Bay Area Fan Conventions to Check Out in 2022 8Bit/Digi

Fan Conventions to plan for in 2022

2022 is here and it’s time to for the Bay Area fandom community to start planning which fan conventions they want to attend. Chances are that it has been a long time since you attended one and you want to make the most of it in 2022. That is whay we have created this guide to help you plan.

From major events like FanimeCon and Crunchyroll Expo to minor local cons, this is quick guide to get you ready. Be aware some events might be cancelled due to the pandemic (but that is unlikely). Here are the major and minor fan conventions in the Bay Area to plan for in 2022:

Bay Area Fan Conventions to Check Out in 2022 8Bit/Digi

January 2022

SacAnime Winter (January 7th to January 9th) – The first convention of 2020 will be a gathering of some of the most iconic performers in games, anime and other works of pop-culture. SacAnime Winter will be a three day event at SAFE Credit Union Convention Center. This is one of the best events that lets you start the new year with a bang.

Berkeley Comic Show (January 15th) – A 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.

Fresno Toy-Anime-Comic Con (January 16th) – This event brings together local vendors along with cosplayers and families for a day of fun. Hosted at the American Legion Post Hall, there will be a verity of actives and exhibits to checkout. They will also be hosting a cosplay contest.

StocktonCon Winter (January 16th) – A spinoff to StocktonCon, this one day event brings the joys of the convention to the winter season. Fans could checkout all the amazing vendors and artist or meet their favorite celebrities.

Vacaville Toy-Anime-Comic Con (January 30th) – An event that brings together the community for a day of fun. Hosted at the Moose Lodge, there will be a verity of actives and exhibits to checkout. Cosplayers are also invited to participate in the cosplay contest.

February 2022

East Bay Con (February 6th) – 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 and pop-culture enthusiasts.

Folsom Toy-Anime-Comic Con (February 6th) – This one day event is the ideal anime and comic con for the community. This event brings together local vendors along with cosplayers and families for a day of fun.

DunDraCon (February 18th to February 21st) – This is an event that brings together table top gamers for a weekend of fun. The event will host over 170 games along several panels and special events. There will also be vendors ready to sell you what ever you need or desire.

Mystical Minds Spring Gathering 2022 (February 19th to February 20th) – This is a weekend dedicated to the works of witches, pagans, paranormal investigators, UFO experts and spiritual seekers. Guest will get to meet leaders in these communities for the chance to learn more. The spring event will be hosted in San Jose.

March 2022

Capitola Collectacon (March 4th to March 6th) – Is a weekend pop-culture event hosted at the Capitola Mall. Local vendors showcase their inventory while a verity of iconic stars gather for a weekend to meet their fans.

Clockwork Alchemy (March 18th to March 20th) – 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 2022 (March 19th) – USS Hornet: Sea, Air and Space Museum will host a pop-culture convention. This one day event invites fans to have the ultimate con experience while also having the chance to explore the iconic aircraft carrier.

Ani-Me Con (March 19th to March 20th) – 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 vendors, artists and special guests for a weekend of fun.

Spring 2022

BABSCon (April 15th to April 17th) – The Bay Area’s first and only My Little Pony convention returns for another year. The event brings together fans of the iconic franchise for a weekend of fun and fandom. There will be music and fans get to meet those who have been involved in the series.

Powerhouse Comic Con (May 14th) – 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.

Memorial Day Weekend

FanimeCon (May 28th to May 30th) – 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 28th to May 30th) – 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.

Summer 2022

Sinister Creature Con (June 18th to the 19th) – 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.

Bay Con (July 1st to July 4th) – 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.

Supernatural: The Official Convention (July 8th to July 10th) – Hosted by Creation Entertainment, this is the official convention for fans of the series. Fans will get the chance to meet the cast of Supernatural and get some insights regarding its creation.

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.

Crunchyroll Expo (August 5th to the 7th) – Organized and hosted by the largest digital distributor of anime. This weekend event brings together the fandom community and the anime industry. Guest are given an insight into the industry while major brands try to better reach out to their audience.

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.

Crunchyroll Expo 2019 Fire Force Cosplay

Labor Day Weekend

SacAnime Summer (Labor Day Weekend) – This will be a gathering of some of the most iconic performers in gaming, anime and other works of pop-culture. SacAnime Summer will be a three day event at CalExpo that lets fans end their summer vacation with a major bang.

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.

September 2022

MagWest (September) – This video game / music festival is the West Cost spin-off of MAGFest. The event brings together the most respected video game themed bands along with chip-tune musicians for a weekend of music. There will also be numerous game tournaments and indie game showcases.

California Republic Comic Con (September) – This pop-culture convention is hosted at the Merced County Fairgrounds. The event brings together industry icons and the community for a day of fun.

October 2022

Mystical Minds Fall Gathering 2022 (October 8th to October 9th) – This is a weekend dedicated to the works of witches, pagans, paranormal investigators, UFO experts and spiritual seekers. Guest will get to meet leaders in these communities for the chance to learn more. The fall event will be hosted in Dublin.

YumeConUSA (October 14th) – This one day event brings fans together for an eventful weekend in Palo Alto. The event features a good number of local artists and vendors along with special guests.

Biohazard Con (October 22nd) – This is a one day event that is dedicated to the horror game community. It will feature voice actors, devlopers and more for a day of fun. The convention name is a reference to the Resident Evil series (named Biohazard in Japan).

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.

Bay Area Fan Conventions to Check Out in 2022 8Bit/Digi

Holiday Season

Fan Expo San Francisco (November 25th to November 28th) – Fan Expo is a pop-culture fan convention and the SF event is their first one in the Bay Area. The event allows fans the chance to meet the talents behind their favorite work. This will also be one of the first fan conventions hosted at the Moscone Center since 2017.

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 17th to the 18th) – One of the last fan conventions of the year, this two day event is a must for gamers. The event brings together gamers along with Twitch streams, retro game vendors and industry legends.

What fan conventions in the Bay Area do you plan on attending in 2022 or was there one we missed? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Note: This guide only takes fan conventions 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 Bay Area fan conventions will be announced later in 2022.

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

6 Comments »

  1. Have you guys not read the news? Omicron is worst than Delta and the vaccines are ineffective. Its not a good idea to promote large gatherings that will allow the virus to spread. Have some common sense and delet this article

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