40 years of video games coming this weekend for 2023 Louisville Arcade Expo

Rae Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal
·2 min read

Between free game play and shopping for cosplay accessories, gaming fans and others have plenty to look forward to this weekend at the 2023 Louisville Arcade Expo.

The event, taking place Friday through Sunday at the Triple Crown Pavilion Convention Center, marks the 12th time the expo has set up shop in the city, according to its website. It offers visitors the chance to play classic computer games and consoles, enjoy music and check out vendors.

Tickets start at $15 for attendees ages 11-17 and go up to $65 for the weekend for ages 18 and up. Prices are dependent on age and day of admission. Tickets are available online or at the door.

The expo is open through the weekend during the following hours:

  • Friday — 2 p.m. to midnight

  • Saturday — 10 a.m. to midnight

  • Sunday — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For subscribers: Kentucky's bill to ban gender-affirming care for trans kids passed the House. What happens now?

Old-school games will be on display, including Pitfall, Outlaw, Combat and Video Pinball on the Atari 2600 system released in 1977. Others are more nostalgic for those who grew up with more recent systems like the Xbox 360 or the Wii. Pinball and arcade classics will be on hand, too, including options such as Galaga and Ms. Pacman.

A diverse array of vendors will be on site as well, including Anime Haus, which sells Japanese anime, video games and merchandise, along with chainmaille jewelry crafter Bardic Kitty.

And what's a video game expo without some competition? A pinball tournment on six different machines will take place, along with a Dr. Mario tourney and a chance to face off with an opponent on an unknown game with Mystery Game Fight Club.

More:2 Louisville architects behind several local projects land national award

Video game legend Tim Kitzrow, the voice behind sports games like NBA Jam and MLB Slugfest, will host a panel on Saturday, host meet-and-greets with fans and sign autographs. Other guests include YouTuber John Riggs, who will show expo-goers how to edit graphics on Nintendo games, and Caleb Ashton of the YouTube channel Phoenix Resale, presenting a how-to on flipping games or scoring old ones to add to your collection and resell.

A full list of the available games to play, ranging from 1977 to 2017, and vendors at the expo is available on the event website.

Contact reporter Rae Johnson at RNJohnson@gannett.com. Follow them on Twitter at @RaeJ_33.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Arcade Expo 2023 guide: Tickets, games, speakers and more