CardFlow TCG Trading Show takes over a storefront space inside Maplewood Mall for three straight days from Friday, September 11 through Sunday, September 13, 2026, giving east metro trading card game players an unusually long window to shop, trade and hunt singles. Mall-based shows have become a signature of the Twin Cities scene, and CardFlow is one of the reasons why: instead of a four-hour Saturday sprint, you get a weekend-long floor that you can drop into between errands.
The emphasis is squarely on trading card games rather than sports. Pokemon is the anchor, with vendors bringing English and Japanese singles, graded slabs, sealed booster boxes, elite trainer boxes, tins, promo cards and vintage Base Set through Neo era material. Magic: The Gathering dealers stock everything from current standard staples to Commander singles, reserved list cards and older sealed product. Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Disney Lorcana, Dragon Ball Super and Digimon all get table space, and there is usually at least one vendor handling supplies such as sleeves, binders, deck boxes and top loaders so you can protect what you buy on the spot.
Hours are generous. Friday and Saturday the show runs from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., matching mall hours, and Sunday runs from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. That evening availability on Friday and Saturday is the show's biggest advantage, because it means people who work weekdays or have Saturday commitments can still get in. Admission is free and there is no ticket to buy, which is standard for the mall-based Twin Cities shows.
Maplewood Mall is at 3001 White Bear Avenue North in Maplewood, just off Interstate 694 on the northeast side of Saint Paul. Parking is free in the surrounding surface lots and ramp, and there is almost always space even on a Saturday. Because the show sits inside the mall, restrooms, a food court and coffee are all a short walk away, and there is climate-controlled comfort regardless of what Minnesota weather is doing. The mall setting also makes this an easy sell if you are bringing a partner or family members who are not collectors.
CardFlow is especially good for younger players and newer collectors. The prices skew accessible, the vendors are used to talking to kids, and the low-pressure environment means nobody feels rushed. Trading is actively encouraged, so bring a binder of duplicates if you want to move cards without spending. Competitive players will find playable singles at reasonable prices, and Pokemon investors should look closely at the sealed product tables, where older sets occasionally surface below current market.
A few tips. Bring your trade binder organized by set or by game, because a dealer flipping through a well-sorted binder is far more likely to make an offer. Bring cash for the best pricing, though most vendors here accept cards and mobile payments. Walk the entire floor once before buying anything, since prices on the same card can vary meaningfully between tables. And if you are hunting a specific single, ask early on Friday rather than waiting until Sunday, when the strongest material has usually been picked over.
Check the CardSota calendar at cardsota.com for the current vendor list and any schedule changes before you head out.
