Event-Features

To start your journey, make your way to Randall’s Island. Randall’s Island is a small island located in the East River of New York City. It is situated between the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx. Randall’s Island is easily accessible on foot, by public transit, or bike.

Trainers can enter the Pokémon GO Fest 2023 experience via two entrances:

• North: Adjacent to the Bronx Shore Fields near the RFK
• Manhattan Pedestrian access / 133rd Street drop-off point.
  South: Located between the Salt Marsh and the Harlem River Event Area

Pokémon GO Fest is accessible by public transportation, as well as third-party operated dedicated ferries. There is NO parking for personal vehicles on Randall’s Island or designated rideshare drop-off locations on Randall’s Island. Rideshares will have drop-off locations on the mainland with access to walking bridges. We suggest taking the ferry to get to Pokémon GO Fest—see below for more information!

MTA
Getting to Pokémon GO Fest courtesy of the MTA is another option. The Pokémon GO Fest team is working closely with the MTA to ensure everyone has a convenient mode of transportation to the event.

Here’s how to get to Pokémon GO Fest via the subway and MTA Buses in two simple steps.
STEP ONE:
Take the 4, 5, or 6 subway train to the 125th Street stop.
$5.50 roundtrip ($1.00 new card fee not included)

STEP TWO:
Take the M35 Bus from 125th Street / Lexington Avenue to Randall’s Island Park.
$6.50 roundtrip ($3.75 if coming from subway using MetroCard or contactless option)
https://omny.info/

The X80 Express bus service will be in operation for this event. The bus will operate from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with buses running every 3-5 minutes. The fare is $6.75 round trip ($4.00 with a transfer from a pay-per-ride Metrocard) when boarding in Manhattan. No fare is collected returning from Randall’s Island (customers must still pay to enter the subway after the event). Guests can take the 4/5/6 trains to 125 St and get the X80 bus at Lexington Ave & 125 St.

Ferry Service
Ferries will depart from and return to the East 35th Street Ferry Landing located at the intersection of East 35th Street and FDR Drive. They will travel to and from Randall’s Island all weekend long, running from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Tickets are first-come, first-served, and must be purchased prior to boarding.

Click here for GO Fest 2023 ferry tickets.

Tickets can be purchased as a round-trip or one-way option for $35 or $20, respectively (plus tax and a processing fee).

Bikes/Wheeled Devices
You can walk across the footbridge from E. 103rd St. in Manhattan onto Randall’s Island Park to get to the event. It takes about 20–25 minutes to walk from the Manhattan side of the footbridge to the Pokémon GO Fest entrance. You are welcome to ride your bike to the event, but the use of wheeled devices (bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, scooters, etc.) on the Randall’s Island campus is not allowed. Children’s strollers and wheeled equipment used by people with disabilities are permitted.

Walking

From Manhattan (about 15 minutes):
A walkway along the RFK Triborough Bridge runs between 125th Street and 2nd Avenue and the northwestern section of Randall’s Island Park. The ramp on this walkway is ADA accessible.

From Queens (about 30 minutes):
A walkway runs along the RFK Triborough Bridge between Hoyt Avenue and 28th Street, adjacent to the Astoria Boulevard N/W subway station, and the midpoint of Randall’s Island Park, adjacent to the Central Fields. Due to stairs, this pathway is not ADA accessible.

From the Bronx (about 15 minutes):
Walkways on both the eastern and western sides of the RFK Triborough Bridge run between 133rd Street at Cypress Avenue/Bruckner Boulevard and the Bronx Shore Fields area at Randall’s Island Park. These walkways are ADA accessible.

The Randall’s Island Connector
The Randall’s Island Connector provides at-grade access to pedestrians and cyclists 365 days per year, 24 hours a day. It runs under the arches of the Hell Gate Bridge railroad trestle between 132nd Street at Willow/Walnut Avenues in the Bronx and the northern shore of Randall’s Island Park.

