The three-day Pokémon GO Fest kicked off Friday in Chicago’s Grant Park, marking the game’s 10-year anniversary as players of all ages packed the park for Pokémon sightings, merchandise, and community moments—including a surprise engagement proposal.
Friday in Chicago’s Grant Park looked less like a typical city day and more like a roaming celebration. The three-day Pokémon GO Fest officially kicked off there, drawing players of all ages to mark the game’s 10-year anniversary.
People moved through the park carrying phones at chest height, pausing to scan for what might appear next. The crowd included families stopping for photos. kids clustered around Pokémon card collections. and longtime fans swapping stories as they walked the grounds. For many. it wasn’t just about catching Pokémon—it was about being together in the familiar glow of the game.
The excitement ran all the way down to the details. A participant brought her dog, Obsidian, and wore the kind of playful confidence that comes from showing up fully immersed. Others came dressed for the occasion, including Blake Edmondson, who showed off his Pokémon tattoos at the festival.
Not everyone approached the event the same way. Jason de la Cruz. right. was seen using three different accounts to play Pokémon Go on Friday at Grant Park—an example of how some players treated the fest like a serious mission. while others treated it like a community gathering. Some attendees took breaks as they moved through the park, while others stopped to check out merchandise for sale.
The day carried moments that went beyond the screen. Garrett and Joel got engaged during a surprise proposal at the Pokémon Go Fest at Grant Park on Friday—an abrupt pivot from gameplay to life milestone, captured in the middle of the crowd.
And when the day started to wind down, the park still felt crowded with the same shared rhythm: phones up, steps forward, and the constant search for the next Pokémon—turning a 10-year anniversary into something tangible, loud, and very Chicago.
Pokémon GO Fest Grant Park Chicago Pokémon GO 10-year anniversary Manuel Martinez WBEZ engagement proposal
This sounds awesome but also kinda weird people were just staring at phones all day.
So wait they’re 10 years old and they had an engagement at the event? I saw something about “three accounts” too… like isn’t that cheating or whatever? Not sure how you’re supposed to play “for fun” if you’re running multiple accounts.
Engagement proposal in the middle of Grant Park while everyone hunts Pokémon? That’s actually kind of sweet. Also I don’t get the tattoos part, like why would you get Pokémon ink, but hey to each their own. Are they like allowed to bring dogs into the park though? Obsidian sounds cool.
I don’t play Pokémon Go but this feels like the same crowd from all those “Pokemon Go killed traffic” articles. And the three accounts thing… if you can just do that then why did they even make rules lol. Also it says multi generational but half the pics I’ve seen are just adults in cosplay anyway. Chicago always turns it up though, I’ll give them that.