GalaxyCon had its first convention in San Jose, California this past weekend at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center. Located in the heart of San Jose, there was no shortage of cosplayers making their way around town to celebrate everything fandom. Overall, GalaxyCon San Jose 2024 was fun and organized.
Overview of GalaxyCon San Jose 2024
Fans lined up ready for the convention before 10 a.m. both days, buzzing to see what’s inside the convention center. Some fans went straight for the celebrity section, others browsed the exhibitor hall and did their shopping.
GalaxyCon San Jose 2024 offered a wide selection of things to do for people of all ages, such as the family zone complete with coloring pages, kid-friendly music and an overall laid back environment. Other activities included photo ops, panels, workshops, an 18+ area, an after hours dance party, video game area, and much more.
The Positives
Pros of GalaxyCon San Jose 2024:
- Easy to navigate. The convention had plenty of signage to help direct fans to where they needed to go, particularly with registration and panels. The staff was always friendly and helped my group when we had questions. All of the lines to register were divided based on what type of ticket was purchased. Also, the lines moved quickly.
- Something for everyone. I attended GalaxyCon San Jose with two friends, one who is a Disney fan, one into TV/dramas, and myself being an anime fan. As a group attending with all different interests, we each found that there were plenty of fun activities to do around the convention together that appealed to all of us. This included Mario Kart, Harry Potter sorting hat, and Shrek themed afterparty. There were also different celebrities and voice actors that appealed to all of our interests.
- Partner hotels and fast passes. The convention had partnered with two hotels that were directly connected to the convention center, which was a huge plus. If an attendee booked a partner hotel or had VIP, they received a “fast pass” button which allowed front-of-the-line access to celebrity guests. This is a must for anyone who is looking to meet multiple celebrities or planning to only attend for one day and need to make the most out of their time.
- Plenty of space. Throughout the convention, I never felt like a sardine being squished in crowds. There was plenty of space to navigate between vendors and hallway space to sit down for a few minutes. The only area that was consistently packed was one section of the celebrity signing areas. However, it was still easy to walk through.
Some of the Downsides
Cons:
- No signing schedule for celebrities. More likely than not, celebrities don’t come to their tables as soon as the convention opens. Sometimes they would come an hour after opening, sometimes later. There’s no set timing and no way to find out when the guest will come. GalaxyCon does make it known that there is no set schedule, but it can be a time gamble waiting for a celebrity not knowing when they will arrive, especially without a fast pass. If looking to meet a popular celebrity, the best bet is to wait in line as soon as the doors open.
- Parking. Parking at the convention center was full when I arrived late Friday night because both partner hotels are connected to the lot. The only available parking at the hotel was valet, which was limited. If coming from out of town, it may be better to fly into San Jose, take the Amtrak into the city, or take a rideshare to the convention center from home if local.
Overall Thoughts
If I had to sum up GalaxyCon San Jose in one word, it would be: ORGANIZED! Nearly everything was well thought out, easy to find, and the staff was always friendly and smiling. This was one of the most well put together conventions I have attended and would most definitely recommend this convention to anyone who loves pop culture and entertainment.
GalaxyCon San Jose is taking place August 15-17, 2025, and tickets are coming soon.
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