BICYCLISTS PLEASE NOTE: Bikes are NOT allowed on the ferry or buses. Bike parking is south of the RFK Bridge Pedestrian Walkway, near the ferry landing on Randall’s Island. Follow signs from the main Pokémon GO Fest entrance.

Here are some transportation options for your trip to and from New York City for Pokémon GO Fest.

Plane
The closest airports to Randall’s Island are Newark International (airport code: EWR), John F. Kennedy (airport code: JFK), and LaGuardia (airport code: LGA)

Train
New Jersey Transit, Amtrak, Long Island Railroad (LIRR), and Metro North have trains that run in and out of New York City on a daily basis.

Train terminal options:
Pennsylvania Station (often referred to as PENN station), located in the heart of midtown Manhattan, is serviced by LIRR, Amtrak, and New Jersey Transit.
Grand Central Station is serviced by Metro North.
Harlem 125th street , the closest terminal to Pokémon GO Fest,) is serviced by Metro North.

Bus
The BOLT bus travels from Baltimore, Boston, Cherry Hill, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC to several New York City locations on a daily basis. Check www.boltbus.com for more details. A number of bus companies travel daily to the Port Authority Bus Terminal located in midtown Manhattan. You can easily access many subway trains from there. For information on all carriers, call the Port Authority Terminal at 212-564-8484 or visit www.ny.com/transportation/port_authority.html.

Can I be dropped off and picked up from Pokémon GO Fest?
We will be offering dedicated areas for rideshare drop-offs and pick-ups with access to pedestrian bridges. There is NO parking for personal vehicles on Randall’s Island.

Rideshare drop-off and pick-up can be accessed at:
E 102nd St and FDR (Ward’s Island walking bridge)
E 105th St ahead of entrance to Ward’s Island walking bridge
E 124th St between 1st and 2nd - FDR (before the entrance to RFK bridge)

Download the event map

How do I get to Pokémon GO Fest if I am driving?
Parking will not be available on Randall’s Island. We strongly encourage you to get to Randall’s Island by taking the ferry or public transportation, by walking or biking, or by getting dropped off at one of the bridges and walking over.

Please note: Illegal parking on Randall’s Island Park fields, recreational land, or any place not clearly marked as a designated parking area is strictly prohibited and may result in a fine of no less than $60 and/or a criminal court summons.

Where can I park my car?
There will be NO PARKING available on Randall’s Island during the event. See below for a list of nearby parking garages.

Parking Garages near 125th Bridge

• East River Plaza Garage: E. 116th Street between Pleasant Ave and FDR Drive
• Paladino Parking Lot: 10 Paladino Ave, New York, NY 10035
• MPG Parking Lot: 1559 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10029
• Champion 126: 162E 126th St, New York, NY 10035
• Valet Garage: 245 E 124th St.
• Valet Garage: 204 E 126th St.
• E-Z Park East: 127th st and Park Ave
• East End Parking Corp: 125th between 2nd & 3rd
• iPark E 124 Garage: 124th between 2nd & 3rd
• Taino Towers Garage Corp: 122nd between 2nd & 3rd
• 1908 Parking: Park Ave between 130th & 129th

Parking Garages near 103rd St Footbridge

• MPG Manhattan Parking: 440 E 102nd St, New York, NY 10029
• 1955 1st Ave Garage: 480 E 101st St, New York, NY 10029, US
• Glenwood Hampton Court: 103rd St between 1st & 2nd
• Quik Park: 102nd St between 1st & 2nd
• Edison ParkFast: 401 E. 110th St. Lot - Valet

Parking Garages near the ferry (35th st & FDR Drive)

• MPG NYULM C Garage Corp: 400 East 35th St., New York, NY 10016
• First Ave Parking, LLC: 630 1st Ave., New York, NY 10016, (646) 684-4047
• Enterprise Parking Systems: 415 East 35th St., New York, NY 10016
• iPark NYUMC: 400 E 35th St
• iPark 1st Ave Parking: 475 East 36th St, NY 10016
• Enterprise 37 East Parking LLC: 415 E 37th St, New York, NY 10016
• iPark 340 E 34 Garage: 332-342 East 34th Street, New York, NY 10016
• GMC Tunnel Garage: 300 East 34th Street
• 575 1st Ave Valet Garage: 575 1st Ave, New York, NY, 10016
• MPG MP E 34th St: 34th St between 1st & 2nd

