Photo by: KJ Mushung

Music and gaming are quite possibly two of the most popular pastimes for college students. So it’s no surprise that MAGFest, a music and gaming festival that was held very close to Northern Virginia Community College’s Alexandria campus last year, completely sold out. People had to be turned away at the door. That’s why the event has been moved to National Harbor, so it can accommodate more bands, games and people.

This year’s MAGFest will take place Thursday, Jan. 5 through Sunday, Jan. 8.

If you haven’t experienced it, MAGFest is an annual event in the D.C. area dedicated to the celebration of video games and video game music. The event offers 24-hour console, arcade and PC game rooms, usually 12 live video game cover bands, a vendors’ area, along with guest speakers from the video game industry. The festival also features a jam space available to all attendees for impromptu music performances.

In addition to providing bands that play the gamut from rage to melodic and tons of games — from brand new to antique arcade — MAGFest will also hold its second annual charity auction benefiting Child’s Play.

According to MAGFest’s public relations rep, Nick Marinelli, Child’s Play was created by the web comic Penny-Arcade in 2003 in order to raise money for toys and games for children in hospitals. Donations are used to purchase new consoles, peripherals and games for hospitals and therapy facilities. These donations allow children to enjoy age-appropriate entertainment, interact with their peers, friends and family, and provide vital distraction from an otherwise unpleasant experience.

Last year’s charity auction raised over $5,500.

Thousands of dollars worth of merchandise have already been donated from bands, video game developers, electronics manufacturers and more. The auction will be held the last day of the festival.

For more details about MAGFest, visit magfest.org.

Photo by: KJ Mushung

Photo courtesy of MAGFest

By: KJ Mushung

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