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BART to Host Anime Artist Alley at the Castro Valley Station
As part of its ongoing anime project, BART will host an artist alley event at the Castro Valley Station on June 11th.
As part of its ongoing anime project, BART will host an artist alley event at the Castro Valley Station on June 11th.
BART MART Artist Alley will take place at Castro Valley Station on June 11th, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event will host 100 artists, fan clubs, and food trucks for a day of fun. This is a free event open to the public. Attendees can also enjoy cosplay gatherings, itasha cars, and exclusive merchandise. Vendors wanting a spot can reserve a 3′ half table for $15, a 6′ full table for $30, or bring their own 10′ canopy for $50. Applications to table at the event close on June 1st by midnight.
You can learn more about the BART MART Artist Alley event in the following announcement:
Travel Plans for BART MART
The Castro Valley Station is served exclusively by the Blue Line, which runs from Daly City to the Dublin/Pleasanton Station and passes through San Francisco, Oakland, and San Leandro. Guests traveling from the Richmond area or the South Bay on the Orange Line will need to transfer at the Bay Fair Station. Those coming from Antioch on the Yellow Line will need to transfer at the West Oakland Station.
Traveling from Berryessa/North San Jose BART Station to Castro Valley BART Station takes approximately 51 minutes, while traveling from Richmond should take around 42 minutes. These estimations take into account the transfer at the Bay Fair Station.
BART Anime Project
BART Anime Project is a community engagement initiative designed to boost ridership. Inspired by public transit agencies in Japan, the transit agency commissioned a number of artists to create a series of Bay Area themed anime mascots. The characters include Mira the Train Operator and Jasmine the #1 BART fan. Beyond their appearances at stations, the mascots have also been featured at anime conventions such as FanimeCon, Offkai Expo, and Anime Impulse Bay Area.
Hosting special events has also been a key part of the marketing, with more to follow. Let’s Glow! BART Anime Festival is set to return to Warm Springs/South Fremont Station on September 19th, 2026. Additional details about the event will be announced in the coming months.
8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight for Bay Area anime fans and cosplayers.
