Tidewater Cards & Collectibles brings its summer flagship show — the Raleigh "Christmas in July" Sports Card, Pokémon & Collectibles Show — to the NC State Fairgrounds Expo Center the weekend of July 17, 18, and 19, 2026. Held at 1025 Blue Ridge Road on the west side of Raleigh, this three-day extravaganza is one of the highest-attended Carolina card weekends on the calendar. The "Christmas in July" theme means dealers stock holiday-style deals, bulk discounts, vintage finds priced to move, and special show promos — collectors who attend regularly know to bring a real budget and a wheeled cart. Mid-July timing puts the show square in the heart of summer collecting season, with MLB All-Star Week wrapping, Topps Series 2 cases moving full speed, NFL training camps just days away, and the National Sports Collectors Convention looming on the horizon.
The vendor floor covers every corner of the hobby. Sports tables stock deep MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, UFC, boxing, MMA, soccer, and college football inventory across every era — vintage Topps, Bowman, Fleer, Goudey, Play Ball, and pre-war tobacco issues from the early 1900s through the 1980s, junk-wax 1990s monster boxes, and modern Panini Prizm, Donruss Optic, Select, Mosaic, Topps Chrome, Bowman Draft, and premium Topps Dynasty, National Treasures, Flawless, and Immaculate. Carolina-team inventory is especially strong — Panthers, Hornets, Hurricanes, Charlotte FC, Durham Bulls, Carolina Mudcats, NC State Wolfpack, UNC Tar Heels, Duke Blue Devils, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, and ECU Pirates. Pokémon dealers fill a major section of the floor with singles and sealed product from vintage WOTC Base through modern Scarlet & Violet, plus Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece TCG, Disney Lorcana, Dragon Ball Z Fusion World, Star Wars Unlimited, Flesh and Blood, and Riftbound. Locked cases display PSA, BGS, SGC, and CGC graded slabs alongside autographed memorabilia, vintage comics, Funko Pops, and hobby supplies.
Hours typically run Friday 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Eastern — confirm exact times on tidewatercardsandcollectibles.com closer to the show. General admission and VIP early-entry tiers are sold separately, with weekend-pass options for serious shoppers. Kids enter free with a paid adult. Free parking is available across the fairgrounds lots. Buy VIP early-entry passes online in advance to skip the Friday box-office line and get first crack at fresh inventory.
The NC State Fairgrounds Expo Center sits at 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607, on the west side of town a few minutes off I-440 and US-1. The Expo Center is climate-controlled, ADA-accessible, and laid out with wide center aisles for cart-and-stroller traffic. PNC Arena and Carter-Finley Stadium are next door, and Crabtree Valley Mall is a few miles east — lunch options include MoJoe's Burger Joint, Player's Retreat, and Cookout for a classic NC fast-food run.
This show fits every collector profile — first-timers, families, casual fans, modern flippers, prospect hunters, vintage diggers, Pokémon players, and serious dealers stocking shop inventory ahead of the National. For the best experience, buy VIP for Friday early-entry, bring cash plus Venmo, Zelle, and PayPal backups, and carry a sorted want list with target prices. Pack a wheeled cart for vintage hunters and a hard-sided slab case for graded buyers. Text Tidewater Cards at 804.704.4700 with vendor questions and follow them on Facebook for show updates.