BIGGER THAN EVER LONDON GAMES FESTIVAL CHARACTER PARADE BRINGS VIDEO GAMES TO LIFE ON THE CITY STREETS

The Guildhall Yard in historic City of London will turn into a celebration of cosplay and games culture when London Games Festival’s annual Games Character Parade and Family Day returns on Saturday 6 April.

The parade is part of the twelve-day Festival of video games and interactive entertainment across the capital and is back in 2019 for its third year. The family day boasts a range of free activities for the whole family throughout the day including game exhibits, costume making and a unique VR experience in a historic location.

Games fans will gather in Guildhall Yard for the annual Games Character Parade and an onstage fashion show hosted by Costume and Play, while retro games come to life with interactive exhibits by Actual Reality Arcade.

Meanwhile in Guildhall Art Gallery, young people can create their own costumes for the Character Parade with Boxhead Craft and SamiArts, and use Minecraft game technology to understand traditional crafts in Minecraft Knit, with help from its creator Gemma May Latham.

Minecraft Knit will return to the Gallery the following weekend on Saturday April 13 as part of the Family Day for Seen and Heard: Victorian Children in the Frame (23 November 2018 - 28 April 2019).

In the Gallery’s ancient Amphitheatre, an interactive virtual reality experience by Professor William Latham will introduce new audiences to the latest innovations in digital art in the historic home of games in London. Professor Latham will also lead a lunchtime symposium for game developers, digital artists and academics working at the cutting edge of digital art.

For more details and information on how to attend, head to www.games.london/parade2019

London Games Festival runs from 2 to 14 April and is organised by Games London, a partnership between the capital’s screen industries agency Film London and games trade body Ukie, supported by the Mayor of London’s London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP).

The event is supported by the City of London Corporation and Arts Council of England. It is free to attend but those wishing to participate in the cosplay parade are required to register in advance at www.games.london/parade2019

The London Games Festival Character Parade and Family Day is just one of 40+ cultural or B2B events across 30 venues from 2 to 14 April. London Games Festival is responsible for a series of thought-provoking summits and conferences, plus the Games Finance Market welcoming financiers with over £200m to spend on games investors. Other highlights include EGX Rezzed (4-6 April), Now Play This at Somerset House (6-14) and the BAFTA Games Awards (4 April).

More information and details on how to buy tickets can be found at www.games.london.

Evening Standard has partnered with Games London to be the official media partner for the entire London Games Festival.