What Is The Pokémon GO Fest Event

Developer Niantic often hosts numerous in-person/real-world events like the Community Day and Air Adventures, but none are as big or more significant than the Pokémon GO Fest. Promoted as the primary celebration of all things Pokémon GO, this celebration was first held in Chicago in 2017 and 2018 before it extended to other international locations.

The following Pokémon GO Fest dates have been announced, and tickets have been made available, but what exactly is the Pokémon GO Fest, and what can you expect from this event? We've called up Professor Willow to help us detail everything about the Pokémon GO Fest and how to prepare for the event.

The Pokémon GO Fest Explained

Over the years, Niantic has since added a virtual companion event, Pokémon GO Fest: Global, for Trainers who can't attend the celebration event in person or the case of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. To attend this real-world event, you must purchase a ticket from the official website or via the in-game Shop at its allocated price or equivalent to your local currency.

Sometimes, they'll ask for a difficulty level and a gameplay style option for how you wish to experience the Pokémon GO Fest and help you best plan your day. Trainers will participate in many live activities during this day's event, including Research tasks, Raids, and wild encounters.

Additionally, Trainers can receive in-game rewards from spinning PokéStops or Gyms daily, which can aid them during the festivities. The event often hosts several Pokémon spawning more frequently during the event, including their Shiny forms, and some will even sport trending clothing and accessibility, increasing their rarity.

How To Prepare For The Pokémon GO Fest?

If you attend a Pokémon GO Fest in person, you can best prepare yourself for the day's activities by planning. These include wearing your best walking shoes, having a backpack on your person, and ensuring that you have enough snacks and water on hand to remain hydrated and nourished.

While the host location will have various stations for Trainers to charge their devices, having a power bank should these charging stations be occupied or out of order is acceptable. If there are community meet-ups before the start of the Pokémon GO Fest, this would be the best opportunity to connect with fellow Trainers who can help you progress with various tasks and make the experience more engaging and fun.

In-game, you'll want to ensure you have enough Poké Balls in your Bag or Inventory, as you'll encounter plenty of Pokémon during the event. Likewise, you can receive more Poké Balls when spinning the Photo Discs at PokéStops or Gyms, opening Gifts, completing Field or Special Research tasks, and activating the Daily Adventure Incense.

Check that you have enough Berries on hand, as they'll make catching wild Pokémon much more straightforward and increase your chances of receiving more Candy for evolving them. You'll want to stock up on enough Star Pieces, Lucky Eggs, and Poffins, which can boost the amount of Stardust and XP you'll get from catching Pokémon, battling in Raids, and earning hearts with your Buddy Pokémon.

Don't forget to utilize the Tagging feature for Pokémon you would like to evolve and power up during the Pokémon GO Fest. This makes it easier to find them and helps you complete the tasks efficiently to earn their rewards.

Lastly, practice, practice, practice. Your throws will significantly improve the chances of catching wild or Shiny Pokémon or help you progress specific Research tasks for completion.