Midwest Gaming Classic started out in 2001 as JagFest 2K1, a small gathering of Atari Jaguar enthusiasts. Twenty-five years later, it is the nation’s largest retro gaming event.
Midwest Gaming Classic returns to Milwaukee’s Baird Center from Friday, April 24, through Sunday, April 26. The theme is “Where All Gamers Come Home.” All games are included with admission, and children under 9 attend free.
The show spans more than 350,000 square feet at Milwaukee’s Baird Center and features over 10,000 playable games, 200 vendors, and 100 industry guests. It offers every major format of play, from retro and modern consoles to arcade and pinball machines, tabletop role-playing games, collectible card tournaments, indie developers, cosplay and live entertainment.
"We’ve always tried to create a place where everyone feels welcome, where you can share what you love and find your people," says co-founder Dan Loosen.
The experience includes wall-to-wall arcade games set to free play, consoles from every generation, tabletop gaming, vendor showcases, live entertainment and competitive zones throughout the weekend. Attendees can participate in cosplay and tournaments, discover homebrew creations, expand their collections, and explore the evolving world of gaming across generations.
"After 25 years, that idea still guides everything we do,” says Loosen.
“We’ve always tried to create a place where everyone feels welcome, where you can share what you love and find your people. After 25 years, that idea still guides everything we do,” says co-founder Dan Loosen.
For tickets and more information about Midwest Gaming Classic, go here.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
