My GO Fest Story: Seattle 2022 – Discovery, Disappointment, & Redemption

By 2022, I’d already been to three GO Fests in Chicago, and while I loved the city, I was ready for something new. When Niantic announced that GO Fest was coming to Seattle, I knew it was time. It was my first time ever heading west, and after years of building my comfort with travel, I felt ready.

The Pacific Northwest called to me. I was excited to explore the region, meet a few of the friends I’d made through the online Pokémon GO community, and take in a completely different kind of landscape. But I was nervous too. COVID had changed everything, and the uncertainty of gathering in a crowd again made the trip feel bigger than just a game. Still, I went. And what I found in Seattle wasn’t just GO Fest. It was a turning point.

"I arrived in Seattle alone, but eager to see what adventure laid ahead."

When I boarded the plane, I didn’t expect a redemption arc. I was still recovering from something that had shaken my confidence. A few months earlier, I had scheduled my first podcast interview, a chance to shift from news-style episodes into something more meaningful and I had more passion about, sharing personal Pokémon stories.

But the guest never showed up. No warning. No message. Just silence.

At the time, I didn’t realize how much that moment hit me. I told myself they probably fell asleep or got busy. But deep down, I took it as proof that maybe I wasn’t meant for this. That I was an outsider pretending to be a creator. That I wasn’t good enough. Seattle changed that.

"One of the first pictures I took for GO Fest Seattle."

The day I was supposed to play, I ended up doing almost nothing in-game. I sat down, watched the crowd, and just listened. There were hundreds of people passing by catching Pokemon, laughing, cheering for Shiny Pokemon. I could feel their stories unfolding and that’s when it clicked.

This is what I needed to be doing. I didn’t come here just to play. I came here to bring the experience to life.

That quiet, reflective moment reignited something I thought I’d lost. After the ghosting, I had questioned everything from my voice, my place in the community, even the point of trying again. I kept telling myself it wasn’t personal, but it felt personal. Maybe I didn’t belong.

But watching those Trainers laughing, connecting, celebrating even the smallest catches, I saw something that had been missing in the game and in myself. There were stories here. Real ones. Ones that deserved to be told. I wasn’t just a player. I was someone who could listen. Someone who could give those stories a home.

Seattle didn’t just change my perspective, it gave me a mission. As The Pokéball Turns wasn’t just a project anymore. It was the reason I picked the mic back up.

"This was one of the first times I had seen a life size item from Pokemon GO."

The event layout was unique. GO Fest Seattle didn’t just live in one park, it fused with the city. The experience felt more fluid and less crowded than past years. There was a large fountain centerpiece styled after a biome, a bubble machine in the “Cloud Sanctuary,” and a recreated Pinap Berry in “The Oasis.” Compared to Chicago, the decorations weren’t as visually striking, and the “Electric Garden” was forgettable, but the freedom to move between city and park gave GO Fest Seattle its own rhythm.

I visited the pop-up Pokémon Center hoping to grab a special Pikachu plush for a friend but by the time I arrived, it was already sold out. Still, I didn’t leave empty-handed. I picked up plushies of Groudon and Reshiram, two Legendary Pokémon that hold deep nostalgia for me. Reshiram is a personal favorite and Groudon brings back memories of my time with Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.

One of the best surprises? The food. Seattle delivered. I ate some of the best Thai food of my life and took quiet pride in skipping the long lines for fast food. When I did give in to hype and tried one of the popular burger spots, it couldn’t compete. Sometimes, going off the beaten path brings the best rewards, whether it’s lunch or in life.

"I really loved visiting the Space Needle."

Unlike Willis Tower in Chicago, the Space Needle was worth it. You could see the city as you ascended. Inside, I found not just an observation deck, but stories, details about how the structure was approved and built, honoring the nameless workers who gave it life. It didn’t just show me the skyline, it reminded me that behind every monumental build are the people who made it happen. That stuck with me.

"I stopped by the Wayfarer tent and met a few people from the Wayfarer community."

Though most people didn’t know who I was yet, I was starting to meet others in the Pokemon GO podcasting community. I briefly connected with Luis from the Purified Podcast, someone I’d chatted with on Discord, and joined the Lured Up Bar Crawl hosted by Ken Pescatore and Adam Tuttle, who I didn’t even know were podcasters at the time. Most people didn’t know who I was yet either. I hadn’t promoted myself as a podcaster. But that weekend, it felt like placing my first PokéStop, small, but part of something bigger.

"A tease for Cowboy Hat Caterpie. Still a cool Pokemon GO souvenir."

And yes, I had my Pokémon moment. Someone called out a Cowboy Hat Snorlax nearby, and a group of us rushed over. I didn’t get the Shiny, but I did walk away with a Hundo. While I didn’t find any major Shinies, I did walk away with six different 98% Dialga…all so close to perfection it hurt. What I did catch was something more rare: peace.

Whale watching on the open sea. A cool breeze on my skin. The hills of Seattle kicking my legs into gear. This wasn’t just about GO Fest anymore, it was about reconnecting with who I was becoming.

"The views of Seattle are beautiful. I was lucky to sit on the patio and soak them in daily."

And just like that, GO Fest 2022 came to an end. My flight home? Canceled. Twice. But the journey was worth every delay. After being ghosted months earlier, I had questioned everything. But attending GO Fest Seattle, watching Trainers light up over trades, battles, and friendships, helped me see a gap that needed filling. There wasn’t a platform dedicated to Pokémon GO stories. Not like this. I wanted to be the one to change that.

The moment that sealed it came on public transit.

As the conductor made a quick announcement over the intercom, I heard it clear as day:
“Welcome, Trainers, to Seattle.”

It was such a small thing. But something about it moved me. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was in the right place, at the right time, chasing the right dream.

"GO Fest Seattle is still one of my favorite places to date."

GO Fest 2022 wasn’t about gameplay. It was about becoming. It was about learning that my voice had value even if only one person heard it. In Seattle, I stopped chasing Dialga and started chasing stories.

And what I found wasn’t a single story, it was the reason I started telling them in the first place.

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.

🎧 Explore our curated episode playlists — whether you're into competitive battling, content creation, nostalgia, or community leadership, there's a path here for you.
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💬 Join our Discord — and connect with Trainers who get it.

💡 Tips for GO Fest First-Timers (and First-Time Creators):

• If you’re ghosted, keep going. Someone out there is waiting for your story.

• Sometimes, the most important thing you’ll catch isn’t a Pokémon, it's clarity.

• Don’t underestimate small moments. Those quiet realizations might be the turning point you never saw coming.

Step Into More GO Fest Memories

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