8Bit/Digi

2019 is here and its time to for the Bay Area fandom community to start planning which fan convention they want to attend. From major events like FanimeCon and Silicon Valley Comic Con to minor local cons, this is quick guide to get you ready.

Here are the major and minor fan conventions in the Bay Area to plan for in 2019:

SacAnime Winter (January 4th – 6th) – The first convention of 2019 will be a gathering of some of the most iconic performers in gaming, anime and other works of pop-culture. SacAnime Winter will be a three day event at the Sacramento Convention Center that lets fans start the new year with a major bang.

Berkeley Comic Show (January 19th) – This is a simple one day event dedicated to fans of old school comics. Several local vendors bring their merchandise to sell while fans gather looking for that special collectable.

StocktonCon Winter (January 20th) – A spinoff to StocktonCon, this one day event brings the joys of a summer fan convention to the winter season. Fans could check out all the amazing vendors and artist or meet their favorite celebrities.

East Bay Con (February 10th) – For anyone who wants to have a con experience but prefer something more low key then East Bay Con is the event to checkout. East Bay Con brings local vendors and artists along with icons of pop-culture for one day of fun. It’s perfect for comic fans, gamers and pop-culture enthusiasts.

Elk Grove MINI Toy-Anime-Comic Con (February 24th) – This one day event is the ideal anime and comic con for families in the inland. Local venders and artists will be on site to sell some awesome merchandise while cosplayers could hangout among each other.

San Jose Super Toy & Comic Book Show (March 2nd and 3rd) – Hosted at the Santa Clara Fairgrounds, this one day event invites collectors of vintage toys and classic comics for an eventful convention. Over 250 merchants and artists are present while other activities are available for one to make the best of event.

Sonoma County Anime-Comic Con (March 10th) – This one day event is the ideal anime and comic con for fans in Sonoma County. Local vendors and artists will be on site to sell some awesome merchandise while cosplayers could hangout among each other.

Ani-Me Con (March 16th – 17th) – This is one of the largest anime, video game and fantasy fan conventions in the Central Valley. This event brings together fans along with local venders, artists and special guests for a weekend of fun.

Clockwork Alchemy (March 22rd – 24th) – This is the ultimate weekend for fans of the steam punk genre. The event will take place at Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport in Burlingame and will feature several iconic authors and designers from the Steampunk community.

CarrierCon (March 23rd) – Having hosted several fan conventions in the past with Kraken Con, the USS Hornet: Sea, Air and Space Museum will now be hosting their own event. This one day event invites fans to have the ultimate con experience while also having the chance to explore the iconic aircraft carrier.

ASAHiCon (April 18th) Hosted by the Anime Society of Antioch High, this one day event brings anime fans together for a day of fun. Explore the theme of science fiction with other cosplayers and speakers.

FanimeCon (May 24th to the 27th) – One of the largest anime conventions in North America, FanimeCon is a must go for fans in the Bay Area. During the day it’s all about meeting special guests, checking out local vendors along with a series of special events. After dark its a non-stop party with mature panels, non-stop gaming and raves. It’s basically Burning Man for nerds.

KublaCon (May 24th to the 27th) – One of the largest table top and RPG conventions returns for another weekend of adventure. Fans could learn about unique gameplay strategies or meet new friends and organize a game.

Bay Con (May 24th to the 27th) – Is the longest running science fiction and fantasy fan conventions in the Bay Area. The event brings together writers, artist and enthusiasts for a weekend that explores ones imagination.

SacAnime Summer (June 7th to the 9th) – With the Sacramento Convention Center going to undergo remodeling, SacAnime is going to usher in the summer season this time. This will be a gathering of some of the most iconic performers in gaming, anime and other works of pop-culture.

Sinister Creature Con (June 15 to the 16th) – A convention that celebrates the horror culture. This special event brings together fans along with artists, writers and industry insiders to highlights the works of today along with those from the past.

San Francisco Comic Con (Summer) – The team at Imaginarium LLC will once again bring the Comic con experience to the Bay Area. Fans will get to check out local vendors and meet their favorite stars or listen in on insightful panels.

Powerhouse Comic Con (July 27th) –  Hosted by Colossus Girl Entertainment LLC, this is a one day pop-culture convention. The event brings together artists, industry icons, major cosplayers and celebrities for a day of fun.

