Your Cosplay, Anime, or Video Game Plans for the Weekend

If you need plans for the weekend of November 12th to November 15th, the staff at 8Bit/Digi has you covered with a selection of nerd events around the Bay Area. 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 plan your weekend.

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

Santa Clara County

Boba & TCG Pop-Up at Boba Pup (November 12th in Santa Clara): Minu Shoppe brings its boba and trading card pop-up back to Boba Pup Tea & Drinks from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Space is limited.

Pokémon Weekly Event at Fugetsu Market (November 12th in Santa Clara): Fugetsu Japanese Market hosts its weekly Pokémon TCG tournament at 6 p.m., playing three rounds of Swiss. Entry is $7, all ages and skill levels are welcome, and players must register and pay in advance.

Geeks Who Drink Trivia (November 12th in Santa Clara): Bar Odo at Alamo Drafthouse Valley Fair hosts trivia night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with about 60 questions on all manner of topics. Bring a team of up to six or find teammates there. Trivia is free, and the event is 21+.

GameDev Walks (November 13th in San Jose): GameDev Walks is a casual weekly meetup at Penitencia Creek Park for game developers, gamers, and anyone passionate about video games. The one-hour walk runs from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Flesh and Blood: Skirmish at Game Kastle (November 14th in Santa Clara): Game Kastle Santa Clara hosts a Flesh and Blood Skirmish tournament from noon to 6 p.m.

League of Legends Worlds Watch Party at Gamers Heaven (November 14th in Santa Clara): Gamers Heaven streams the League of Legends Worlds finals all day starting at 11 a.m., with support from Team Rally Cry and Riot Games. Artist @glitchedgoober will be on site with custom card art for Riftbound players, and giveaways are first come, first served. Entry is one cafe purchase per person.

TCG NOW (November 14th to November 15th in Santa Clara): Tenth Inning Productions brings TCG NOW to the Santa Clara Convention Center, featuring Pokémon, TCGs, sports cards, and collectibles. The show runs from 9:30 a.m. Saturday to 4 p.m. Sunday. Saturday tickets are $35 for VIP, $25 for general admission, and $20 for the afternoon saver, and Sunday general admission is $20.

Thankful Challenge at Game Kastle (November 15th in Santa Clara): Game Kastle Santa Clara hosts the third Pokémon TCG Challenge of its fall season from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Entry is $15 early or $20 day of, with 24 spots and pack-per-win prizing. Players need a valid Pokémon ID and a Standard-legal deck, and can sign up in person or by phone.

Lucid Dream with Chenle Cupsleeve Event (November 15th in Milpitas): NCTzens can celebrate Chenle’s birthday at a Lucid Dream-themed cupsleeve event at Feng Cha Tea House from noon to 5 p.m. The event features vendor tables from four fan sellers.

Bichi Mao Cozy Cafe Collab at Gamers Heaven (through November 22nd in Santa Clara): Bichi, Maomi, and Boo take over Gamers Heaven with collab drinks, official Bichi Mao merch, and craft activities. The collab runs through November 22nd.

San Mateo County

Bing Gordon and Chloe Gordon at Kepler’s Books (November 12th in Menlo Park): Bing Gordon, known as the godfather of the video game world, joins his daughter Chloe Gordon and Paul Saffo at Kepler’s from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. to discuss their book Everybody Wins. The book breaks down Gordon’s “Gamification Checklist,” lessons from a 40-year career that shaped EA Sports, The Sims, FarmVille, Twitch, and Duolingo. Tickets are available through Eventbrite, and Kepler’s offers help for anyone who can’t afford one.

Friday the 13th Witch Market (November 13th in San Carlos): The Whimsy Market takes over Devil’s Canyon Brewing from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. with local artisans selling altar supplies, witchy home decor, crystals, and bath and body products, plus tarot readings. Expect food trucks and live music in the main brewery. Guests reserve a ticket for their arrival hour and can stay as long as they like.

Star Wars: Unlimited Homeworlds Planetary Qualifier (November 14th in Redwood City): Game Kastle hosts a competitive Star Wars: Unlimited Planetary Qualifier starting at 10 a.m., with Swiss rounds followed by a Top 8 cut. Entry is $50, and every player gets a Fett’s Firespray participation promo. The champion takes home booster boxes, a Champion-stamped Qui-Gon Jinn promo, a playmat, and 100 Qualifier Points.

Teen Dungeons & Dragons One-Shot (November 14th in Pacifica): The Pacifica Sharp Park Library hosts a Dungeons & Dragons one-shot for middle and high school students from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Handbooks and dice are provided, and players can bring a character sheet or use a premade one. Registration is required.

