I spent two days in Chicago with thousands of Pokémon Go fans and had a blast — here's what it was like at this year's Pokémon Go Fest

Do people still play Pokmon Go? It's been 3 years since the AR mobile game was first released, and based on the crowds in Chicago last week (not the mention the recent $4 billion valuation of the company who makes the game) the answer is a resounding "yes."

Niantic, the game's developer, kicked off its third annual Pokmon Go Fest in Grant Park in Chicago from June 13-16; a sold-out festival that brought Pokmon Trainers from all over the world to the Windy City to trade, battle, and of course, catch rare Pokmon exclusive to the event. Niantic tells Business Insider that tens of thousands of players showed up across the four days.

Unlike previous years (which I also attended) tickets to the 2019 Go Fest were sold within the app, and in order to purchase them you had to also win a lottery drawing. To accommodate more people, the festival was four days long this year, up from two.

Another new twist: Attendees were assigned a date, time, and place to show up. You could come to the park before or after your assigned slot, but all the activities that make the event special only showed up in the Pokmon Go app during the allotted timeframe.

I was there on the Thursday and Friday of the event, but my app didn't activate until the second day before that, all I could do was look around and take photos.

While there were a few network hiccups, and a temporary evacuation on Saturday due to a thunderstorm threat, the rest of the event seemed to go off without a hitch. That's a good thing, considering that the first Pokmon Go fest in 2017 was a notorious fiasco .

I was one of the lucky few to check it out this year, and I had a total blast. Here's what it was like inside during my visit, on the first two days of the event:

Pokmon Go Fest has grown so massive, it now spanned four days. To keep crowds under control, Niantic, the games developer, gave every ticket-holder a day, time, and place to enter the park. My ticket got me in at 9am on Friday from the North Gate.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

While I waited for the event to begin, I plugged my phone into one of the Pokstop-themed charging stations that were scattered around the park.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

People were situated around these throughout the day. It was a long day of gameplay (10 hours), and so a dead battery could ruin everything.

There were large colored tents set up in the field at each end of the park for each of the three teams players can join in Pokmon Go: Instinct (yellow), Valor (red), and Mystic (blue).

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

There were chairs inside the tents, so trainers could relax with their teammates, get some shade, and make new friends.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

Heres what the game looked like in my app just before 9am.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

And here is what it looked like after 9am, when it officially started. For the unfamiliar: Each of those blue pillars is a Pokstop, where players can pick up items. Each and every one here also has a lure to attract wild Pokmon those are the pink dots.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

Suddenly the area was filled with Pokstops and various rare Pokmon like Unown started to spawn.

Rare Pokmon like Absol were spawning in the wild. They normally are only found under special circumstances, like in a multiplayer raid battle, or else by performing certain tasks.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

The main goal of the day was to catch the Mythical Pokmon Jirachi by completing a series of tasks for Professor Willow, your mentor in the game.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

For example, the first task required spinning 7 Pokstops, sending 3 gifts to friends, and making 3 new friends.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

I took up the challenge, and made some new friends.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

While I completed Professor Willows tasks, there were 4 main themed habitats to explore in the park. The first one I encountered was called Spooky Woods.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

Inside were trees covered in cobwebs and a creepy-looking well with smoke shooting out of it.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

A sign nearby the well advised people not to climb inside it.

Trainers could find several Ghost-type Pokmon spawning inside Spooky Woods, like Drifloon and Sableye.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

I was lucky and managed to catch a rare "shiny" Sableye, which is a different color than the normal ones. One of the main perks about going to Go Fest is that there are way more shinies than usual typically, theyre very rare.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

There was also a designated arena in the North side, where trainers could battle each other for prizes. I watched, but didnt participate in any battles. This was new for this years event battling was only added to the game late last year.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

Next stop: The Winter Forest!

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

This was a snowy habitat spawning Ice-type Pokmon like Snorunt and Alolan Sandshrew.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

In-game research tasks also asked trainers to take augmented reality photos with certain Pokmon in their natural habitat. A fun task had you finding a Snover (pictured here) in another area, and bringing him back to his wintery home.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

When taking snapshots of my Pokmon throughout the day, rare monsters would photobomb the picture. Then, youd get a chance to catch them. The game has had events like this before, but not with so many rare Pokmon.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

The Buckingham Fountain, the parks central landmark, was just south of the Winter Forest and served as the centerpiece to the event.Trainers could catch water-type Pokmon here like Lotad, Feebas, and Krabby. The fountain was also a nice way to cool off, since it sprayed water at passersby.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

This giant-sized Squirtle was lurking by the fountain, so I had to get a selfie.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

The third area I visited was called the Fairy Garden.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

There were giant colorful flowers set up along the walkways.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

And there were gateways that shot out bubbles. This area, naturally, spawned Fairy-type Pokmon, like Ralts and Clefairy.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

I heard a lot of players talking about networking issues with the game around the Fairy Garden. While the game was slow to load at times, it wasnt that bad for me.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

