Every year Niantic hosts a Pokémon Go Fest for fans to congregate, catch rare creatures not found in their regions, trade with other players, compete, and pick up some sweet merchandise. Since they started in 2016 they’ve been incredibly popular and more and more locations are popping up as time goes by.

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If you’re thinking of attending a Pokémon Go Fest there are some tips you should keep in mind to make the most of your time there, avoid any problems, and have a lot of fun.

10 Roaming Data Package

You will be on your mobile data for most of the day and if you don’t have the right unlimited data plan or roaming data package it can get very expensive. You need to sit down and read the fine print regarding your data package when you go to the Fest and see what it’ll cost you, especially if the Fest is out of the country.

Consider upgrading your plan, buying extra data for that day, or simply be prepared to eat the cost (least recommended). Spending just a few minutes determining your data needs can save you some nasty surprises on your next phone bill.

9 Get A Map

There are a lot of things to do at the Fest and you will likely want to visit most if not all the locations set up there. Getting a physical map in advance or as soon as you enter the park is in your best interest to avoid getting lost, wandering aimlessly, and missing out on something cool.

Also, pay attention to the scheduling of events to make sure you know where to be to maximize your time there. Plan your route based on what you want to be doing, minimize back and forth travel, and you’ll be able to make the most efficient use of your time without missing out on anything.

8 Have A Clear Backpack

There are some things you’ll want to take with you and there’s a lot of souvenirs you can buy, win, or simply get for free. Having a clear backpack to carry it all can leave your hands free to play and allow you to stock up on cool merchandise.

It’s important to have a clear backpack as many locations require clear bags for security purposes, check the rules of the location to make sure. It’s also recommended that the backpack has multiple pockets to store little items and a big central pocket for big things like stuffed animals.

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7 Wear Good Shoes

As a Pokémon Go player, you should be familiar with the reality that this game requires a lot of walking and the Pokémon Fest will be no different. There are multiple biomes to grab unique Pokémon, food trucks spread all over the place, Youtube celebrities you’ll want to chase down, and more.

Having a good pair of shoes that are broken in, a good pair or two of socks, some ointment, moleskin, and band-aids will make your time there much more pleasant. Some fans recommend hiking shoes as the area can get muddy, but at the very least take a pair of comfortable sneakers or tennis shoes.

6 Rain Gear

Sometimes the weather can turn sour and the event will continue on as best it can. Having an umbrella, poncho, or even a jacket is highly recommended if you suspect rain or other bad weather.

These events are often held in the summer or early fall so a coat is rarely needed. It’s your call if you want to wear rain boots, they’re nice for puddles but not so great for walking long-term. Having an extra pair of socks for when your feet get soaked is a good idea and making sure your backpack is waterproof is a must.

5 Take An External Battery

You are going to be on your phone for an easy 8+ hours if you participate for the full day. Even the best phones will run out of charge pretty quickly so having a backup battery or external charger is key to keeping your phone in commission the entire day.

Granted there are Lounges where you can charge your phone, but these are always crowded and you don’t want to stop what you’re doing to head to one and charge for an hour. Buy a decent battery for $20 or so, take a cord, charge both the battery and your phone the night before, and avoid having that stress.

4 Water And Snacks

In addition to keeping your phone charged it’s important to keep yourself charged and energized. There are often food trucks at the Fests, but they often have long lines and can get a little pricey. Having a few snacks tucked into your bag can keep you going between meals or even hold off until the lines go down.

You’ll also want a water bottle or two to keep yourself hydrated. People often get dehydrated or suffer heat exhaustion at these events so take some water to avoid any problems.

3 Get To The Pokémon Center Store Early

Perhaps the biggest line you’ll run into at a Pokémon GO Fest is the line to get into the Pokémon Center Stores. This is where you can get exclusive merchandise for the event that can't be found anywhere else. Many of these items will also sell out before the end of the day.

Avoid the worst of the line and increase your chances of getting the items you want by making it the first thing you do when you get to the Fest.

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2 Plan To Trade

There are a lot of players that will be here from all over the world and they’ll bring their region exclusive Pokémon with them. Trading with these players is a great way to find these exclusives or to fill your roster with ones you just can’t seem to find.

Prepare for the event by building a small roster of valuable Pokémon you don’t mind trading, know exactly what you’re looking for and don’t be afraid to trade for some rare Pokémon that you can turn around and trade for something you’d rather have.

1 Socialize

Perhaps the most important takeaway from this list is to be willing to socialize. There are a lot of people that travel all over the world to attend these events and many of them come year after year. Making some friends and staying in contact with some of these people can lead to fulfilling friendships, strong battle teammates, and handy trading partners.

Go to the lounges, participate in tournaments, trade some Pokémon, and start interacting with people. You’ll never know who you’ll meet and this is the main point of these activities anyway.

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