Pokémon fans across San Diego County have a reason to head to Target this weekend. More than a dozen local stores are joining a statewide celebration marking the franchise's 30th anniversary, with free family activities set for Sunday, September 27, from noon to 4 p.m.
Pokémon marks its 30th anniversary in 2026. More than 200 Target stores across California are taking part in the celebration, including the San Diego County locations, according to Fox 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
The San Diego County stops are packed with hands-on activities rather than just retail displays. Participating stores will offer Pokémon-inspired activities and interactive experiences, along with Pokémon-themed photo opportunities for families, per the station's report. Fans can also try their hand at drawing their own Pokémon trading card, and stores will run demonstrations of Pokémon Pokopia for Nintendo Switch 2.
The Anniversary and Pokopia in Context
The Pokémon Company International says the franchise launched in 1996, marking the milestone behind its 30th anniversary in 2026. Its announcement does not specify when or where the original games were first released. For the 25th anniversary in 2021, the company described a music-focused celebration—a different format from this year’s local Target activities, according to The Pokémon Company International. Nintendo describes Pokémon Pokopia as a simulation in which players take the role of a Ditto transformed to look human and work with Pokémon to build a town, providing context for the game demonstrations listed for the event, according to the Nintendo Official Store Malaysia.
Where to Find the Celebration Locally
The event spans a wide swath of the county, touching San Diego proper as well as several surrounding communities. Listed participating locations include stores in San Diego, Santee, Vista, Escondido, Encinitas, and La Mesa, the same report notes.
San Diego addresses on the list include 8251 Mira Mesa Blvd., 3245 Sports Arena Blvd., 3424 College Ave., 17170 Camino Del Sur, 8001 Othello Ave., 1288 Camino Del Rio N., and 5680 Balboa Ave. Outside the city, participating stores include 9846 Mission Gorge Road in Santee, 3150 Business Park Drive and 1751 University Drive in Vista, 280 E Via Rancho Pkwy and 1280 Auto Park Way in Escondido, 1010 N El Camino Real in Encinitas, and 5500 Grossmont Ctr Drive in La Mesa.
Giveaways While Supplies Last
Beyond the activities, the celebration includes giveaways at participating stores, though those are available only while supplies last, according to the same account. No further detail on the type or amount of giveaway items was included in the report.
For families hoping to bring their kids or trainers-in-training, the event runs a single afternoon window this Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m., across all the listed San Diego County locations.
