Pokemon “Day Out” and “Night Out” Events Will Bring Fans Together in Real Life
As if airing a commercial – filled to the brim with influencers celebrating “What’s Your Favorite” Pokemon – during Super Bowl LX weren’t enough, more is already in the works for Pokemon fans. Coined “Pokemon Day Out” and “Pokemon Night Out,” these special events look to commemorate Pokemon’s 30th beyond the Pokemon GO oriented “What’s Your Favorite” Pokemon campaign.
While very little has been revealed about these events so far, we do know this much from the official Pokemon press release:
“Throughout the year, fans will be able to come together in real life during Pokémon “Day Out” and “Night Out” experiences specially designed to give fans of all ages the ability to connect with fellow Trainers in interactive and immersive ways.
Day Out events will feature family-friendly activities and programming, while Night Out events will have fun surprises in store for longtime fans who grew up with Pokémon. More details on both Day Out and Night Out will be announced in the future.”
Moving Pokemon fan events into real life celebrations is a bold move from the media franchise that I can’t help but feel brings me back to 2016 when Pokemon GO launched and the world bonded over a shared love for Pokemon.
While these events may not be as huge as that phenomenon, they could go a long way in capturing the same sort of magic – filling a very present void in the lives of Pokemon enjoyers who typically have to turn to digital events or infrequent regional tournaments to enjoy their love of Pokemon in a communal setting.
Pokemon Day Out will feature family friendly activities
Pokemon Day out fills my mind with images of Pokemon-themed neighborhood block parties with typical lawn games like Connect Four and Corn Hole. However, getting a Pokemon-sized twist on these typical frivolities would undoubtedly be welcomed by many, and give fans young and old a new way to connect with the beloved franchise.
I could especially see this as a great way for the youngest fans to connect with the Pokemon world. Video game experiences and card collecting may be a little out of reach for these fans who can now experience the world of Pokemon in interactive new ways.
How widespread will these events be, however? I imagine they could take place in many places – in major cities and smaller hubs around the world to enable as many fans as possible to experience the world of Pokemon in new ways.
Pokemon Night Out will feature in store surprises
Night time, of course, isn’t ideal for lawn games and family activities, so the Pokemon Company has these nighttime experiences focused more adult fans of the game. The “family friendly” part is left out of their description for Pokemon Night Out events, while they do put the emphasis on “longtime fans.”
It seems safe to assume that these events will be geared more towards adult members of the Pokemon community. Given Pokemon Night Out events will take place at night with “surprises” for “longtime fans who grew up with Pokemon,” it feels more likely that they will include some sort of exclusive Pokemon merch and/or products – a fact which could quickly make these events hotly targeted scalpers looking to capitalize on good ol’ fashioned Pokemon fun.
However, if Pokemon leans away from the merchandise and into the community fun, Pokemon Night Out could fill a void for many looking for an after hours escape from normal life and a quick jaunt into the Pokemon world.
While we’ll likely have to wait some time for more news of these exciting new events, it does feel like Pokemon is putting their heart and soul into making their 30th anniversary their best year yet – leaning on recent Pokemon hysteria to help jumpstart yet another phenomenal for the franchise.
