PokeConnect returns to Maplewood Mall for a three-day October run from Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11, 2026. October is one of the strongest months on the Pokemon calendar, with new set releases and pre-holiday sealed product buying both driving traffic, so expect a fuller vendor roster and more sealed inventory on the floor than at a typical summer date.
Pokemon leads the show by a wide margin. Vendors bring English and Japanese singles covering Base Set, Jungle, Fossil and Neo through every modern block up to the current Scarlet and Violet releases. Graded slabs from PSA, CGC and BGS fill multiple cases. Sealed product is a highlight in the fall, with booster boxes, elite trainer boxes, collection boxes, blister packs, tins and Japanese sealed all in play. Vintage holos, first edition material, error cards, promos and Japanese exclusives turn up regularly. Alongside Pokemon there are dedicated tables for Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Disney Lorcana and Dragon Ball, plus supply vendors carrying sleeves, binders, magnetic holders, top loaders and storage.
Hours are Friday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free with no ticket required. The long Friday and Saturday evening windows remain the show's biggest structural advantage over the many Saturday-morning-only shows in this market, and they make a weeknight-style visit possible for people with daytime commitments.
Maplewood Mall is at 3001 White Bear Avenue North in Maplewood, right off Interstate 694 on the northeast edge of Saint Paul. Free parking is available in extensive surface lots and a ramp. The in-mall setting means food court dining, coffee, restrooms and climate control are all steps away, which makes a long visit comfortable and gives non-collecting companions somewhere to go. It also means the show is fully accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.
The audience skews young and social. Kids trading out of binders, parents learning the hobby alongside them, and competitive players hunting playable singles all share the floor. Dealers are patient with newcomers and generally willing to explain grading, population reports, print runs and market pricing. If you are starting a collection or restarting one after years away, this is a good room to ask questions in.
Get the most out of it with a few habits. Walk the full floor before buying, because identical cards are frequently priced differently across tables. Bring a sorted trade binder if you want to move cards without spending. Bring cash, which still buys the best pricing even where cards are accepted. Inspect raw cards carefully under the mall's bright light, checking centering, corners, edges and surface, and ask the dealer directly about flaws before committing. If you are chasing something specific, go Friday rather than Sunday, because the best singles rarely last the weekend.
PokeConnect alternates this show between Maplewood Mall and Eden Prairie Center on a roughly monthly rotation. Check cardsota.com for the current calendar, vendor announcements and any schedule adjustments before you go.
