Your TCG, Cosplay, or Anime Plans for the Weekend

If you need something to do this weekend, the staff at 8Bit/Digi has you covered with a selection of Bay Area events running from October 15th to October 18th, 2026. The lineup includes trading card shows, cupsleeve events, game nights, cosplay gatherings, and more. This is not a complete list, just a few picks we pulled together to help you out.

Here is a breakdown of select events that will be taking place in the Bay Area and surrounding area this weekend.

Santa Clara County

Sencha Cosplay Cosoween (Oct 17th in Santa Clara): Sencha Cosplay hosts its first annual Cosoween at City Plaza Park, 1098 Lexington Street, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The free event features villains trivia, a pumpkin decorating contest, and a trick-or-treat stamp rally. Bring a bag for candy because a completed stamp card earns a king-sized candy bar. The costume contest judges creativity over craftsmanship and wants characters dressed as something else. Villains is the official group cosplay theme, with group photos for everyone who joins. RSVP on Partiful to earn two raffle tickets and a goodie bag. No NSFW cosplay and no gun or steel props.

The Throne Card Show (Oct 17th to Oct 18th in San Jose): The Throne returns to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Jose, 2050 Gateway Place, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Its 150+ vendor tables are sold out and cover sports cards, Pokémon, One Piece, Lorcana, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh!. Kids under 12 get in free with an adult ticket, and parking is $5 with validation. Buy tickets ahead on Eventbrite.

Peculiarities Market (Oct 17th in San Jose): SJ Makers and Rumble City Boxing host a free Halloween market of oddities, local art, and trinkets from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Costumes are encouraged, there is a trunk or treat decorating contest with cash prizes, and the first 30 guests get free treats.

Riftbound: Radiance at SpaceCat (Oct 18th in San Jose): SpaceCat Comics and Cards will host a Riftbound: Radiance event at 2 p.m. Admission is $35, and registration runs through the Riftbound event site. If spots fill, you can join the waitlist or show up that day to grab a no-show seat.

San Mateo County

San Francisco Opera Costume Sale (Oct 17th to Oct 18th in Burlingame): The SF Opera opens its scene shop at 826 Burlway Road and sells real stage costumes from decades of productions. Cosplayers can dig through Victorian gowns, Renaissance doublets, military uniforms, capes, and fantasy creations. Timed tickets run $25 or $15 on Saturday and $10 or $5 on Sunday, each with two hours of shopping.

Riftbound: Radiance Pre-Rift (Oct 16th to Oct 18th in San Mateo): Gator Games & Hobby opens the Riftbound: Radiance Pre-Rift a week before the set hits shelves on October 23rd. The first session runs Friday from noon to 4 p.m., with more events all weekend. Entry is $35 plus tax. Each player builds a sealed deck from a Pre-Rift kit with a mini preconstructed deck, five Radiance booster packs, and a promo card.

Alameda County

Lavender Town Game Dev Social (Oct 16th in Oakland): The MADE hosts its monthly game dev social for queer, women, BIPOC, and other marginalized developers and their allies. The event runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with admission of $10, and no one is turned away for a lack of funds.

Cosplay Mixer at SeeYuu Studio (Oct 17th in Fremont): The Cosplay Underground hosts a mixer from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Guests get three hours on multiple studio sets, pay at the door, and sign up on site for stages and time slots.

Anime Club at the Asian Branch Library (Oct 15th in Oakland): Teens can join the Oakland Public Library’s weekly anime club in Chinatown from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Dead Internet Theory: iMac LAN Party (Oct 17th in Oakland): A 90s and 2000s LAN party arrives at the MADE, 921 Washington Street, from 8 p.m. to midnight. The night mixes vintage computers, games, digital art, and interactive installations inspired by old internet cafés.

San Francisco

Anime Cinema Club: Perfect Blue Remastered (Oct 15th in San Francisco): Anime Cinema Club opens its new adult anime screening series at New People Cinema in Japantown. Doors open at 6 p.m. and Satoshi Kon’s psychological thriller rolls at 6:30 p.m. It is rated R and limited to ages 17+. Tickets are $10, or $15 for the VIP collectors tier, on Eventbrite.

MXTX Wei Ying Birthday Cupsleeve (Oct 18th in San Francisco): Fans celebrate Wei Ying’s birthday at My Cup of Tea from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is free. Expect a cake celebration, activities, a raffle, and a photo booth, and danmei cosplay is welcome but optional.

Contra Costa County

One Piece TCG Pirates Party Vol. 3 (Oct 17th in Martinez): Games of Martinez runs a constructed-format One Piece TCG tournament at noon at 1155 Arnold Drive, Suite E. Entry is $10, with a pack for every win plus promos.

Trade Bazaar Card Show (Oct 17th in Pittsburg): The Trade Emporium and Hyperbolic TCG host a card show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry is $5 at the door. Vendors will carry Pokémon, One Piece, Lorcana, and more, and vendor tables cost $20.

Northern California

CVC Show Modesto (Oct 17th to October 18th in Modesto): The Central Valley Cards & Collectibles Show takes over the Modesto Centre Plaza. Saturday covers sports and TCG cards, while Sunday is a TCG only show.

Chico Anime & Pop Expo (Oct 17th to October 18th in Chico): An anime and pop culture convention that brings the fandom community of Northern California together for a festive weekend at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. The special guests are Jill Harris, Jordan Dash Cruz, and Chris Guerrero from Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.

TCG Pokémon & Sports Cards Collector’s Show (Oct 17th in Stockton): The show runs at the University of the Pacific from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The event is free to everyone and it will feature over 80 vendors.

Elk Grove Anime World Show (Oct 18th in Elk Grove): The Anime World Show comes to Armaan’s Palace, 2301 Longport Ct., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Idolize Project performs at 1 p.m., and Cozy Embers Studio runs a free photo booth. Admission is $15, and kids 12 and under get in free.

Weekend Planning

We will continue to spotlight a diverse range of events focused on anime, video games, TCGs, and other fandoms across the Bay Area. If you have an upcoming event, reach out to us so we can add it to this list or cover it in an article.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer and cosplayer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.