Volunteering for Buckeye Game Fest:
Join us March 25-28, 2027, at our new location The Ohioan Hotel & Event Center in Lewis Center, Ohio. In exchange for working at the show, you will receive a full show badge and other volunteer benefits. Our show only happens thanks to our volunteers!
Volunteer opportunities at BGF include Library, Registration, Raffle Aids, Movers, and Consignment Stores.
Volunteer Benefits
- Full Show Volunteer Badge – All volunteer badges include War Room access!
- 5 raffle tickets (15 raffle tickets for 2027 CABS members!)
- Access to the volunteer lounge and storage area in the show office.
Volunteer Requirements
- Work 2 shifts of 3 hours *
- Watch a short training presentation and complete a quiz
- Library and Registration volunteers only
- Training materials will be sent in February 2027
- Agree to the BGF Volunteer Policy
- Join the BGF Discord server
Want to earn extra raffle tickets?
We love it when volunteers go the extra mile! As a thank-you, you’ll earn 10 bonus raffle tickets for every additional shift you work.
Volunteer Positions
- Library (Age 16+)
- Monitor the library entrance and enforce library policies
- Assist guests with game selection
- Check games in and out
- Reshelve games and straighten cabinets
- Conduct basic triage on games returned with issues
A great choice for first-time volunteers!
- Registration (Age 18+)
Registration shifts need approval from the volunteer committee. If you’re a first-time BGF volunteer, we may contact you to ask about previous relevant experience before approving your shift(s).- Greet attendees, guests, and vendors
- Check in or register attendees
- Sell raffle tickets
- Handle financial transactions
- Serve as the first point of contact for attendee questions
Ideal for someone who enjoys meeting people, providing great service, and feels comfortable handling money.
- Raffle Assistant
- Help sell raffle tickets around the gaming hall before the raffle closes
- Assist with drawing winning tickets and labeling prizes
- Support prize pickup in the show office after the live drawing
- Set Up / Tear Down
- Help with pre-show setup and post-show breakdown as needed.
- Assist with moving library cabinets onsite.
- Mover
- Provide your own transportation between CABS and The Ohioan Hotel
- Be able to lift and carry up to 40 lbs
- Be able to push a 500 lb wheeled cabinet up to ½ mile, multiple times
- Move To BGF: Load the library at CABS and unload at The Ohioan on Wednesday evening
- Move from BGF: Load the library at The Ohioan and unload at CABS on Sunday evening
Consignment Store Volunteer
Our consignment store volunteers have different shift requirements and additional benefits.
Interested? Email Kristin Horvath at kristing@buckeyegamefest.com
- Must be available for both shifts
- Friday: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- Saturday: 8:30 am –1:30 pm
- Agree to the BGF Volunteer Policy
- Join the BGF Discord server
Additional Benefits (on top of regular volunteer benefits)
- First-choice shopping for each wave (limit 5 games per wave)
- Waived master sheet and unsold item fees
Once you sign up for shifts, our volunteer board will process your request and register you for the show. You will be notified of your scheduled shifts and badge allocation, and you can even see what shifts were approved by looking at “My Shifts” after applying.
We are looking for Lead Volunteers
Age 18+ with at least 3 years of previous BGF volunteer experience
Primary duties would consist of:
- Manage Registration/Library Volunteers
- Fill in at Registration/Library for breaks and during heavy traffic times
- 1st level of dispute resolution with attendees and volunteers
- Escalate to BGF Board members as needed
Interested? Email the Buckeye Game Fest Volunteer Committee at volunteers@buckeyegamefest.com
Volunteering for The Origins Game Library:
Volunteer Applications are CLOSED.
Join Us as a Volunteer for the 2027 Origins Game Library!
Origins Game Fair will take place June 9-13, 2027, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Whether attendees are looking for classics, hidden gems, or the hottest new releases, the Columbus Area Boardgaming Society’s (CABS) collection of 2,200+ board games has something for everyone! But we can’t do it without an amazing team of volunteers.
We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers who are ready to help us run the Origins Game Library once again! Whether you’ve been with us before or you’re joining us for the first time, we need your help to make this year’s events better then ever.
Join us for an unforgettable experience, and help make this year’s Origins Game Library the best one yet!
What Do Our Volunteers Do?
Our volunteers play a vital role in making the Game Library a success. From greeting attendees to checking out games, each role is essential in creating a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone.
✔ Library Greeter –Welcome attendees and explain the library rules.
✔ Library Checkout – Check out games and manage IDs.
✔ Library Check-in – Check in games and return IDs to attendees.
✔ Library ID Handler – Secure and organize collected IDs.
✔ Library Assistant – Help attendees find games and reshelve games.
✔ Game Prep – Prepare new games to be added to the library.
✔ Movers – Moving the library to and from CABS. Setup and breakdown of the library onsite at Origins.
Game Library Volunteer Requirements
- Must be 16 years old or older
- Work 3 shifts of 3 hours each (9 hours total).
- At least one shift must be on Friday or Saturday, starting at 2:30 PM or later.
- Consecutive shifts are allowed, but overlapping shifts are not permitted.
- Review training materials and complete a short training quiz.
- Join the BGF Discord server for team communication.
- Agree to abide by the BGF Volunteer Policy
MOVER Volunteer Requirements
🚛 Must be available for both:
- Move TO Origins: Wednesday, June 9, at 9:00 AM at CABS
- 2141 Indianola Ave Columbus OH
- Move FROM Origins: Sunday, June 13, at 2:30 PM at Columbus Convention Center
💪 Mover Requirements:
- Must be 16 years old or older
- Provide transportation between CABS and the Columbus Convention Center on both move days.
- Be able to lift up to 40lbs
- Be able to push a 500 lb wheeled cabinet up to 1/2 mile multiple times.
- Join the BGF Discord server for team communication.
- Agree to abide by the BGF Volunteer Policy
Volunteer Benefits
- Origins Full Show Game Master Badge (admission for all five days)
- Origins Game Library Volunteer T-shirt
Don’t Wait, Sign Up Today!
Have Questions? Need Help?
We’re here for you! If you have any feedback, questions, or concerns, reach out to us at volunteers@buckeyegamefest.com
Want to volunteer with Buckeye Game Festivals?
We are happy to have your help running some of the premier board gaming events in Central Ohio. Our volunteers help make these events some of the most well-attended and enjoyed of their kind.