The Long Island TCG Show, a convention that has rapidly grown into a major destination for trading card game enthusiasts and collectors, has been recognized with two Best of Long Island Awards: Best Annual Event/Festival and Best Pop-Up Shop.
The annual awards, hosted by FourLeaf, recognize the most beloved businesses, events, and services across Long Island, with thousands of voters participating each year. For founder Rebecca Seepersad, the recognition is a major milestone in a journey that began as a personal passion.
“I started the Long Island TCG Show @li.tcg.show as a hobby—just something I wanted to do because of my love for Pokémon,” she wrote on Instagram. “Little did I know, it would grow into a full-fledged business and become such a huge part of my life.”
From Small Gathering to Major Convention
Seepersad, a science teacher with a background in chemistry, launched the Long Island TCG Show in June 2023, initially envisioning it as a local gathering for Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Magic: The Gathering collectors. However, the demand for a dedicated TCG-focused convention on Long Island was clear from the start.
The event quickly expanded, drawing thousands of attendees and hundreds of vendors within its first year. As it outgrew its original venue, the show moved to larger spaces to accommodate the increasing interest from collectors, gamers, and pop culture fans.
That growth is reflected in its next major move—the 2025 event, scheduled for May 3-4, will take place at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, marking its largest venue yet. The expansion underscores the event’s increasing significance within the Long Island convention scene, cementing its place as a premier destination for collectors.
A Standout Event for Collectors
The Long Island TCG Show’s selection as Best Annual Event/Festival highlights its unique appeal among Long Island’s many conventions and festivals. The event combines trading card game sales, live tournaments, and celebrity meet-and-greets, offering a fully immersive experience for attendees.
According to the Best of Long Island listing, the show has quickly become a must-attend event for collectors and fans alike, offering more than 400 vendor tables filled with Pokémon cards, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, Funko Pops, plushies, and other collectibles. It also features special appearances from voice actors from popular anime and gaming franchises, as well as panels, gaming stations, and competitive tournaments.
Winning in the Best Pop-Up Shop category further reflects the show’s year-round presence in the collector community. In addition to the main event, the Long Island TCG Show regularly hosts pop-up shops, such as its Melville location at 598 Broadhollow Road, where collectors can find exclusive items, rare vintage cards, and newly released trading card products. These pop-ups provide a smaller-scale, high-quality shopping experience for enthusiasts who want to expand their collections outside of the main convention weekend.
A Community Effort
Seepersad credits the show’s success to the support of the TCG community, vendors, volunteers, and close friends.
She highlighted Mark Rodenburg, who she considers a key figure in the event’s operations (and one of her closest friends) and thanked those who joined her at the Best of Long Island awards dinner on Instagram recently.
“The Long Island TCG Show is where it is today because of all of you!!” Seepersad wrote.
As the event continues to grow, its focus remains on fostering a welcoming and engaging space for collectors, whether they are seasoned professionals or newcomers exploring the world of trading cards for the first time.
“Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on May 3rd & 4th for the next big event!!” she said.
Looking Ahead to 2025
With two Best of Long Island awards captured and a move to Nassau Coliseum in May, the Long Island TCG Show is set for its most ambitious year yet. In November 2024, the LI TCG Show held its first two-day show, one that gathered together the largest attendance in the show’s history with over 3,000 people in attendance. Seepersad expects the event to draw more attendees than ever before by moving Long Island TCG Show to Nassau Coliseum, which allows for up to 400 vendor tables, accommodating the con’s rapid growth and offering attendees a more expansive experience.
Tickets for the May 2025 event are available through the official website and Ticketmaster. Attendees can anticipate a weekend filled with trading, gaming, and community bonding, solidifying the Long Island TCG Show’s status as a cornerstone event in the region’s pop culture landscape.
Wanna catch all the cons this year on Long Island. Click here for our ultimate guide to pop culture and genre cons in 2025.
Photo: Rebecca Seepersad and Mark Rodenburg at Best of LI awards. Courtesy of Rebecca Seepersad.