Where can I find accessible parking?
ADA accessible parking is limited and available at Randall’s Island Park on a first-come, first-served basis. If you do not have an ADA placard in your vehicle, you will not be permitted to park. If non-ADA attendees park in these areas, they will be towed and/or fined.

*This information is intended for information and planning purposes only and is not to be taken as endorsements or warranties of any kind. All information presented here is subject to change.

Tickets can be purchased at https://pokemongolive.com/events/gofest-2023/nyc?hl=en while supplies last. For an overview of how in-app ticketing works for the live event in Pokémon GO Fest, see our Help Center.

Please note the following:

• Event gameplay will be available only at these locations on the specified date and time.
• Tickets to these events, including the purchase of any add-ons, are nonrefundable (subject to applicable law and the exceptions set forth in the Terms of Service). Tickets are “first come, first served” and will be available for purchase while supplies last.
• Minors are only able to attend when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Parents or guardians must purchase a ticket for themselves and for any children who would like to participate in event gameplay. The email associated with the parent/guardian’s Pokémon GO account must match the parent/guardian’s email address on file with Niantic Kids / Pokémon Trainer Club.

To begin your Pokémon GO Fest Park Experience, simply arrive at Randall’s Island on the date and time of your purchased ticket. Trainers who do not have a valid ticket will be unable to see or interact with any Pokémon within the park.

Please note that your ticket purchase designates your starting time and date at Randall’s Island. You WILL NOT be able to play in the park before your assigned time and date.

• Morning Park Experience: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm ET
• Afternoon Park Experience: 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm ET

The event will adhere to the state and local health guidelines that are in place at the time of the event. As we welcome people to the event, we will be working with Randall’s Island and local organizations to put measures in place for the health and safety of our attendees. The measures may change as our situation evolves, but they will err on the side of ensuring our patrons enjoy a clean and safe experience at Randall’s Island.

We are asking all visitors to follow travel-related health and safety guidelines that apply to their particular situations. Please also follow guidelines from local health authorities when playing Pokémon GO. These include the following:

• NYC Health COVID-19 Guidance: https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-main.page

Randall’s Island has park enforcement officers that regularly patrol the campus and parking lots. Park enforcement officers coordinate closely with New York City Police Department (NYPD) personnel to ensure compliance with Randall’s Island campus and facility rules of conduct.

Additional event security: We have worked closely with Randall’s Island and local authorities to create and follow a carefully crafted plan for fast and capable responses to a range of security needs and emergency situations to ensure the safety of all Trainers.

Building evacuation procedures: If circumstances require evacuation, trainers should follow the instructions directed by event security, police, or medical responders.

Lost children: In the event of a missing child, please notify a Randall’s Island representative, a local police officer, event security guard, or a member of the customer service staff so that they can coordinate to make sure the child is returned safely.

Safety tips:

• If you see something suspicious while on event grounds or at Randall’s Island facilities, please report it immediately to Randall’s Island at (212) 860-1899 or call 9-1-1.
• If you have a cell phone, keep it readily available in case you need to use it.
• Be mindful of your surroundings to avoid stumbling in wet areas and along pathways.
• Please visit Randall’s Island’s park safety tips for more information: https://randallsisland.org/
• All attendees must abide by the Niantic Live Events Code of Conduct.

