Camp Out For Charity
Dust off your cosplay and gather around the campfire — Skadi and Cyrus are kicking off SMASH! 2025 with a brand new Friday night celebration!
This is a milestone moment — our first-ever Friday night event at SMASH! And you’re invited to be part of it.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxed way to start the weekend, want to beat the Saturday crowds, or just love the idea of anime with some smores, this is your chance to experience SMASH! like never before — all while supporting charity!
WHEN CAN I COME?
Friday 11 July, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
What better way to spend your afternoon than with us on a Friday evening to jump start your weekend experience!
What You Get With Friday Access
- Early entry to the Exhibitor Hall and Artist Market
- Friday-only, including:
- 🎧 DJ Leaperds (5:30–6:15 PM)
- 🎧 DJ Soundslash (6:30–7:15 PM)
- 🎤 BABYBEARD Live (7:30–8:15 PM)
- 🍿 Anime classics screening all evening
- 🎁 Door prize raffles
- 🎮 Fewer queues at the arcade cosplay events, and available major areas
What’s Happening on Friday?
- Exhibitor Hall
- Get early access to exclusive merch and goodies before the weekend rush!
- Artist Market
- Your favourite artists are setting up camp early – come by, say hi, and support their work!
- Arcade Area
- Jump into a forest-themed arcade full of fan-favourite games and chill vibes.
- Cosplay Display
- Check out spectacular outfits and celebrate the talent behind them.
- Performance Stage
- Campfire vibes, high-energy tunes — think Camp Rock, but make it anime.
- Itasha Vehicles
- Sleek paint jobs, wild designs… and yes, we fit them inside the forest.
- Food Stalls
- No campout is complete without the food. Enjoy tasty treats and fuel up for the weekend ahead!
(Other areas may open depending on readiness on the night)
Why Come on Friday?
- Kick off your SMASH! weekend early
- Enjoy a more relaxed pace and smaller crowds
- Get first dibs at merch and artist alley stalls
- Support great causes — proceeds (less GST) go to six incredible charities
- Experience exclusive Friday-only programming
How to Attend
Friday Night tickets are only $16.50
- Now available as a standalone ticket!
Don’t miss out on this historic night under the stars. Join us around the campfire, and be part of something special!
wHAT CHARITIES ARE YOU SUPPORTING?
For this event we are supporting six amazing organisations take a read at what they're doing below!
An LGBTQ+ youth charity focused on the mental health and wellbeing of youth who identify as LGBTQ+. The funds will go towards school visits, helping vulnerable youth parties, guidance and their annual charity ball.
headspace is Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation, providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds.
Youth off the Streets offers crisis accommodation and housing services, independent high schools, alcohol and other drugs counselling, youth justice support, life skills and employment programs, cultural support and community engagement, among other services.
Every day we deliver homelessness crisis and prevention services, provide social and affordable housing, assist struggling families and children, address mental health issues, fight substance dependencies, support people with disability and much more.
We are dedicated to kick-starting bright new ideas, accelerating new ways to cure cancer.
Bobby Goldsmith Foundation (BGF) is Australia & longest running HIV charity.
Founded in 1984, when a group of friends got together to give their dying mate Bobby Goldsmith the care he needed in the comfort of his home, BGF has gone on to provide that same individualised care to thousands of Australians. And while HIV treatment has come a long way since 1984, the need for support remains.