Columbia's Arcade District is hosting Cool Fest this Saturday. Here's what to expect

Gaming, comics and other aspects of pop culture are coming together Saturday for this year's Cool Fest in the Arcade District along Fay Street in Columbia.

The event will take place from 1-7 p.m. in the area around 602 Fay St. It is free and open to the public and family friendly.

Cool Fest is a chance for fans to come together and "to celebrate their passions and interests," wrote Luke Davis, Arcade District operations manager, in a message to the Tribune.

It also happens to coincide with what is known as Star Wars Day and Free Comic Day. Distant Planet Comics and Collectibles will be giving out free comic books throughout the event, Davis noted.

The day serves as a host location for DungeonCon, a comics and gaming convention. Cosplayers can put on their best character outfit recreations to participate in a cosplay contest. There also are video game tournaments, alongside a special movie showing on the Arcade District's video screen. Mageling's Games is sponsoring a Magic: The Gathering tournament during DungeonCon.

Family activities include face painting, balloon twisting, and other performances, such as from the BoCoMo Bubble Man and Show-Me Dinosaurs. Local music groups The Lemon Settlement, Dream Squeeze and ZamboniFunk will provide music throughout the day.

Cool Fest will welcome a variety of food trucks and nearby eateries are expected to be open. Glizzness, Dada Doner, Pizza Kwik & Kwik Lemonade and Voodoo Sno food trucks will set up at the Six Mile Ordinary distillery, which also will be open. Beet Box is expected to be open during Cool Fest and Irene's is expected to be open during its normal hours, Davis wrote.

Local artisans will be on hand as part of a makers market from 1-6 p.m. during Cool Fest. For those still looking to engage with artisans, there is another opportunity during The Loop Community Improvement District Spring Maker Market 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the Loop Pop-Up Park, 807 Business Loop 70 E.

The Loop Maker Market serves as a chance to "find some locally-made gifts for mom and bring the kids for some hands-on fun making their own Mother's Day gifts," the Loop noted in a promotional email.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.