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

12:04 PM PST on January 8, 2019

[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 MiniBosses, Super 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.

Share the Taco:

Erick Huerta

Erick Huerta likes to eat his Hot-Cheetos with chopsticks.

Tagged:

Stay in touch

More Stories

Food

Watts’ Viral Tri-Tip BBQ Smoker Just Wanted to Feed His Sick Dad. Now He Feeds a Community

Raul Martinez Jr. of 105BBQ tells L.A. TACO, "Pre-orders sell out within days of posting." People DM him offering to pay in advance, just to hold a spot.

Karina Soriano

August 10, 2026

ICE

Cockroach Found in Adelanto ICE Detention Cell

A detainee from Adelanto ICE Detention Center showed L.A. TACO a live cockroach during a video call. It’s not the first time they have found roaches in their cell.

Aisha Wallace-Palomares

August 7, 2026

Art

Three DIY Zine Makers to Support In a Time When Their Craft Is Criminalized

Followed by federal immigration agents or asked to take down their zines, these artists are aware of the danger that comes with speaking out and still going strong.

Amy Torres

August 7, 2026

Taco Members Only

A Persian-Mexican Jam For Hoja Santa Lamb Shanks and Flash Tattoos

“There's . . . nowhere else, other than L.A., where you’d you find these two cultures in such proximity, which is also why there are so many half-Persian, half-Mexican people,” the party organizer says.

Hadley Tomicki

August 7, 2026

ICE

Here’s Every Single Death Linked to Immigration Enforcement Since Trump’s Raids Began in 2025

We hope this register offers a moment to remember the names and stories of the victims. For each one, we’ve included the backstory we were able to gather alongside the official account from government agencies.

Aisha Wallace-Palomares, Memo Torres, Izzy Ramirez, and Odessa Hairapetian

August 7, 2026

Food

South Central Is Going Old School to Revive Its Economy: Coupons

“Many people think they have to go out of South Central to enjoy good-quality food, good-quality anything, but with this passport, we hope it makes people realize that they have quality right here in these neighborhoods," co-creator Patricia Amador says.

Janette Villafana

August 6, 2026