MTG: Star Trek Draft at Gator Games (November 14th to November 15th in San Mateo): Gator Games runs Magic: The Gathering Star Trek drafts on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Highlands Community Club Holiday Market (November 14th to November 15th in Redwood City): Highlands Community Club hosts its annual holiday market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. Shoppers can find unique gifts, handmade treasures, and local goodies from small shops and local makers.

San Francisco

Free Ghost in the Shell Screening (November 12th in the Fillmore District): Kool Jam SF screens Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell (1995), the cyberpunk anime classic that inspired The Matrix, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Admission is free, and the hosts ask guests to support the small business by buying refreshments.

Tank Girl on VHS at the Balboa (November 12th in the Outer Richmond): Girlie Movie Club and Warped VHS present the 1995 comic book adaptation Tank Girl on VHS at 7 p.m. Host Dot Comme opens the night with a live drag performance.

Godzilla Minus Zero at the Balboa (November 12th to November 15th in the Outer Richmond): The Balboa Theatre continues its run of Godzilla Minus Zero, with subtitled screenings throughout the weekend. Check the theater’s calendar for daily showtimes.

Within the Frame 2026 Animation Screening (November 14th in NoPa): Within the Frame screens more than 30 independent animated shorts from artists around the world at Madrone Art Bar from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Each film was made in just seven days around the prompt “forget me not.” The event is 21+.

I Spy Cupid: Sakuya Birthday Cafe Event (November 15th in Lakeside): Cardcaptor Sakuya and Think of You Studios celebrate NCT Wish’s Sakuya at My Cup of Tea from noon to 5 p.m. Entry is free, and buying a drink gets you a cupsleeve, a random photocard, a sticker, and a raffle ticket. A $20 tier adds a full photocard set, an acrylic stand, and more, with raffle prizes including albums and uchiwas.

Dungeons & Drafthouse: Blazing Meteors (November 15th in the Mission District): Bear vs. Bull at Alamo Drafthouse New Mission hosts its monthly Dungeons & Dragons one-shot from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., led by professional Dungeon Masters. The adventure suits both first-time players and veterans, and the event is 18+.

Alameda County

Fight Nights at The MADE (November 12th in Oakland): The Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment hosts its weekly Super Smash Bros. Ultimate double-elimination bracket from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Entry is a $10 venue fee plus $5 for the tournament, with prizes pooled for the top three players.

Experimental Play Nights at The MADE (November 13th in Oakland): The MADE hosts a game night “of the elaborate and strange” from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., where players try an experimental game together. The event is open to all ages.

Out of the Cellar Horror Film Festival (November 13th to November 14th in Castro Valley): Count Gore De Vol hosts a live Creature Feature Experience at the historic Chabot Theater on Friday, screening John Stanley’s Nightmare in Blood with fellow horror hosts Lord Blood-Rah, Miss Misery, and John Stanley himself. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Veteran Comic Con (November 14th in Oakland): Veteran Comic Con returns to Oakstop from noon to 6 p.m., spotlighting military veterans who create comics, toys, and art, including Edward Coffey of Redwood Comics and Nicholas Garza of Torrid Comics. Cosplayer Roger “Hummin_H2” Presa brings his larger-than-life costumes, and the Bay Area Droid Builders bring full-scale Star Wars droids. Expect a cosplay contest with cash prizes and screenings from filmmaker Al Omega. The nonprofit con sells tickets through its website.

Echoes Between Us: ROLO Celebration Cupsleeve (November 14th in Fremont): Think of You Studios hosts a celebration for NCT Dream’s Renjun at Mr. Sun Tea from noon to 5 p.m. The organizer says a surprise is in the works and hid a hint for it in the announcement post.

Super Smash Bros. Melee and Board Games (November 14th in Oakland): The New Parkway Theater hosts a free, drop-in afternoon of Super Smash Bros. Melee and board games starting at 2 p.m. Chef Tyler hosts board games and explains rules, and you’re welcome to bring your own. Food and drinks are available for purchase.

Critical Hit! Live Stand-Up Comedy (November 14th in Oakland): It’s Your Move Games rolls back its shelves for stand-up from comics across the Bay Area and beyond. The show starts at 8 p.m. and is BYOB, with tickets at $12 online and $15 at the door.