Monterey Comic Con (July) – This pop-culture convention brings together local vendors and special guests for a weekend by the sea. Fans could meet their favorite artist or performer, all while mingling with other like minded guests.

California Extreme (July) – California Extreme is an annual showcase of classic along with modern arcade games and pinball machines. Gamers are invited to play these iconic machines or meet the pioneers who paved the way for modern gaming.

Silicon Valley Comic Con (August 16 – 18th) – Silicon Valley Comic Con returns for another weekend that brings together the world of science and technology with pop-culture. Steve Wozniak will once again bring together respected scientists along with icon performers and comic artists for a weekend of fun and insight.

MagWest (August) – This video game / music festival is the West Cost spin-off of MAGFest. The event brings together the most respected video game cover bands along with chip-tune musicians for a weekend of music and video games.

Kin-Yoobi Con (August) – This is one of the most popular local anime conventions in the East Bay. Fans are invited for a day of fun with the chance to participate in special events or check out the local vendors and artists.

StocktonCon (August) – This weekend event is a pop-culture fan convention held at the Stockton Arena. Fans could check out all the amazing vendors and artist or meet their favorite celebrities.

Cruncyroll Expo (Labor Day Weekend) – Organized and hosted by the largest digital distributor of anime, this weekend event brings together the fandom community and the anime industry. This three day event gives fans an insight into the industry wile major brands try to better reach out to their audience.

Pacificon Game Expo (Labor Day Weekend) – Pacificon Game Expo is one of the largest hobby gaming convention in Northern California. Learn about the trends in table top gaming and unique gameplay strategies from respected experts. Or one could meet new friends and organize a game.

California Republic Comic Con (September 14th) – Hosted by Colossus Girl Entertainment LLC, this is a one day pop-culture convention. The event brings together comic artists, respected cosplayers, industry icons and celebrities for a day of fun.

Santa Clara City Library Comic Con (September or October) – Hosted by the Central Park Branch of the Santa Clara City Library, this one day event welcomes everyone for a fun time. The event will feature panels and workshops from special guests, activities like tabletop gaming, along with movie screenings.

YumeConUSA (October) – Hosted by the Foothill Anime Club at Foothill Community College, this one day event brings fans together for an eventful weekend. The event features a good number of local artists and vendors along with special guests.

Afro Comic Con (October) – This three day event works to empower and shine a light on the contributions to geek culture by communities that have been historically disenfranchised. The event will feature special guests from the world of pop-culture along with insightful panels.

Central Coast Pop-Expo (October) – This is the first fan convention held on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. The event invites industry insiders and experts from around the Bay Area along with local vendors for a weekend of fun on the beach.

Campbell Con (October) – Hosted by Colossus Girl Entertainment LLC, this is a one day pop-culture convention. Campbell Con brings local vendors, fan clubs and artists together with icons of pop-culture for a day of fun. This has always been one of the best ways to kick-off the Halloween weekend.

Anime Destiny (November) – This is the anime convention hosted by Cal Animage Alpha, the anime club of the University of California Berkeley. The event brings together local artists, vendors, speakers and fans for one day of fun at the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union building.

Hayward Anime-Comic Con (November) – This one day event is the ideal anime and comic con for fans in the East Bay. Local vendors and artists will be on site to sell some awesome merchandise while cosplayers could hangout among each other.

GobbleCon (Thanksgiving Weekend) – After enjoying a nice meal with the family, those who want to get away from the Black Friday shopping could spend the weekend at GobbleCon. This tabletop fan convention invites guest to enjoy a game of Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer or other popular games. There are 100’s of games to play or one could checkout the vendors hall.

Sac Gamers Expo (December) – One of the last fan conventions of the year, this one day event is the go to event for gamers. The event brings together gamers along with Twitch streams along with industry insiders.

What Con do you plan on attending or was there one we missed? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Note: This guide only takes fan convention into account, hence industry conventions like the Game Developers Conference or eSport tournaments like Genesis will not be listed here. Also this is an incomplete list as other events will be announced later in 2019.

If you like our work and want to support independent journalism then would you kindly donate to our Ko-Fi Page.