WATERVILLE — The downtown looked like an alternative universe Saturday as characters from comic books, movies and video games marched down Main Street from Waterville Public Library to Castonguay Square.

There was Darth Vader, Hello Kitty, Doctor Who, The Cheshire Cat, Lady Loki and about 20 other people dressed in colorful costumes who were taking part in the fourth annual Cirque du Geek convention held at the library. The free events over three days included playing of video games, costuming and makeup tutorial workshops, jewelry-making, a sing-along, movies, contests and discussions.

“I’m Link, from the Legend of Zelda,” said 13-year-old Damon Miller, who traveled from Lisbon for the convention. “He comes from the force of Kokiri. He gets the spiritual stone so he can rescue and save Hyrule.”

Miller, dressed in a blue cap and tunic, carrying a wooden sword and shield and sporting pointed ears, was waiting for the parade to begin around noon Saturday outside the library. He said he is a video game fan who heard about the convention via Facebook.

“It looks awesome,” he said.

Dressed as Deadpool, Ray Fournier Jr., 36, of Lewiston, said he was attending his first Cirque du Geek.

“Deadpool is a mercenary who got cancer and got cured and got a supercharged healing factor so he can’t die. He’s known as the mercenary with the mouth.”

Clad in a tight red-and-black costume with two Japanese swords, two guns and a knife, Fournier, a roofer in real life, said he travels to comic book conventions. The last one he attended was in Boston.

The local Geek convention was the brainchild of Sarah Taylor, who works in teen services at the library. She helped start the event in 2013.

The definition of “geek” is different for different people, most agreed.

To Emily Fournier, whose family founded the Recycled Shakespeare Company acting troupe, based in Fairfield, a geek is a special kind of person.

“Being a geek is, like, just kind of being true to yourself and what you like — science fiction, anime, comics — just embracing and getting to know that kind of culture,” said Fournier, who was dressed as Lady Loki, a female version of Loki, from The Avengers comic book series. “I’ve really geeked out lately. “I’ve been getting into “Doctor Who” and really paying attention to minute details of characters I’ve always enjoyed watching. It’s fun and it’s so nice to know there are other people who are geeky. It used to be that geeky people had to hide in their houses.”

Fournier, 28, was to give a tutorial later Saturday afternoon at the library about how to make costumes with materials and items you can find in your house, without having to spend any money. She was dressed in a costume she had made that included gold-painted horns, a green dress and cape, and a scepter.

As the group marched from Elm to Main Street, Taylor, dressed as Lapis Lazuli from the cartoon show “Steven Universe,” on the Cartoon Network, said the first convention was small and each year it has grown.

“This year is fantastic,” she said.

She said Sunday’s events start at 10 a.m. at the library, where muffins and juice will be served.

Sean Duffy, of the Maine Association of Cosplay Enthusiasts, based in Bangor and Portland, helped organize the parade. Dressed as The Cheshire Cat, he said the association holds conventions around the state to help enhance cosplay programming.

As the parade marched past KeyBank, Holy Cannoli and L. Tardif Jeweler, John Turner took photos of his children, Leila, 12, and Alex, 9, who were dressed as Star Wars characters. Turner is the husband of Tammy Rabideau, coordinator of the Business, Career & Creativity Center at the library, who helped with the event.

At Castonguay Square, Nate Towne, marketing manager for Waterville Creates! greeted and welcomed marchers, who nibbled on cookies and sipped lemonade under the trees. Towne was wearing a red-and-white costume he put together to try to look like the Six Million Dollar Man from the 1970s television series of the same name.

“You made it! Woooo!” he said, as they congregated in the square.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17

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