The final habitat I visited was called the "Sandy Desert." This was located at the South entrance of the park, and it was placed on top of pre-existing baseball fields.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

Since it had rained on Thursday, much of the sand had turned into mud. While it was perfect weather on Friday, players visiting on Saturday dealt with pouring rain and the threat of a severe thunderstorm which forced players to temporarily evacuate the park.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

The mud was perfect for taking a photo of Hippopotas.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

Heres what it looked like in my game at the South end of the park. Pokstops were everywhere.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

Some of these Pokstops featured the winners of an photo contest Niantic held earlier this year.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

Normally, "Pokmon Go" restricts you to trading one shiny or legendary Pokmon with another player each day. At Go Fest, though, that limit was bumped up to 5, and players got a discount on how much in-game Stardust it costs to make the trade.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder

Trainers were given placards on which they could write which specific Pokmon they were looking to trade. Most people I saw had the signs tucked into their hat or pants as they walked around the park, which encouraged people to approach them.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

I ended up running into two friends from Miami whom I had met back in 2017 at the first Go Fest, so I traded a few Pokmon with them instead of making a sign.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

It took about 2 hours to complete Professor Willows tasks, so by 11am I had finally caught Jirachi!

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

But there was much more to do after the tasks, like have your picture taken with giant mascot versions of Pikachu or Eevee. I decided to skip this opportunity and focus on catching Pokmon instead.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

I took the time to catch some Pachirisu a regional Pokmon whos usually restricted to the far northern hemisphere, that who was spawning all over the place at Go Fest.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

I also stopped by the Pokmon Center merch store, which was selling official Pokmon souvenirs.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

The lines for this were very long. It could take 30 minutes or more to get all the way to the front.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

Many people I spoke with made this their first stop of the day to get it out of the way.

These exclusive, limited edition Go Fest T-shirts were the hot item at the event. So, of course, I had to buy one as well.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

You could also buy other Pokmon souvenirs like stuffed animals, or this Pikachu hat and cape.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

It was cards only no cash or Pokcoins accepted.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Inside

Niantic also had its own merch store on-site for the first time. The Niantic area also had benches for Pokmon trainers to rest on outside, while relaxing music played.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

They were selling water bottles ($24), drawstring bags ($12), and hats ($18).

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

Many of the trainers I saw came in costume or wore Pokmon themed hats.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

Paul Magnuson from Chicago showed me his Jirachi balloon hat. Jirachi was the special legendary Pokmon attendees could catch after completing a series of tasks.

This trainer was wearing a Charizard hat and had wings on his back.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

To keep everyone hydrated throughout the day, there were water stations where you could fill up the bottles you brought or purchased at the store.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

Several popular YouTubers who play the game, like MYSTIC7 and PkmnMasterHolly, were in attendance to meet fans and sign autographs.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

Lines to meet-and-greet with these influencers were extremely long.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

Niantic staff held fan contests in the tents and in the various habitats. Prizes including official Go Fest tee shirts were awarded to trainers who could show the hosts specific monsters, like the heaviest Pokmon in their Pokdex.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

At the end of each day, players gathered by the stage for a group photo. Here you can get a better look at the size of the crowds in attendance on the Friday. The mood was also much more positive than 2017 when network crashes ruined the day.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

After the event ended, Team Rocket started to photobomb any Pok-photo you took for a brief period of time.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

And while the people who had tickets seemed to have had a successful day, those who didnt get tickets banded together and played on their own at places like Chicagos Navy Pier.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Chris Snyder/Business Insider

I spent two days in Chicago with thousands of Pokémon Go fans and had a blast — here's what it was like at this year's Pokémon Go Fest

Pokmon Go Fest has grown so massive, it now spanned four days. To keep crowds under control, Niantic, the games developer, gave every ticket-holder a day, time, and place to enter the park. My ticket got me in at 9am on Friday from the North Gate.

While I waited for the event to begin, I plugged my phone into one of the Pokstop-themed charging stations that were scattered around the park.

There were large colored tents set up in the field at each end of the park for each of the three teams players can join in Pokmon Go: Instinct (yellow), Valor (red), and Mystic (blue).

There were chairs inside the tents, so trainers could relax with their teammates, get some shade, and make new friends.

Heres what the game looked like in my app just before 9am.

And here is what it looked like after 9am, when it officially started. For the unfamiliar: Each of those blue pillars is a Pokstop, where players can pick up items. Each and every one here also has a lure to attract wild Pokmon those are the pink dots.

Rare Pokmon like Absol were spawning in the wild. They normally are only found under special circumstances, like in a multiplayer raid battle, or else by performing certain tasks.

The main goal of the day was to catch the Mythical Pokmon Jirachi by completing a series of tasks for Professor Willow, your mentor in the game.

For example, the first task required spinning 7 Pokstops, sending 3 gifts to friends, and making 3 new friends.

I took up the challenge, and made some new friends.

While I completed Professor Willows tasks, there were 4 main themed habitats to explore in the park. The first one I encountered was called Spooky Woods.

