Skip to Content
Events

Video Game Heaven: Photos from the Retro City Festival in Pomona

[dropcap size=big]H[/dropcap]undreds upon hundreds of throwback NES cartridges, coin-operated arcades, and serious gamers took over the Pomona Fairplex this past weekend to celebrate video games and their history at the Retro City Festival.

The yearly event is a heaven for fans of retro games, whether they grew up playing them or are just seeing them for the first time. Now in its second year, the two-day festival featured live music, tournaments, a playable console museum, and numerous vendors with those hard to find video game gems.

The festival featured lived music from video game cover bands that included the MiniBossesSuper MadNES, and The Koopas.

The event also played host to the Classic Tetris World Championship West Coast qualifiers, Street Fighter tournaments by Fire Mountain Dojo, and the Retro World Series.

More than 100 retro consoles were on hand to the public to relive their childhood or to experience classic gaming for the first time.

RELATED: Sci-Fi Nerd Heaven: This University Library Houses a Book From 1517 and an R2-D2 Wastebasket

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

L.A.’s 13 Best Bars With Games and Activities

The best L.A. bars for axe-throwing, cumbia nights, playing pool, doing graffiti, smoking, playing pinball, and other fun, possibly delinquent activities.

December 23, 2024

Everything Wrong with Tesla’s $500 ‘Mezcal’

"Mezcal has become a commodity for many, without any regard for the earth, [or] for Indigenous people's land rights," says Odilia Romero, an Indigenous migrants rights advocate from Oaxaca and the executive director for CIELO. "Oaxaca is also having a water access issue.

December 20, 2024

This Weekend: Sonoran Caramelos, Brisket Tteokbokki, Mex-Italian Fusion, and Country-Fried Tofu

Plus, Malay-style wings, a collaboration pizza-topped with Philippe The Original's French-dipped beef and hot mustard, and more in this week's roundup.

December 20, 2024

More Than 70 People Reported Feeling Ill After Eating Oysters At L.A. Times ‘101 Restaurants’ Food Event

Ragusano is disappointed that the L.A. Times didn’t publicly disclose that there was an outbreak at their event. “Obviously they’re not going to print it in their paper,” Ragusano said. “But they‘re a newspaper and newspapers are supposed to share the news. This is how people usually find out about something like this,” she added. “It's ironic because it happened to them.”

December 19, 2024

The 38 Best Books of 2024

Like listening to music, reading is an activity that recharges the spirit. It offers a chance to unplug for an hour to fill your soul and slow down. Here are 38 ways to free your attention span from doom scrolling and algorithms.

December 18, 2024
See all posts