Collector Fest brings a Friday-night trading card party to the Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley on September 18, 2026. Organized by Lees Ripz Collectibles, this monthly evening show has carved out a niche as San Diego's go-to after-work card event, mixing a relaxed trade-night vibe with a legitimate vendor floor. If you have never been able to make a Saturday-morning show because of work or family commitments, this is the event built for you.
The floor is dominated by trading card games. Pokemon takes center stage with vendors offering modern alt arts and illustration rares, vintage WOTC-era holos, PSA and CGC slabs, Japanese exclusives, and sealed booster boxes and elite trainer boxes. You will also find Magic: The Gathering singles and Commander staples, Yu-Gi-Oh! rarities, One Piece Card Game leaders and secret rares, Disney Lorcana enchanted cards, and Dragon Ball Fusion World product. A handful of tables carry sports cards across MLB, NBA, and NFL along with Funko Pops and other pop-culture collectibles, so there is something to flip through even if TCGs are not your primary lane.
Doors open at 6:00 PM and the show runs until 10:00 PM. That four-hour evening window keeps the energy high; vendors are motivated to make deals before packing out, and the trading tables tend to be busy from the first hour.
Admission is free for everyone, and kids get in free as well, so there is no ticket to buy and no line to prebook. Raffles and giveaways run throughout the night, with prize drawings announced from the floor. Make sure you get entered when you walk in.
The Handlery Hotel is located at 950 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92108, right off Interstate 8 in Hotel Circle. Hotel parking is available for a modest hourly fee, roughly two dollars per hour, and the on-site restaurant and bar make it easy to grab food or a drink between laps of the floor. The hotel is a familiar venue for San Diego collectors and offers plenty of room to spread out.
Collector Fest suits a wide range of attendees. Casual collectors and families enjoy the no-cost entry and friendly atmosphere. Serious Pokemon buyers appreciate the concentrated TCG inventory. Traders will find that a large share of the crowd is there specifically to swap, so a well-organized binder gets attention fast. First-timers can walk in without any pressure to spend.
To get the most out of the night, arrive right at 6:00 PM for the first look at showcases, bring cash for the strongest negotiating position, and pack a trade binder sorted by set or value. Have a short want list ready on your phone, and do a full lap of the room before committing to a big purchase so you can compare prices across vendors. Do not skip the raffle table.
For updates, vendor spotlights, and future dates, follow Lees Ripz Collectibles on Instagram at @leesripz.collectibles or check the Collector Fest listing on TCG Shows Near Me. Details occasionally change, so confirm the start time before you head over.