For several years now, die-hard fans of the Fallout series have flocked to the actual town of Goodsprings for their annual get-together. This event is held to mark Fallout: New Vegas Day, and the activities would be incomplete without support from the generous owner of the Pioneer Saloon. The 2024 gathering seemed to be a hit, with a slew of cosplayers heading to Nevada to embody characters ranging from NCR rangers to even Todd Howard himself.
Interestingly, while Bethesda hosted its inaugural official Fallout Day broadcast this year, New Vegas enthusiasts had their own unique celebration. They descended upon the very spot where the courier faced Benny’s infamous gun barrel, all in homage to everything New Vegas.
If you scroll through the official Fallout Twitter or delve into Fallout-focused corners of the internet, such as Reddit, you’ll see that this year’s Goodsprings celebration didn’t disappoint. It featured an array of entertaining antics and a ton of creative costumes.
Naturally, many attendees donned the iconic outfits of the NCR or Caesar’s Legion, given it’s a prime opportunity to reenact the legendary showdown at Hoover Dam. Some even took it a step further, adding their own creative twist to these beloved scenarios. Whether it’s reenacting Legate Lanius and General Oliver’s infamous night on the strip (though that might be my personal storytelling twist), the diversity of costumes was impressive.
In addition to faction-themed attire and folks dressed in checkered suits in tribute to everyone’s favorite chairman, enthusiasts pulled off a variety of standout cosplays. One that particularly caught my eye was by user Finnsleathershop. They creatively fashioned themselves as one of Big MT’s eccentric Think Tank scientists, complete with incredibly detailed eye and mouth screens. However, as someone amused by low-effort costumes, I’d have to award the prize to another participant. This clever individual roamed around with a simple Todd Howard mask and a cardboard sign.
This was the creation of Reddit user Clark-Kent-Throwaway, and they were snapped by many fellow attendees. Amusingly, their quickly made sign urged others to purchase Skyrim. Though it’s a well-trodden joke, I can’t help but applaud their effort, especially after learning about their behind-the-scenes process. “Honestly, I planned to make the other side of the sign a Fallout 1st joke,” they shared, “but my printer gave up on me that morning. So, I had to improvise with a pen and some trash-like cardboard.”
There’s something refreshing about recycling and using what’s at hand. So, my apologies to those who crafted impressive power armor suits with devotion and perhaps a hefty expenditure—you’ve lost out to the humor and simplicity of paper and pen.
If you’re curious to dive deeper into the Fallout fan community, why not explore my earlier feature from this year? In it, I spoke with various passionate individuals about what being part of this vibrant world means to them in 2024.
