My GO Fest Story: Chicago 2017 - Adventure, Frustration & Growth

I still remember the excitement that buzzed through the Pokémon GO community leading up to the very first GO Fest in 2017. It was the first-ever GO Fest, and somehow, it belonged to me. I almost didn’t get a ticket. The event sold out instantly. My screen told me it was over. But I kept pressing refresh again and again, hoping for a miracle. And somehow, I got in. I remember staring at the screen, heart racing, and telling myself, “This is my chance.” I bought the ticket without thinking twice.

I was going to Chicago, alone, traveling from Dallas with nothing but a backpack and a dream of experiencing the world's first every GO Fest. I didn’t fly. I had never been on a plane before, and the idea scared me too much. So I took a MegaBus instead, 25 long hours, one way. I told myself it would be an adventure, that I’d see cool sights and grab souvenirs. In reality? We mostly stopped at sketchy gas stations, and the windows framed cracked concrete and lonely fields. Still, I had my phone out, and I watched my avatar ride along with me. Even if I couldn’t catch anything while moving, I imagined he was taking the journey with me. Every red light was a chance for a new Pokémon. I treated them like souvenirs, each catch a tiny memory.

“25 hours from Dallas to Chicago. My avatar wasn’t the only one on a long journey.”

Back then, I was a casual Team Mystic player who mostly played on my commute to and from work. I didn’t raid at all, didn’t plan ahead, and certainly didn’t think of myself as a “serious” Trainer. But this trip would change that.

The line was endless, twisting and turning around Grant Park, the site of the first-ever GO Fest. As the delay to enter the park dragged on, the hype and excitement began to fade. After two hours, I was finally inside. Little did I know it was my prison. People were waving their phones around, trying to pick up any signal to open the game and catch the rare spawns that were promised. Kids were crying, adults were swearing, and unlike future GO Fests, there wasn’t a strong sense of community yet, just frustration.

"Two hours just to get inside the gates. We were all hoping the game would catch up."

I tried to smile through it, but inside, I was unraveling. This was supposed to be my dream event, my first GO Fest, my first chance at Articuno or Lugia and I couldn’t catch anything, not even a memory. Eventually, Niantic gave us a free Lugia, but the damage had already been done. That free Lugia sits in my storage box to this day, not because it was rare, but because it was a reminder that sometimes, what you take home isn’t what you came for.

“My first Lugia. A gift wrapped from the chaos of 2017 GO Fest”

The frustration I’d bottled up finally hit when I got back to my hotel. I limped to my room, emotionally and physically drained, and let myself be upset. It wasn't just about GO Fest, it was the letdown of all the effort, all the travel, and the weight of being alone in a strange city where nothing had gone quite right. I came in full of wonder. I left wondering if it had been worth it. That contrast, the joy I imagined and the letdown I felt is what truly defined my first GO Fest.

You know what? I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Looking back now, I realize I expected Pokémon GO to give me everything that weekend. But GO Fest 2017 taught me something important, that you can’t travel for just the game. If I had planned some sightseeing or even a single detour beyond Grant Park, I think I would’ve left Chicago with more than a free Lugia. But I was so focused on the event, I forgot to make room for the rest of the journey. And the funny thing is, I did see a few things. I took a photo of The Bean, and even got to see the Chicago Cubs’ World Series trophy on display. Those were real moments. Quiet wins that weren’t tied to Pokemon GO.

"One of the few things in Chicago that didn’t let me down.”

“Didn’t catch Articuno, but I did catch a glimpse of history.”

That’s a lesson I carry with me every year now. GO Fest should be part of the adventure, not the whole adventure. I also wish I’d been kinder to myself. I was a nervous first-time traveler who took a 25-hour bus ride to a city I didn’t know, just to be part of something bigger. That takes guts. I didn’t know anyone in Chicago. And honestly, part of me liked that. I could walk at my own pace, linger where I wanted. But it also meant that when the event fell apart, I had no one to vent to, no shared laughter to soften the letdown.
And next time? I swore I’d fly.

Still, there were bright spots. I got to see Trainer Tips, Reversal, and Mystic7 in real life. They were the Pokémon GO creators I looked up to, and watching them run around the park with so much energy gave me a spark of hope. I wanted to be like them, exploring, connecting, traveling for Pokémon in a way that felt free.

"Watching the creators I looked up to run around the park with endless energy."

By the time I limped back onto that same MegaBus headed home, I was dehydrated, sunburnt, emotionally drained, and praying for a little elbow room. Literally. The girl next to me didn’t budge, and when a guy finally swooped into the open window seat, I claimed the only real estate I had left...one stubborn elbow pressed silently against her ribs all the way to Dallas.

Look, it wasn’t graceful, but neither was GO Fest 2017. Sometimes all you can do is survive, laugh a little, and promise yourself next year will be different. Every year since, I plan a little smarter, pack a little lighter, and try to leave space for the unexpected joys that no ticket ever promises.

If you're reading this, chances are Pokémon has touched your life too. Maybe it gave you a friend, a goal, a place to belong.

I’d love to hear your story.

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💡 Tips for First-Time GO Fest Attendees (From 2017 me):

• Don’t travel just for the event. Build in time for exploration, food, or something just for you.

• Go if you’re a rural player. Even if it doesn’t go perfectly, it’s worth it to feel what a real Pokémon GO community is like in person.

• Pack smart. Water bottles, cooling towels, portable chargers, and clothes that are breathable.
  
  

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