Thousands of gamers, cosplayers and comic fans are expected to descend on the Sonoma County Fairgrounds this weekend as Sonoma Con returns for its third year, running from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Organizers are predicting their biggest crowd yet, with a new fairy-tale forest and an expanded tabletop lineup joining the convention's usual mix of tournaments, cosplay and comic vendors.
From a Hometown Idea to Thousands of Fans
Sonoma Con debuted in 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Building, organized by Sapp Event Services with Santa Rosa shop Outer Planes Comics & Games as a sponsor. Organizer Joe Sapp has said he wanted to create something for his hometown, and the show has reportedly doubled in size each year since it began. This year, Sapp expects more than 4,000 attendees, while a report from theoakleafnews.com puts the estimate between 3,500 and 4,000 people, calling it almost double the convention's first-year turnout.
Jessica Barry, speaking about the event, said it covers many interests within what she described as the nerd genre, according to The Press Democrat. That range shows up across the fairgrounds, from trading card tournaments and live role-playing quests to comic vendor halls and a cosplay contest. Sapp has also said the convention is adding diverse offerings beyond retail experiences this year.
A New Fairy Village and Board-Game Room
The biggest physical change this year is Whimsy Woods, a full-sized fairy village with immersive art installations that organizers are building inside what was the kids' park, according to sonomacounty.com. The oakleafnews report describes the transformation as turning the space into a forest complete with a floral tunnel. Whimsy Woods will include nearly 20 themed craft vendors and will host the cosplay contest on Saturday.
Sonoma Con has also introduced a room dedicated to board games this year, offering attendees chances to learn new titles and play old favorites. A free expo area called the Game Garden will offer materials for learning trading card games and miniature painting at no charge, the same report notes. Those additions sit alongside returning staples like Magic: The Gathering tournaments, Pokémon trading card games, Warhammer 40K tabletop games and Dungeons & Dragons role-playing sessions.
Tabletop Tournaments and Entry Fees
Tabletop competitors have a packed schedule this year. Per the event schedule on sonoma-con.com, Warhammer 40K round-the-table tournaments run both days, with a standard event Saturday followed by a doubles format Sunday capped at 32 teams. Sunday also brings Sonoma Con's first Warhammer Age of Sigmar event, a standard RTT. Magic: The Gathering sealed events require a separate weekend pass, with the Lost Caverns of Ixalan format costing $45 and the Tarkir Dragonstorm format costing $60.
General admission is more modest. Adult day passes are $20 and two-day tickets run $30, with card tournament entry costing extra, according to the oakleafnews account. Parking at the fairgrounds costs $15 per day, and the venue will not serve alcohol this year, with prepared outside food and drinks also prohibited.
Artist Alley and Featured Guests
Sonoma Con's Artist Alley brings together creatives tied to Star Wars, video games, Marvel and DC Comics, Magic: The Gathering and anime. Featured artist Rachta Lin, a full-time illustrator who has worked with Overwatch, DC Comics and Magic: The Gathering, is among this year's guests, per the oakleafnews report. Panel discussions will run throughout the weekend, with guests including Michaela Jill Murphy, known for voicing Toph Beifong in Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Live character showcases and photo ops are planned for both days, alongside the trading card tournaments and role-playing sessions that have anchored the convention since it began. Last year's event, held Oct. 4 and 5 at the fairgrounds, leaned heavily on Magic: The Gathering and featured an Artists Alley where creators signed work and met fans, along with guests like voice actor Nicki Rapp and Star Wars performer David Gonzales, according to an earlier oakleafnews report. That same account quoted Madhouse owner Dakotah Mendez saying the company's own tournaments can draw more than 180 people, a sign of just how much local appetite exists for the kind of tabletop competition Sonoma Con is now scaling up.
