Level Up at The Levee returns, transforming Maitland into a pop culture playground

Maitland’s city centre will once again transform into a hub of cosplay, gaming and creativity when Level Up at The Levee returns on Saturday 2 May, running from 2pm to 8pm across The Levee Shared Zone.

Back for its second year, the free family-friendly event invites visitors to step into a world of fandom and imagination, with interactive experiences, live entertainment, cosplay competitions and hands-on activities designed for all ages.

The Levee Public Programs Officer David Graham said the event has quickly established itself as a popular fixture in Council’s events program, attracting strong community interest and delivering benefits to the local economy.

“Now in its second year, the event has already built strong popularity, with around 3,500 people expected to attend this year, bringing significant visitation into the city centre,” Mr Graham said.

“Events like this create real value for Maitland and The Levee by supporting local businesses, increasing foot traffic and helping position the city as a vibrant destination for major events.” Across the afternoon, The Levee will come alive with themed market stalls, pop culture merchandise, roaming performers and opportunities to meet local creators showcasing their work.

Cosplay will take centre stage, with award-winning cosplay ambassadors appearing for photos and meet-and-greets. Visitors can also visit a dedicated cosplay photo wall, with Magnetic Shots providing free souvenir photo magnets throughout the event.

The popular cosplay competition, hosted by Pixie Dusted Events, also returns, with registrations open on the day from 2pm. Entrants can compete in the Kids Cosplay Catwalk (12 and under), Beginner, Intermediate and Master Cosplay Competition, with finalists receiving $300 vouchers to a Levee business of their choice.

Families and LEGO fans can head to LEGO Land, featuring hands-on building activities with Bricks 4 Kidz alongside large-scale displays from Rainbow Bricks LUG. Visitors will also get a preview of Maitland Brickfest ahead of its May event.

Pixie Dusted Events’ Karen Sinclair said the team is excited to return for another year. 

“We’re looking forward to supporting Level Up at the Levee and seeing the incredible creativity and inspiration of the Maitland community!

“We were blown away last year by the overwhelmingly positive response to everything pop culture. Level Up has truly become one of the event highlights of our year, and we can't wait to bring some magic back to Maitland on 2 May,” Ms Sinclair said.

Visitors are encouraged to attend in costume and join an afternoon celebrating gaming and pop culture in the heart of Maitland. For more information, visit www.thelevee.com.au/level-up or follow The Levee on social media.