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Fans of classic arcade and pinball games will be excited to learn that California Extreme will return as a live event in 2021. This announcement comes after months of speculation while organizers monitored the state of the pandemic and examined their options.
California Extreme 2021 will be a live event that takes place from October 16th to October 17th at the Double Tree Hilton in San Jose. The event will once again feature over 600 arcade and pinball games available to play along with panels featuring industry insiders. Part of the event also includes live musical performances and a variety of independent merchants that specialize in retro games and accessories.
At the time of writing, no guests have been announced nor has a list of the panel schedules have become available. More information about guests and panels will be available in the coming weeks. The hotel block is also expected to open in the coming weeks.
Tickets for California Extreme are now available for sale online. Guests who want a souvenir badge with their name printed on it must register before September 26th. After that, guest have to pre-register before October 12th or purchase tickets at the door. Those wanting to attend are encouraged to buy their pass early should a cap be placed on passes.
Due to the pandemic; guests will be required to either show proof of being fully vaccinated (with the last shot administered at least two weeks before the event) or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours. Attendees must also wear a mask during the event. To ensure people have enough space and because of the size of the venue, a limited number of attendees will be allowed on the expo floor.
This is just one of many live events that are set to take place in 2021. During the late Spring and early Summer season, several conventions either confirmed their live event, announced they would go all digital, or postponed everything for a later date. Few events, like California Extreme, decided to wait and see before making the call.
As of September 9th, 70% of the Californiaโs population have received their first dose of the vaccine while most economic restrictions have been lifted. Meanwhile, SiliCon with Adam Savage and PAX West have already hosted a live event. More live events are expected to take place in the coming months.
California Extreme is one of the largest showcases of classic arcade games and pinball machines in North America. The event brings together industry pioneers along with collectors of retro games and video game historians for one weekend.
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