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SCARBOROUGH, ENGLAND
It may not be what most surfers would expect to see on the beach, but on the first day of the Scarborough Sci-Fi Weekend in England, Star Wars fan Will Hyde surprised his fellow beachgoers by walking down the sand wearing a full Chewbacca costume. Meanwhile, elsewhere in town, famous characters like Predator and Spider-Man could also be spotted going about their day.
The Scarborough Sci-Fi Weekend, held in the North Yorkshire seaside town, is now in its sixth year. Organised by fans, it involves guest appearances by actors and comic book artists, tabletop and video gaming, panel discussions, movie prop and model displays, fan film theatre and merchandise stalls – and many of those attending dress in the costumes of their favourite sci-fi characters. Star Wars outfits were particularly popular on the first day, with fans showing up as stormtroopers and Rebel Alliance characters, as well as bounty hunter Boba Fett and dark warrior Kylo Ren.
The act of wearing costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character is known as cosplay – a portmanteau of the words ‘costume play’. Having gained mainstream appeal in the ’90s, cosplay is now a worldwide phenomenon enjoyed by all ages, and cosplay events are common features of fan conventions like the Scarborough Sci-Fi Weekend. While some people buy ready-made costumes, others craft their own. Serious cosplayers will often also use body modifications, including contact lenses and temporary tattoos, to more closely represent their character.