Target's upcoming 30th Anniversary Pokémon event has been internally referred to as 'Family Day,' a designation that hints at the retailer's intention to manage the rampant adult scalping that has plagued the popular trading card game. While officially marketed as 'Celebrate 30 Years of Pokémon,' the event scheduled for September 27th is designed with activities and product allocations aimed at appealing to children and families.
The core of the event provides the first approximately 98 attendees with a goodie bag containing a Mewtwo promo card and an event ticket. This ticket grants access to purchase two 30th Celebration Tins, each holding five booster packs. Beyond these items, Target plans to offer a 'draw-your-own Pokémon card' activity featuring a collectible-style plastic cover, photo opportunities, and additional Pokémon-themed giveaways. Select stores will also host demonstrations of Pokémon Pokopia on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Despite these child-friendly initiatives, reports suggest that adult Pokémon card collectors are already organizing to attend the event. Online discussions reveal plans to arrive alone to purchase the limited tins or to figure out strategies for lining up and securing products. Some acknowledge the event's intended audience, with one commenter humorously noting the potential presence of 'single middle-aged men' at a 'family' gathering.
The chosen timing and accessible hours for the event, occurring on a weekend afternoon rather than at opening, are seen as further evidence of Target's effort to make the products more accessible to families. However, the continued enthusiasm from adult collectors, some of whom are discussing ways to bypass the intended system, suggests that curbing scalping may remain a challenge.
A full list of participating Target stores is available, and customers planning to attend are advised to contact their local store for specific details regarding event timing and stock availability.