Courtesy photo.
OXNARD — Ventura County’s favorite anime, gaming and pop culture convention, IchigoCon, is back and bigger than ever! On Saturday, September 20, 2025, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center will transform into a vibrant celebration of fandom—complete with special guests, 90+ vendors and artists, hands-on activities, and a Super Smash Bros. Tournament featuring more than 150 local, regional, and international players. The tournament, produced in partnership with Dreamcatcher Gaming, will also be streamed live on Twitch, connecting Oxnard’s fan community with viewers around the globe.
“Fans can expect an unforgettable day of anime and gaming culture right here in Oxnard,” said Christian Ramirez, OPAC’s Events & Programs Director. “From meeting voice actors to competing in Smash Bros. to joining our cosplay contest, IchigoCon has something for everyone.”
Courtesy photo.
More than just a convention, IchigoCon is a full-day festival of creativity and connection. Attendees will be able to shop the Artist Alley and Vendor Hall, featuring over 90 booths of anime-inspired art, collectibles, and crafts, while diving into immersive experiences like the Maid Café, Mystery Shop & Card Games, Karaoke, Carnival Games, a 360° photo booth, and Decoden crafts—a Japanese art form where fans decorate items like phone cases with “fake whipped cream” (silicone), rhinestones, charms, and other embellishments for an elaborate, over-the-top design.
Convention Highlights
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Super Smash Bros. Tournament – 150+ players face off in a 12-hour, high-energy competition
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Cosplay Contest & Meet-Up – Showcase your creativity and connect with fellow cosplayers.
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Voice Actors + Panel – Featuring industry favorites Dorothy & Tom Fahn, Laura Post, Steve Staley and Patrick Pedraza.
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Maid Café – Step into an Akihabara-inspired experience.
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Mystery Shop & Card Games – Tabletop games, collectibles and more
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Karaoke – Sing your favorite anime themes.
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Decoden Crafts – Create your own kawaii designs.
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Drawing Horses Workshop – Learn new anime sketching techniques.
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Carnival Games & 360 Photo Booth – Capture the fun and win prizes!
Special Guest
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Cosplayer Yanelle (Spacecowgirlyaya) brings her Mexican heritage and unique artistry to the stage, inspiring fans with her creative approach to cosplay.
Panel Schedule
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12:00–12:45 PM – Origami with Misty (805 Origami Club)
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1:00–1:45 PM – Japanese 101
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2:00–2:45 PM – Anime Drawing 101 with Jenny Todd
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3:30–4:30 PM – Voice Actor Panel
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5:00–6:00 PM – Cosplay Contest (line-up begins at 4:00 PM)
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6:15–7:00 PM – Anime Family Feud with Victor
More announcements are coming soon! Thank you to the following sponsors for making IchigoCon possible: Visit Oxnard, CatBox, BRAWL.GG, State Farm Insurance, The Collection, Hersi Party Rentals, Dream World, and the VC Reporter.