PokeConnect crosses the metro to Eden Prairie Center for a three-day run from Friday, October 23 through Sunday, October 25, 2026. The operators alternate this show between Maplewood on the east side and Eden Prairie on the west, which is good news for southwest metro collectors who have historically had to drive across town for a dedicated trading card game event. This is the west metro's turn.
Pokemon is the headline. Vendors bring English and Japanese singles running from Base Set, Jungle and Fossil through the Neo, e-Card, EX, Diamond and Pearl and Sun and Moon eras up to current Scarlet and Violet releases. Graded slabs from PSA, CGC and BGS fill the cases. Sealed product is well represented heading into the holiday season, with booster boxes, elite trainer boxes, collection boxes, tins, blisters and Japanese sealed all in play. Vintage holos, first edition cards, promos, error cards and Japanese exclusives surface regularly. Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Disney Lorcana and Dragon Ball each get dedicated tables, and supply vendors carry sleeves, binders, top loaders, magnetic holders and storage boxes.
Hours are Friday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission is free and no ticket is needed. The late Friday and Saturday closings are the reason many people can attend at all, opening the show to anyone whose daytime hours are committed.
Eden Prairie Center is at 8251 Flying Cloud Drive in Eden Prairie, just off Highway 212 and Interstate 494 in the southwest metro, an easy drive from Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Chanhassen, Chaska, Bloomington, Edina and Shakopee. Parking is free and abundant. As with the Maplewood shows, the mall setting means restrooms, a food court, coffee and climate control are all steps away, the floors are level and stroller friendly, and non-collecting companions have somewhere to go while you shop.
The crowd here skews toward families and younger players, with a solid contingent of adult collectors and competitive players. Dealers are used to explaining grading, print runs, population reports and market pricing to people new to the hobby, so it is a comfortable room for questions. Kids trading out of binders is standard, and trading is actively encouraged rather than tolerated.
Some practical advice. Bring a trade binder sorted by set if you want to move cards without spending money. Walk the full floor before buying, because identical singles are often priced differently table to table. Bring cash for negotiating leverage even though cards are widely accepted. Inspect raw cards carefully for centering, corner wear, edge whitening and surface scratches, and ask the dealer about any flaw before you commit. Go Friday if you are hunting something specific, since the best material rarely survives the full weekend. And if you are buying sealed product as an investment, check current market pricing on your phone before you commit rather than assuming the table price is a deal.
Check cardsota.com for the current vendor roster, upcoming dates and any schedule changes.
