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.

Rows of retro NES cartridges displayed on a vendor table at the Stockton Gamer Festival, featuring classic titles and collectibles.
A collection of retro video game cartridges on display for sale, featuring titles for NES and other classic systems. (Photo by Daniel Garza/Stocktonia)

Michael Torres, a first-time attendee, shared how the event exceeded expectations. “I thought it was going to be outside like a flea market, but it’s indoors and there’s a lot more here than I expected,” he said. “I got a lemonade, played Mario Brothers, and bought a Sasquatch shirt for myself and some toys for my daughter. It brought back a lot of memories.”

For others, like Anthony Espino, the festival marked their first time vending at an indoor event. “I was nervous at first,” Espino said. “But this is way easier than setting up at the flea market. The turnout has been amazing, and I’ve sold a ton of dinosaur toys – Jurassic World fans are definitely out here.”

A colorful assortment of action figures and collectibles, including superheroes and dinosaurs, displayed by Central Valley Collecting Toys at the Gamer Festival.
Figures and collectibles from Central Valley Collecting Toys draw crowds of all ages at the Gamer Festival vendor hall. (Photo by Daniel Garza/Stocktonia)

The event drew guests from beyond Stockton, including Ciara and Jake Shannon, who traveled from Tracy after spotting an ad. “We didn’t know what to expect,” Jake said, “but it’s been really cool. A lot more people than we thought, and a great community vibe.”

Whether you came for the games, the nostalgia, or the collectibles, the common thread was community. As Meyers put it: “If there’s something you wanted to see that wasn’t here, don’t lose faith. We’re coming back, and we appreciate your support.”

From the sound of it, Stockton’s gaming community will be ready.