland's favourite celebration of fandom returns this King's Birthday Weekend as Wintergeddon brings a stelar line-up of international stars, cosplay royalty, interactive exhibits, gaming and more to the Auckland Showgrounds. Leading the celebrity guest list are four powerhouse names from the worlds of sci-fi, fantasy, and gaming: Ioan Gruffudd, best known as Mr Fantastic in Fantastic Four and the heroic Horatio Hornblower. Renee O'Connor, beloved globally as Gabrielle in Xena: Warrior Princess. Kim Rhodes, a standout in Supernatural as Sheriff Jody Mills. Jeff Ward, breakout star of One Piece and fan-favourite in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. They're joined by a stellar supporting cast including T.J. Thyne (Bones), Aime Donald (M3gan), Neil Fanning (voice of Scooby-Doo) and Kiwi acting legend Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess) drops in for an exclusive Sunday panel as well. Cosplay fans are in for a treat with four of the world's biggest cosplayers: Alyson Tabbitha, Rachel Maksy, Vera Chimera and Ridd1e leading panels, judging contests, and showcasing jaw-dropping costume artistry all weekend. New for 2025 is the world-first appearance of CARmageddon – a fully-drivable custom Cadillac inspired by the Batmobile and KITT, complete with scissor-lift turret, voice commands, and a working flux capacitor. Fans can also explore an exclusive Stranger Things costume exhibit featuring original Netflix screen-used wardrobe, and dive into a massive range of activities including: Two national esports tournaments (League of Legends and Marvel Rivals) Minecraft VR Zone Airsoft range and X-Shot battle arena Spookers Horror Hall and Just Dance disco Live music from the Auckland Wind Orchestra Anime screenings, D&D adventures by Questbook, board games from Catan, pinball, wargaming, and cosplay parades
Scoop
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Wintergeddon Returns To Auckland With Celebrities, Gaming, Cosplay And The Debut Of CARmageddon
Press Release – Paul Blomfield Armageddon Expo | May 31 – June 2, 2025 | Auckland Showgrounds The ultimate celebration of fandom is back! Armageddon Expo's Wintergeddon storms into the Auckland Showgrounds this King's Birthday Weekend, May 31 to June 2, delivering three action-packed days of gaming, cosplay, collectibles, pop culture panels, and unforgettable celebrity encounters – plus a Stranger Things exhibit and the world's-first appearance of Armageddon super-car, CARmageddon. Top Talent As always, Wintergeddon 2025 brings a stellar line-up of screen and voice talent from the worlds of TV, film, and gaming. The guest roster is led by Ioan Gruffudd, who captivated global audiences as the intelligent and elastic Reed Richards in Fantastic Four, and earned critical acclaim for his powerful portrayal of the seafaring hero in the classic British series Horatio Hornblower. Renee O'Connor is well-known in New Zealand and throughout the world as an icon of 90s fantasy television as Gabrielle, the spirited warrior-poet and loyal companion to Xena in the globally adored series Xena: Warrior Princess. Kim Rhodes brought heart and humour to the role of Sheriff Jody Mills in Supernatural, becoming a fan-favourite across the show's 15 seasons, and is equally beloved for her role as the quirky yet grounded mum Carey in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. And, Jeff Ward electrified audiences as the unpredictable and hilarious Buggy the Clown in Netflix's live-action One Piece, and earned sci-fi street cred as the inventive and lovable Deke Shaw in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The full talent lineup includes: Cosplay Heroes Cosplay is an essential feature of the Armageddon Expo experience, and this year Cosplay royalty will be in attendance, with international stars Alyson Tabbitha, Rachel Maksy, Vera Chimera, and Ridd1e set to appear. Alyson Tabbitha, known for her transformations into characters like Wonder Woman, Jack Sparrow and Leeloo from The Fifth Element, brings highly detailed craftsmanship to every appearance. Rachel Maksy, a YouTube favourite and vintage cosplay icon, is celebrated for her creative crossovers and charming retro takes on pop culture classics. Vera Chimera, hailing from Australia, has earned global recognition for her intricately detailed Cosplay performances as characters from Borderlands, Overwatch, and Final Fantasy. And completing the lineup is Ridd1e, a Singapore-based cosplayer known for iconic portrayals of Marvel and anime characters. Together, these four international Cosplay guests will host panels, judge contests, and inspire fans with their costumes and creativity throughout the weekend. Stranger Things Marvel and Netflix costume designers Daniel Selon and Amy Parris, will also present an exclusive Stranger Things costume display, with actual garments from the hit Netflix show presented for fans throughout the long weekend. New for 2025: CARmageddon! Prepare to geek out over CARmageddon, a fully-drivable custom build inspired by legendary screen cars like the Batmobile and KITT. This one-of-a-kind 1975 Cadillac Eldorado has been transformed with a scissor-lift turret, missile launchers, voice warnings, smoke screen, working gadgets, and even a flux capacitor—making its world premiere exclusively at Wintergeddon. Esports and More This year the expo also features two massive esports tournaments (League of Legends and Marvel Rivals), a board gaming library presented by Catan, a Minecraft VR Zone, Airsoft shooting range, X-Shot battle arena, Spookers Horror Hall, Just Dance disco, and live performances by the Auckland Wind Orchestra. Don't miss cosplay parades, author panels, anime screenings, pinball machines, wargaming displays, D&D events by Questbook, and the ultimate pop culture shopping experience across Artist Alley and the retail floor. Wintergeddon runs throughout the long weekend, Saturday: 9am to 6pm, Sunday: 9am to 5pm, Monday: 10am to 5pm at the Auckland Showgrounds. Tickets and full schedule available now at About Armageddon Expo Armageddon Expo is a New Zealand owned and operated pop culture convention that holds multiple events around New Zealand in cities including Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga, Palmerston North and Christchurch. The event, run by Beyond Reality Media Premier Event Management, has been running continuously since 1995 and features an unmatched line-up of talent from screen, television and online, together with gaming, anime, cosplay and more.
