I have never felt so old and out of touch in my life. There are adorable young people in costumes – antlers, ears, tails, Potter-esque school robes – in a line hundreds long to get autographs and photos of people I’ve never heard of. Well, OK, I’ve heard of a few of them because my daughter has told me breathlessly about Tessa Netting’s… was it a YouTube thing? And I remember Joe Moses from his cleverly-named “One Man Showses.” But mostly I don’t know anything about the world of LeakyCon – a whole culture of fandom that started with Harry Potter and now comprises fans of many self-described geeky subcultures from Dr. Who to Supernatural to the Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

GeekyCon began in 2008 as LeakyCon – a place for fans of Harry Potter to gather – and it has evolved into a real celebration of fans and fandom in general. People clap for each other and hug each other and admire each other’s costumes with such positivity it’s hard to believe that they are mostly teenagers, who are not generally known for their kindness.

The 2014 slogan says it all.

At the end of LeakyCon 2014, the organizers announced that the growing event’s name would change to GeekyCon, while a smaller, exclusively Potter-centered LeakyCon would occur separately.

Parents are welcome, but not really essential
All around me in the food court are parents on laptops, checking phones, drinking coffee alone, waiting for a text from their kid, or more likely an Instagram of their kid not directed to said parent. We are not really needed here. It’s an enclosed space, full of positive geeky people, and if your kids think they can do it alone, they probably can. There’s even a panel for people who are attending alone to meet each other.

GeekyCon allows kids under 18 to attend alone with a notarized form from their parent (they recommend that attendees be at least 11 years old, but all ages are welcome), so unless you’re in on the fandom, too, you might as well go back to your hotel pool and relax. The kids are fine. They are learning to be their own independent, fabulous selves.

There is joy here.

Costumes are kinda essential
I am watching Dumbledore dress himself as I type this. He has assistants to lift his cloak onto his shoulders. Draco is strutting around shirtless giving hugs to anyone who asks. A girl wears a colorful Tooth Fairy costume with hundreds of hand-sewn scallops as her proud dad sings her praises. There are many, many blue Tardis boxes from Dr. Who.

I feel supremely out of my element in my geometric Scandinavian dress and Fly London platform shoes. Perhaps I need a tail, or some antlers, or a wand. Happily, the marketplace offers all of these and so much more.

The marketplace
Make sure your kids save money to spend on fan memorabilia in the marketplace. There are t-shirts galore, wands, tails, hats, potions, lotions and candles for sale. Artists sell prints and do custom work on the spot – want a drawing of Sherlock conversing with Dr. Who (choose your favorite doctor) over dinner at Hogwarts? They can do that. Several charities, including, of course, the Harry Potter Alliance hand out information and sell t-shirts and posters.

This year LeakyCon introduced a Marketplace Pass that allows the holder admission to the marketplace, but none of the panels, concerts, or shows. That is what this Muggle parent chose, and it seemed a good compromise.

The panels
This is where the fans can dig deep into their fandoms. Want to talk about wands and their wizards? Debate whether Snape is a hero or a creep? How about digging into Queerness in Harry Potter? or just bring your best query to the “Crazy Potter Questions” panel.

But on beyond the Potterverse, you can discuss feminism and the BBC, the mistreatment of Cordelia Chase in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or delve into the Five Factor Personality Theory in the Divergent series. Or you can practice improv with YouTube star Jon Cozart or explore fandom-inspired cooking. It’s all there.

There is a separate literary track at LeakyCon that features some of the biggest names in young adult (YA) fiction. For bookish kids, which might be most of the kids at LeakyCon, the lit programming is a big draw. Who wouldn’t want to witness their favorite authors in a lying contest against each other? Or talk to them about how they write?

One of my favorite lit panels was “I Was a Teenage Writer,” featuring YA stars John Green, Lauren Myracle, Scott Westerfeld, Rainbow Rowell and more reading from some of their earliest and definitely not their best works. What an inspiration to young writers!

There is one panel that is specifically for parents, called “Okay is Wonderful,” led by parents who have seen the benefit that participating in fandoms like this can have on kids. Remember that you will need a general pass for this panel.

The shows
One of the keystones of LeakyCon has been the participation of Team StarKid, a theater group based in Chicago which had a breakout hit in its Harry Potter parody: A Very Potter Musical (and its follow-ups A Very Potter Sequel and A Very Potter Senior Year). The group (one of whose members, Darren Criss, has gone on to star in the TV series, Glee) has participated in LeakyCon each year and they have become some of the most beloved stars of the conference. The members circulate through the conference and hang out at the Ann Arbor T-Shirt Company booth in the marketplace, chatting with and hugging and taking selfies with fans.

Other performances include The Potter Puppet Pals, LeakyStars – a fan talent show, and the Joe Moses One Man Showses.

The signings
There are many opportunities for attendees to meet the objects of their fandom, including the very organized autograph sessions and photo booths. Attendees stand in line early in the morning to draw bracelets, indicating which autographs they can stand in another line for. The lines take a while, but if you have a bracelet, you are guaranteed a moment with your idol. Organizers work very hard to make this part run smoothly, so read and follow the instructions and you’ll be fine.

The concerts
In the evenings, there are performances by Potter-inspired bands like Harry & the Potters, Draco & the Malfoys, Tonks & the Aurors, Gred & Forge. Our kids had no interest in this, but it seemed like a nice evening activity.

The ball 
The Esther Earl Rocking Charity Ball on Saturday night is LeakyCon’s prom. The kids go all out in their dress. There is surprisingly little cosplay at the ball, unless it involves lights, glitter, or sequins. The main goal of the evening is dancing, singing, and being your fabulous self.

At this year’s ball I saw (and heard) squealing girls dancing to “(You Don’t Know) You’re Beautiful” – not squealing for the boy band that sings it, but for the message that is behind this whole con. When “Blurred Lines” came on, with its “you know you want it” sex pressure, the crowd booed so loudly the DJ turned it off. The kids here are acutely aware of the messages in the music and books they are here to celebrate.

To quote LeakyCon founder Melissa Anelli, [GeekyCon] is a place where geeks can be geeky fans can be fans, and where we all can find a loving and supportive place to be ourselves.”

Practicalities

Tickets to GeekyCon 2015, which will take place July 30 to August 2, 2015 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, go on sale August 9, 2014 at GeekyCon.com.

The closest hotel is the Rosen Center, just across the street. In 2014, there were LeakyCon discount rates for this hotel, but they have not yet been listed online for 2015.

There are several other hotels nearby, and numerous condo rentals available through FlipKey at the nearby Vista Cay Resort. Though it is less than a mile from the Convention Center, it is a rather torturous walk in the bright sun and steamy August Florida heat. We opted for a rental car.

Thanks to FlipKey for helping us with accommodations in Orlando.