Inside were trees covered in cobwebs and a creepy-looking well with smoke shooting out of it.

Trainers could find several Ghost-type Pokmon spawning inside Spooky Woods, like Drifloon and Sableye.

I was lucky and managed to catch a rare "shiny" Sableye, which is a different color than the normal ones. One of the main perks about going to Go Fest is that there are way more shinies than usual typically, theyre very rare.

There was also a designated arena in the North side, where trainers could battle each other for prizes. I watched, but didnt participate in any battles. This was new for this years event battling was only added to the game late last year.

Next stop: The Winter Forest!

This was a snowy habitat spawning Ice-type Pokmon like Snorunt and Alolan Sandshrew.

In-game research tasks also asked trainers to take augmented reality photos with certain Pokmon in their natural habitat. A fun task had you finding a Snover (pictured here) in another area, and bringing him back to his wintery home.

When taking snapshots of my Pokmon throughout the day, rare monsters would photobomb the picture. Then, youd get a chance to catch them. The game has had events like this before, but not with so many rare Pokmon.

The Buckingham Fountain, the parks central landmark, was just south of the Winter Forest and served as the centerpiece to the event.Trainers could catch water-type Pokmon here like Lotad, Feebas, and Krabby. The fountain was also a nice way to cool off, since it sprayed water at passersby.

This giant-sized Squirtle was lurking by the fountain, so I had to get a selfie.

The third area I visited was called the Fairy Garden.

There were giant colorful flowers set up along the walkways.

And there were gateways that shot out bubbles. This area, naturally, spawned Fairy-type Pokmon, like Ralts and Clefairy.

I heard a lot of players talking about networking issues with the game around the Fairy Garden. While the game was slow to load at times, it wasnt that bad for me.

The final habitat I visited was called the "Sandy Desert." This was located at the South entrance of the park, and it was placed on top of pre-existing baseball fields.

Since it had rained on Thursday, much of the sand had turned into mud. While it was perfect weather on Friday, players visiting on Saturday dealt with pouring rain and the threat of a severe thunderstorm which forced players to temporarily evacuate the park.

The mud was perfect for taking a photo of Hippopotas.

Heres what it looked like in my game at the South end of the park. Pokstops were everywhere.

Some of these Pokstops featured the winners of an photo contest Niantic held earlier this year.

Normally, "Pokmon Go" restricts you to trading one shiny or legendary Pokmon with another player each day. At Go Fest, though, that limit was bumped up to 5, and players got a discount on how much in-game Stardust it costs to make the trade.

Trainers were given placards on which they could write which specific Pokmon they were looking to trade. Most people I saw had the signs tucked into their hat or pants as they walked around the park, which encouraged people to approach them.

I ended up running into two friends from Miami whom I had met back in 2017 at the first Go Fest, so I traded a few Pokmon with them instead of making a sign.

It took about 2 hours to complete Professor Willows tasks, so by 11am I had finally caught Jirachi!

But there was much more to do after the tasks, like have your picture taken with giant mascot versions of Pikachu or Eevee. I decided to skip this opportunity and focus on catching Pokmon instead.

I took the time to catch some Pachirisu a regional Pokmon whos usually restricted to the far northern hemisphere, that who was spawning all over the place at Go Fest.

I also stopped by the Pokmon Center merch store, which was selling official Pokmon souvenirs.

The lines for this were very long. It could take 30 minutes or more to get all the way to the front.

These exclusive, limited edition Go Fest T-shirts were the hot item at the event. So, of course, I had to buy one as well.

You could also buy other Pokmon souvenirs like stuffed animals, or this Pikachu hat and cape.

It was cards only no cash or Pokcoins accepted.

Niantic also had its own merch store on-site for the first time. The Niantic area also had benches for Pokmon trainers to rest on outside, while relaxing music played.

They were selling water bottles ($24), drawstring bags ($12), and hats ($18).

Many of the trainers I saw came in costume or wore Pokmon themed hats.

This trainer was wearing a Charizard hat and had wings on his back.

To keep everyone hydrated throughout the day, there were water stations where you could fill up the bottles you brought or purchased at the store.

Several popular YouTubers who play the game, like MYSTIC7 and PkmnMasterHolly, were in attendance to meet fans and sign autographs.

Lines to meet-and-greet with these influencers were extremely long.

Niantic staff held fan contests in the tents and in the various habitats. Prizes including official Go Fest tee shirts were awarded to trainers who could show the hosts specific monsters, like the heaviest Pokmon in their Pokdex.

At the end of each day, players gathered by the stage for a group photo. Here you can get a better look at the size of the crowds in attendance on the Friday. The mood was also much more positive than 2017 when network crashes ruined the day.

After the event ended, Team Rocket started to photobomb any Pok-photo you took for a brief period of time.

And while the people who had tickets seemed to have had a successful day, those who didnt get tickets banded together and played on their own at places like Chicagos Navy Pier.

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