From fairy tale dress up to Pokémon cosplay, it was a dazzling display of pageantry as DigiPen Europe-Bilbao hosted the Carnival Costume Contest on February 17. The event, organized by the DigiPen Guilds student association, was not only a chance for participants to showcase their creativity and imagination; it was also an opportunity to win some fantastic prizes.
As in previous years, this year’s contest had an open-ended theme, which meant participants had complete creative freedom. The students were encouraged to dress up as anything they wanted, which led to a wide variety of imaginative costumes.
The event kicked off at 5:30 p.m. as participants began arriving in their extravagant outfits. The costumes were awe-inspiring, ranging from classic movie characters to outlandish fantasy creatures and everything in between. The categories for the contest were decided and voted upon by the students themselves, with prizes up for grabs for “Best Catwalk,” “Funniest Costume,” and “Best Costume.”
As the event progressed, the atmosphere became increasingly festive. The participants mingled with one another, discussing their costumes and taking lots of photographs to capture the moment. The audience had a tough time evaluating the costumes, and each category was fiercely contested.
The event organizers put together an array of Nintendo-themed prizes for the winners, including a Nintendo Switch game, a Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda handheld system, and a Mario mug. The prizes added an extra level of excitement to the contest and motivated participants to bring their A-game.
The winning costumes included a cosplay rendition of the character Misty from the Pokémon saga for Best Catwalk; Shrek Team, featuring a range of characters from the famous animated film series, for Funniest Costume; and an elaborate pirate garb for Best Costume.
Overall, the event was a resounding success. The icing on the cake came in the form of a rousing musical performance by Academic Warning, a band composed of DigiPen Europe-Bilbao students who wrote and debuted an original song for the event, alongside other pieces.
The DigiPen Guilds did an excellent job organizing the event, and it was clear that everyone who participated had a great time. The Carnival Costume Contest will undoubtedly be an eagerly anticipated event on the DigiPen calendar for years to come. We look forward to the next event, which will coincide with the annual Halloween contest next October.