Two belovedPokémonare making surprise appearances in California this December to celebrate the holidays. The Pokémon Company often trots out human-sized Pokémon mascots like Pikachu and Eevee for various events, typically in Japan. US appearances of Pokémon mascots are typically limited to events like thePokémonWorld Championships or the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, buttwo beloved Pokémon are making surprise appearances in Californialater this year.
In December,Pokémonwill hold two “Deck the Halls with Pikachu and Eevee” pop-up events in both Anaheim and Los Angeles.The two Pokémon will appear in seasonal apparelin a winter wonderland setting. The first event will take place at STC Anaheim GardenWalk from 10 AM to 8 PM on December 7th and 8th. The second event will be at the Broadway Plaza on December 14th and 15th. The first 1,000 attendees at both events will also receivePokémon Trading Card Gamebooster packs.
These events were announced alongside a new line of Pokemon-themed holiday merchandise that is on sale now.
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The Pokémon Companyhas increased its number of US activations this year, beyond this surprise holiday event. At NYCC this weekend, The Pokémon Company is hosting a Stellar Crown-themed mirror maze to help promote therecently released Pokémon TCG set.ThePokémonWorld Championships have also slowly expanded to include activations and events made with wider audiences in mind.This year’s eventincluded a pop-up Pokémon Center store, a drone show, and meet-and-greet events open to the public.
Events like the Stellar Crown activation at NYCC and the new Deck the Halls with Pikachu and Eevee event signal thatThe Pokémon Companyis looking to expand its scope and reach more fans beyond just games and anime. Keep in mind thatThe Pokémon Companyis also developing a theme park in Japan, further pushing the world of Pokémon into the real world.
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ThePokémonfranchise rivalsStar Warsand Disney in popularity, but fans have few real-world places to express their fandom. Outside thePokémonWorld Championships, live events are generally limited to Japanese events, like the Pikachu Outbreak Festival in Yokohoma. AsPokémongrows into a multi-generational franchise,it needs more official activations like the Deck the Halls event.
Celebrating the holidays with Pikachu and Eevee seems like a fun holiday tradition, especially for kids who have never gotten to meet a 5-foot-tall Pikachu before. WithPokémonbeing one of the most recognizable franchises in the world, it will be interesting to see if more of these real-life events will take place during major holidays to warm the hearts of veteran and brand-new fans alike.
