Stockton’s first-ever Gamer Festival proved that gaming culture is alive, well and thriving in the Central Valley. Held over two days at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, the event brought together a mix of retro video games, collectibles, trading cards and community energy that surprised even its organizers.
“It’s a maiden voyage,” said event producer Tyler Meyers. “We always try to start smaller so we can build up to it. So far, the response has been really great—we’ll be back, and we’ll be bigger.”
Inside the festival, guests browsed rows of vendors selling everything from vintage Hot Wheels and Pokémon cards to hard-to-find Pop figures and plushies. Attendees could relive their favorite childhood games or get competitive with tournaments, with many saying they didn’t expect to see so much variety or such a big turnout.
Want more? Sign up to get Stocktonia delivered to your inbox three days a week.
