Anime fans, collectors, gamers, traders and cosplayers took over Victory Pointe on Saturday, March 14 for the Anime Party MINI-CON, transforming the Clermont waterfront into a colorful gathering of fandom, art and community.

Hundreds of guests of all ages, including many families sharing in the fun together, wandered among rows of vendors, snapping photos with characters, admiring anime-themed vehicles, cheering for live entertainment and a Pokémon race (made up of three local men in blow-up Pokémon costumes) that had people in stitches. The event, organized by Clermont resident Sammy Mattheus, has quickly grown into a lively community gathering celebrating creativity, fandom and small businesses.

“This was our third Mini-Con,” Sammy says. “Our first event was in June of 2025 and we had 14 vendors. Now we’re up to 54 vendors.”

Sammy says the idea to bring Mini-Cons to Clermont started in a surprisingly simple way: by playing Pokémon Go. Sammy says she got into it about a year and a half ago.

“My daughter used to play, so I started playing and then I found this local group,” Sammy says. “Everyone is welcome to come, and I can literally say that we have the most amazing group of traders that anyone could ever wish for a community.”

What began as casual meetups organized through the campfire app quickly turned into a thriving community of players in Clermont.

“We’re somewhere about 300 and we meet at least twice a week,” she says. “We have gone to Mexico and to Miami to do Pokémon events together and this year, many of us are traveling to Chicago to attend a massive event celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Pokemon Go.”

Eventually, Sammy decided to organize a themed festival for the group.

“We posted online for our first event and we had like 80 people come,” she says. “Then people started writing and saying, ‘When are we gonna see it next?’ 

“That’s when I thought, ‘Okay, the people want more, we will give them more.’”

With help from the city of Clermont and local creators, the idea evolved into the Anime Party MINI-CON now drawing fans from across Central Florida.

“The main reason I wanted to do this is because all of the people that come here, from the photographers who volunteer, to the DJ who volunteers, and all the vendors, they’re all creators, small business owners and this event gives them a platform to grow and to showcase their art,” she says.

The free event also helps families enjoy anime culture without the high-ticket prices typical of large conventions.

“Anime events that come to the conventions are very expensive, so many times, families can’t get there.”

Throughout the afternoon, visitors browsed artwork, collectibles and handmade merchandise while others posed for photos with cosplayers and favorite featured characters like My Melody, Snorlax, Derpy Tiger from K Pop Demon Hunters and more. A lively car show featured vehicles wrapped or painted with anime and cartoon themes, including designs inspired by the Powerpuff Girls.

Among the most eye-catching displays was a bright yellow Pikachu-themed punch buggy owned by collector “Pika Bellechu” of Ocala. 

Pika and her Volkswagon, filled entirely with Pikachus and even signatures by the creators of the series have traveled across the country for Pokémon tours and children’s events.

“I’ve had the car 26 years it’s been all around the U.S.,” she says. 

Bellechu holds a Guinness World Record for the largest Pikachu collection in the world.

“I have over 24,000 of them,” she says. “I’m in the 2008 book and the 2010 book.”

Her collection has become a global curiosity over the years.

“I was working at KB Toys back in the day,” she says. “This little yellow guy comes into my store. It was a thing and I just fell in love with it.”

Three decades later, the hobby has grown into a massive collection valued at more than $1 million.

“My collection is worth $1.2 million and that’s the lowball figure,” Pika Bellechu says, adding that just recently, a crew arrived at her home to tape a segment of Collector Call, a show in its sixth season that showcases guests with specialized collections of comprehensive fan memorabilia. The host is Lisa Welchel who is known best for her role as Blair Warner on The Facts of Life. 

Other standouts at the event included costume creators, jousters, a huge skunk atop a truck that people could autograph with chalk, a DJ and specialty food and drinks.

For “Biker Roshi” from Lakeland, whose motorcycle is completely decorated with Dragon Ball Z artwork, the day was a fun one as he got to show off his bike and his knowledge of the show.

The retired Navy veteran said his love of anime began decades ago while stationed overseas.

“I got into anime while stationed in Guam,” he explained. “We would get signals from Japan and mostly what came through were a lot of anime shows. Dragon Ball Z was really popular in 1994 and that’s how I got so into it.”

Today, he balances several hobbies and groups of friends connected to each one.

“I have three groups of friends,” he said. “One group that I attend all the COMIC CON style events with, one group I ride with and one I do bike and car shows with.”

As the sun began to set over Lake Minneola, the crowd gathered near the stage for the event’s headline performance by PMX, an Orlando-based all-girl singing and dancing group, closing out a day that made the day for Anime Lovers of all walks of life.

For Sammy, the event is about more than costumes and collectibles.

“Our goal for 2026 is that we are able to become a nonprofit,” she said. “We want to start a program where we visit patients in long-term care facilities and bring characters and some fun to them; make them smile.”

Additionally, she hopes to continue expanding the MINI-CON in Clermont while bringing similar events to other cities, including Orlando.

Those interested in future events can follow The_Anime_Party on Instagram or visit thehouseofpinkachu.com for upcoming announcements and party reservations.