Yay Area Reverie Fantasy Ball (November 14th in Oakland): Urban Fantasy Ball brings an immersive night of live music, performance, and fae fashion to Revival Hall from 8 p.m. to midnight, celebrating fantasy with the Black fae community and friends. Guests must arrive in their “fae form,” whether elf, orc, demon, or fairy, and the formal fantasy dress code is strictly enforced. The event is 21+.

Anime Destiny 2026 ( November 15th in Berkeley): Cal Animage Alpha hosts UC Berkeley’s premier anime convention on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Pauley Ballroom, with a free Day 0 on Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. on Lower Sproul Plaza. Expect an artist alley, voice actor and VTuber guests, panels, a cosplay contest, and a gaming hall with fighting, rhythm, dance, and tabletop games. Admission is $18 online through Friday or $23 at the door.

Contra Costa County

Feast & Trade Night: Pokémon & Collectibles Show (November 13th in Antioch): Feast & Trade brings 60 vendors to the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., teaming up with Sip & Game to unite the card and fighting game communities. A Tekken tournament pays $300 for first and $100 for second, and its $20 entry includes show admission. Expect up to $1,000 in giveaway prizes, plus free Pokémon packs and free boba while supplies last. General admission is $10, and parking is free.

Jin-gle Vell Rock BTS Holiday Market (November 14th in San Ramon): ARMY Babe SF hosts a fan-made holiday market at Sports Basement San Ramon from noon to 5 p.m., kicking off early birthday celebrations for BTS members Jin and V. More than 20 fan vendors sell pins, photocards, prints, apparel, and holiday treats while BTS holiday tracks play. It’s a fan-run event and isn’t affiliated with HYBE or BigHit Music.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Youth Tournament (November 15th in Brentwood): Galaxy Kids Code Club hosts a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament for players ages 6 to 17, with doors at 11 a.m. and check-in by 11:30 a.m. Players pay a $5 venue fee plus $5 per bracket, with a doubles bracket if time allows, and spectators pay $5. The tournament caps at 32 players, so preregister and bring your own controller.

Santa Cruz County

Pokémon at the Live Oak Library Annex (November 12th in Santa Cruz): Santa Cruz Public Libraries hosts a Pokémon TCG play session for kids and tweens from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Live Oak Library Annex. Players should bring their decks and get ready to play.

Heralding the Holidays at Hogwarts Gala (November 14th in Ben Lomond): Highlands Park Senior & Community Center turns its space into an immersive Hogwarts for its annual fundraiser from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Guests can visit the Sorting Hat, follow an invisibility-cloaked guide to the Great Hall, sip Pumpkin Juice and Gillywater, and take photos in Harry’s flying car. A silent auction and raffle include rare Harry Potter items, and costumes are encouraged. Proceeds fund the center’s programs for 2027.

Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market (November 15th in Santa Cruz): The monthly Makers Market returns to Pacific Avenue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with more than 40 local artisans selling handmade goods. Admission is free.

Northern California

Author Event with M.A. Carrick and Jason Denzel (November 14th in Elk Grove): A Seat at the Table Books hosts fantasy authors M.A. Carrick, the pen name of Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms, to discuss their new dark fantasy novel The Eye of the Leviathan from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jason Denzel, author of The Mystic Trilogy and founder of a popular Wheel of Time fan community, moderates the conversation about writing fantasy.

CVC Show Merced (November 14th in Merced): The Central Valley Cards & Collectibles Show sets up at the Hilton Garden Inn from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with sports cards, Pokémon, One Piece, anime goods, Funko Pops, and comics. Expect special guest signers and free raffle giveaways. Presale general admission is $10, and a $15 Fast Pass gets you in early at 9:20 a.m.

Madoka Magica x Sanrio Market and Cupsleeve (November 14th in Roseville): Senpai’s Cafe hosts a Puella Magi Madoka Magica x Sanrio market from noon to 4 p.m., with local artist vendors, themed drinks, and cosplay encouraged. Every drink comes with a cupsleeve of the main cast and their Sanrio familiars, available until 6 p.m. A stamp rally earns an exclusive sticker sheet and postcard, and entry is free.

TCG Palooza (November 14th in Citrus Heights): TCG Palooza brings more than 30 vendors from noon to 7 p.m., covering Pokémon, Magic, One Piece, Lorcana, and sports cards. Expect TCG and VGC tournaments and on-site security. Entry is $5, and kids 12 and under get in free.

Santa Rosa Toy-Anime-Comic Con (November 15th in Santa Rosa): Ohana Comic Con brings its toy, anime, and comic show to the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cosplay contest starts at 2:30 p.m., and all ages are welcome. Entry is $10, or $8 if you mention the flyer, and kids 10 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.