The Card Show Calendar Thins Out Fast in December

As of Oct 17, Card Shows Nearby lists 178 shows starting in November and just 37 for December. Part of that gap is timing, since many organizers post dates only a month or two ahead, but the shape is clear: the holiday season is a few big weekends followed by a quiet stretch. Here is what is on the calendar so far.

Weekend by weekend

Dec 4–6 is the busiest weekend, with 17 shows across 10 states. Dec 11–13 has 9 shows in 8 states, Dec 18–20 has 7 in 4 states, and Christmas weekend, Dec 25–27, has 4 in 4 states. All 37 December shows fall on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and none are listed from Dec 28 on.

The biggest rooms

The largest December show is the Front Row Card Show at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ on Dec 12–13, with 800 tables, 11am to 5pm both days, and $10 admission (kids 10 and under free). On Dec 4–6, UltimateCon Daytona at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, FL lists 500 tables and $10 admission, open Friday 1pm to 7pm, Saturday 11am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

The Tampa Sports Collectors Expo at the Florida State Fairgrounds the same weekend lists 250 tables and $5 admission, with Friday hours of 2pm to 8pm and Sunday hours of 10am to 3pm. The New Mexico Card Show at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque (Dec 5–6) lists 200 tables, 10am to 5pm and $5 admission with kids free, and The Green Bay Card Show at the KI Convention Center on Dec 12 lists 200 tables, 9am to 4pm and free admission.

Florida carries the month

11 of the 37 December shows are in Florida, including four of the seven shows on Dec 18–20: The Orlando Card Show in Apopka, the Citrus County Trading Card Expo in Hernando, the Tampa Bay Sports Card Show at Embassy Suites and The 850 Card Show in Tallahassee. Georgia and Massachusetts have 4 each, and New Jersey and Ohio have 3 each.

Christmas weekend

Only four shows are listed for Dec 25–27: the Tampa Card Show by the Bay at Hilton Carillon Park in St. Petersburg (Dec 26–27, Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 9am to 3pm), the Georgia Collectables Show in Chamblee and the Jefferson Card Show in Jefferson, OH (both Dec 26, 9am to 3pm), and the Allsport Collectibles show in Seekonk, MA on Dec 27 (9am to 2pm, $3).

A lot of them are free

14 of the 37 December shows list free admission. Besides Green Bay, the free ones include The 850 Card Show at the North Florida Fairgrounds (Dec 20, 150 tables, 9am to 4pm), the Tampa Bay Sports Card Show in Tampa (Dec 11–12 and Dec 19–20) and the Georgia Collectables Show in Chamblee, which has three dates in December.

If you are in the Northeast

Dec 4–6 is the one big weekend. After that it thins out quickly: three shows on Dec 11–13 (Pembroke, MA, Manhattan and Berlin, CT), then one on Dec 19 in Rockland, MA and one on Dec 27 in Seekonk, MA. The next show on the calendar after Dec 27 is the Mid Hudson Card Show at Faith Christian Academy in Poughkeepsie, NY on Jan 9, 9am to 4pm, for $5.

Plan early

More December dates will be added as organizers confirm them, so check back, and the This Weekend page on Card Shows Nearby always shows the current weekend. Hours, prices and table counts come from each organizer and can change, so check the show page before you travel.