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 events running from October 22nd to October 25th, 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

Pokéween (October 22nd in San Jose): SpaceCat Comics gives its new Thursday Pokémon casuals a Halloween twist starting at 5 p.m. Entry is $5, and every player leaves with a prize pack and special Pokémon goodies just for showing up. It’s an easy way to meet the local Pokémon TCG crowd before Halloween.

LASERS! at The Tech: Stranger Things (October 23rd in San Jose): The Tech Interactive’s Dome Theater pairs a laser show with ’80s hits and soundscapes from the Netflix series. The show starts at 4:45 p.m. and tickets are $16.

FanCon 2026 (October 24th in San Jose): MAGWest’s free one-day anime convention returns to Eastridge Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Expect local artists and vendors, an itasha showcase, video game stations, panels, live music, and cosplay gatherings. Pre-register to get a FanCon badge and lanyard, stickers, and a free play card for Round1.

Meet and Greet + Gaming Swap Meet (October 24th in Santa Clara): Save N Continue will be hosting a game swap plus a meet and greet with Yvonne Inciarte, a candidate for Santa Clara City Council District 2, from 11 AM to 4 PM. Get the chance to meet the candidate while also shopping for retro games, consoles, and accessories.

ATEEZ 8th Anniversary Cupsleeve (October 24th in Santa Clara): Gamers Heaven celebrates eight years of ATEEZ with a cupsleeve event from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The gaming café near Santa Clara University lists it as a public event on its October calendar. Atiny should check the café’s page for the sleeve designs and any freebies before stopping by.

San Mateo County

East Bay Card Show (October 24th to 25th in San Mateo): Hosted at the San Mateo County Event Center, this event invites the TCG community for a weekend of fun. Vendors will be selling sports cards, Pokémon, TCG, Funko, and collectibles. Also, get the chance to meet baseball star Darryl Strawberry on Saturday from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Alameda County

World Fantasy Convention 2026 (October 22nd to 25th in Oakland): A gathering for fantasy writers, artists, editors, and publishers at the Oakland Marriott City Center. The four day convention features panels, readings, and the presentation of the World Fantasy Awards.

Nexus #1 (October 23rd in Union City): The team behind Kin-Yoobi Con launches Nexus, a new eSport event at the S.D.E.S. Portuguese Hall. Attending the event is free, while tournament registration is $10 plus a $5 entry fee per tournament. The games featured for the event are Tekken 8, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game.

Halloween Pokémon + K-Pop Market (October 24th in Dublin): Boba & K-Pop teams up with Hype Dispense Co. for a spooky afternoon market from 1 PM to 5 PM at 5286 Iron Horse Parkway. Expect Pokémon and TCG vendors, K-pop merch and photocards, trading, trick-or-treating, a Halloween drink menu and a special giveaway.

Sip & Game Pop-Up (October 25th in Oakland): Sip & Game returns to Dragon Gate Bar & Grille at 1 Franklin St for its second Oakland pop-up, running from noon to 5 PM. Vendors will be present and admission is free. Street parking and nearby garages are available, so plan ahead.

San Francisco

Ghost in the Shell 30th Anniversary Remaster (October 22nd in San Francisco): New People Cinema in Japantown has added a screening of Mamoru Oshii’s groundbreaking cyberpunk anime, now remastered in 4K. The 8 p.m. showing closes out a run of Japanese horror and anime programming at the Post Street theater.

Thrill-O-Ween (October 24th in San Francisco): Thrive City hosts a free outdoor Halloween festival from noon to 5 p.m. It has a costume contest, live entertainment, trick or treat stations, photo ops, and a screening of E.T. The Extra Terrestrial.

Contra Costa County

One Piece TCG Pirates Party Vol. 3 (October  24th in Martinez): Games of Martinez keeps its Pirates Party series sailing at noon, with a $10 entry. The shop has run the event every Saturday this month, so this is the second to last chance to play before the final round on Oct 31st.

Northern California

Lodi Comic Con Fall (October  24th to 25th in Lodi): Lodi Comic Con returns to the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds for two days of comics, cosplay and pop culture. Presented by Utility Telecom, the fall edition welcomes special guests including Tony Oliver.

Benicia Toy-Anime-Comic Con (October  25th in Benicia): Ohana Comic Con, a family-run traveling convention company, brings its toy, anime and comic show to Benicia Veterans Memorial Hall at 1150 First St. The one-day event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s a small-town con just across the Carquinez Strait from the East Bay.

ATEEZ One Piece Weekend (October  24th to 25th in Roseville): Sector 916 celebrates ATEEZ’s 8th anniversary with a One Piece themed cupsleeve weekend at Senpai’s Anime Cafe. The event runs from noon to 4 PM both days, with vendors, specialty drinks, and more.

Pokémon Champions VGC Tournament (October  24th in Capitola): Gatos Gaming hosts a Pokémon Champions doubles tournament at Game Vault in the Capitola Mall. Matches are best of three with open team sheets, running Swiss rounds into a single elimination top cut. Both Switch and mobile players are welcome, register early to lock in a spot.

Red Barn Toy Show (October 24th in Aromas): The Red Barn hosts more than 80 vendors selling collectibles from 9 AM to 5 PM. Admission is free and parking is $10. There will also be a costume contest from 2 PM to 3 PM, and expect candy and prizes throughout the show.

Tachi-Con (October  24th in Lemoore): Tachi Palace hosts a convention with a special appearance by Jason Paige, the singer of the original Pokémon theme song. He’ll perform an exclusive mini concert and hold a meet and greet. The event will also feature vendors selling trading cards and other collectables.

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.