It’s that time of the year again with the temperatures rising and all the bugs out partying. While winter is the time to stay indoors and play some videogames, summer is the time to go out and have some fun. But what if you’re the type of person who doesn’t like clubbing and going to the beach? Put the Pokemon Pokopia down and take a look at all the fandom fun events going on over the summer in the RI area.
Local Game Store Weekly Events
If you’re interested in the trading card gaming (TCG) world, game stories all around Rhode Island like Left of Center Gaming in Warwick, Reality A Games in West Warwick, and Untapped Games in Pawtucket have their own TCG tournaments, most notably Play Pokemon affiliated tournaments if you’re looking to participate in the official Pokemon TCG League. The Crypt in Providence also hosts general events, including events based around board games, if you’re not exactly the card game type. If you’re looking to meet people also interested in fandom culture and more, you can’t go wrong with your local game store.
RI Anime Con, June 6 – 7
The biggest RI fandom event of the summer is definitely Rhode Island Anime Con, which takes place at the RI Convention Center, the same location as RI ComicCon (RICC). RIAC is just a tad smaller, which is perfect if you’re the type of person who finds the huge crowds of RICC overwhelming.
In addition, this convention has more focus on anime, although there’s still plenty of entertainment and vendors that comic book and video game fans can enjoy. This convention takes place during summer time, which is great if you want to bust out the summer cosplay of your favorite characters. Tickets are in the $60 range and can be purchased from RIAC’s website or Ticketmaster.
Pokemon GO Fest 2026: Global, Saturday and Sunday July 11 – 12
Pokemon Go still has a huge following all over the world, so much so that this yearly GO Fest event can draw thousands to the Boston area alone. The event is unique as there is no set location. You can easily attend a local meetup on Niantic’s Campfire app or go to Boston where there will be an official sponsored event closer to the date. At any Niantic-affiliated meetup, there are plenty of goodies to be given away, including an exclusive event pin, alongside a day of fun and excitement. Johnston Memorial Park has their own Pokemon Go group, so if you’re interested in something more relaxed, Johnston is the place to go. Otherwise, Boston is the place to be if you’re looking to meet Pokemon trainers from around the world. The event is world-wide, so no matter where you are, you’ll be able to catch some rare, shiny, and legendary Pokemon.
Boston Fan Expo, August 7- 9
Boston Fan Expo is another yearly summer convention that takes place at Thomas Michael Menino Convention & Exhibition Center. This convention is much bigger compared to RIAC and RICC and also includes a wide variety of fandom cultures including comic books, anime, TV and more. This convention also has plenty of celebrity guests this year ranging from Elijah Wood, Jennifer Hale, Christopher Judge and plenty of other legendary icons to geek out over. Tickets can also be purchased online at Fan Expo’s website for single day and weekend long passes. To avoid some annoying traffic, it’s best to take advantage of the MBTA’s $10 unlimited weekend passes which takes you straight into the heart of Boston.
There’s plenty of things to do over the summer, even if you’re not interested in the party scene.