*High School Musical voice* What time is it?! SUMMERTIME! Is there any better time of year to have even more nerdy fun than usual? Check out these ideas to make your summer as geeky as possible!
Attend a fan convention! This might be an obvious one, but it’s definitely worth saying. Most conventions take place in the summer—and with good reason. With more daylight hours than any other time of year, you can make the most of your convention day, attending panels and fandom meet-ups, and shopping local artists’ and businesses’ booths. Just be sure to note if your chosen convention has lots of outdoor activities, and plan your cosplay accordingly. You don’t want to get sick because you’re overheating in your epic outfit!
Host a fandom barbecue! Themed foods? Fandom-based games? Yes, please! Make it a friendly competition, and have your gang divide into fan teams, with each team representing a different show or movie. Even though the winner’s fandom supremacy will only count in your friend group’s eyes, it’s totally worth it!
Make a character playlist! Do you make playlists for your favorite characters and ships, or is that just me? Whether you are a playlist pro, or you’ve never thought about making a fandom one, go through your music library while wearing your geek goggles. I bet you’ll have the perfect playlist in no time.
Have a nerdy beach or pool party! Be honest: you probably have swimwear, a cute bucket hat, or awesome sunglasses with your favorite characters on them, right? Break out the fandom summer gear and head to the beach or pool! If you’d like to listen to music at your party, I know a way you can make the perfect playlist for it… *wink*
Write that fanfiction you’ve always meant to get to! You know the one—you just can’t let it go, no matter what else you write. Is it an ambitious, multi-chapter project? Or is it a one-shot you would like to perfect before sending it out into the internet world? Either way, write it! There’s something about that summer air that makes things feel brighter, and a little easier to tackle. You can do it!
Host a summer movie night! Have you been dying to show your friends your latest nerdy movie find? Have you and your friends been meaning to rewatch that episode of your favorite show? Have a movie night! You can go all out, and project it on a sheet or the side of your house—or you can just dim the lights in your living room and grab some snacks.
Try making fandom desserts! Hear me out: a milkshake with food coloring is blue milk from Star Wars. And red and blue cookies—very Matrix, right? Think about your favorite elements of your fandom source material, and try to turn them into treats! Bonus points if they keep you cool on a hot summer day.
Start a summer book club! Book clubs are great, but agreeing to read a book every month during the year can be daunting. So start a summer book club, instead! Find three books that your group would love to try, and set a meeting date for each of the summer months. Can’t agree on the books? Choose a genre instead, and spend your meeting trying to convince each other to read your respective novels!
Do you have any nerdy summer plans already in motion? What’s your go-to geeky activity that’s perfect for the season? Let us know in the comments!