Allowed:

• Standard school-sized backpacks
• Binoculars
• Blankets, sheets, towels
• Cameras (basic point-and-shoot consumer-grade cameras)
• Sealed sunscreen (no aerosol containers)
• Empty hydration packs and water bottles (plastic or aluminum), 36 oz maximum
• Prepackaged food
• Factory-sealed bottles of water or empty reusable water bottles (free water-filling stations are available on-site)
• Collapsible umbrellas strollers

Discouraged:

• Large backpacks (no frames or camping gear)
• Professional audio recording equipment
• Professional video equipment
• Camera accessories, such as selfie sticks, tripods, monopods, GoPro mounts and attachments, or other commercial equipment
• Totems, flags, banners
• Coolers of any kind (exceptions may be made for medical use)
• Hammocks
• Water guns or squirt guns
• Professional-grade radios or walkie-talkies
• Skateboards, scooters, wagons, carts (including red wagons), or any personal motorized vehicles (not including assistance devices)
• Chairs of any kind
• Cigarettes, e-cigs, or vaping devices
• Aerosol containers (including sunscreen and personal beauty products)

Prohibited:

• Littering
• Smoking
• Weapons
• Walking in planting beds
• Picking flowers or plants
• Feeding or bothering the wildlife
• Parking on fields, grass or any location not specifically authorized for parking
• Commercial activity, except by permit or otherwise authorized
• Alcohol, except by permit or in authorized areas
• Events or gatherings greater than 20 persons, except by permit
• Film or photo shoots, except by permit
• Amplified sound, except by permit
• Barbecuing, except for in designated areas
• Dogs not on a leash
• Leaving dog waste (please clean up after your dog)

If you have further questions, please visit Randall’s Island Park Alliance FAQs here

There is a merchandise booth located within the park that will sell Pokémon Center and Pokémon GO event merchandise to attendees.
Be advised that the merchandise shop is cashless.

Please note, because this booth is located within the park, attendees will only be able to visit the merchandise booth during their ticketed session.

There will be Information Booths located within the event. Stop by to get answers to your questions, receive registration help, learn about our accessibility plan, return found items or look for lost items, and learn more about Pokémon GO!

Pokémon GO Fest is proud to support those who may be nursing newborns during the event. Family restrooms will be available at the event. Please visit the Information Booth for the exact location.

There will be a Technical Support desk located within the event. The support staff can help you if you have issues with the event gameplay.

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Think about what you bring. Choose reusable bags or totes for your supplies and souvenir items to help eliminate plastic bag waste. Avoid buying single-use items and disposing of them while in the park.

Stick to the Path
While playing, make sure to stick to designated paths and avoid any areas that are closed off. When vegetation is trampled, there is a greater chance that either weeds will grow back in its place or nothing will grow back at all. If everyone taking part in Pokémon GO Fest strayed from the path, our host park could suffer severe impacts, so help us take care of the park by sticking to dedicated paths and trails.

Pack It in, Pack It Out
Our goal for Pokémon GO Fest is to leave the park better than we found it. As much as possible, things you bring into the park should leave with you, too. For other waste, Pokémon GO Fest will have trash and recycling stations around the host park for your use. Even leftover biodegradable materials, such as food scraps, should be disposed of in a compost bin. Though these items are biodegradable, they are not native to the host city and can create an eyesore for others. A general rule of thumb is to ask yourself, “Would this be here if I weren’t?” If the answer is no, then the best practice is to pack it out with you and dispose of it properly.

Keep Wildlife Wild
Observe wildlife from a distance and never feed them human food. Animals can become dependent on leftover food or trash and become aggressive as a result. By sticking to paths and not approaching wildlife, you avoid stressing animals or damaging their habitat.

Leave It as You Find It
If each visitor picked a flower, collected a rock, or didn’t properly dispose of waste, then the natural habitat would be depleted. Leave the parks and city as you find them to protect the habitat of plants and animals, as well as the outdoor experiences of millions of visitors. Even better, with the help of fellow Trainers, we can leave our host city better than we found it!

Garbage/refuse collection and disposal is ultimately the responsibility of everyone. Any and all refuse generated must be properly disposed of in receptacles located throughout the park. Please dispose of your trash in the correct receptacles, as notated by signs.

All ticket holders are allowed to re-enter the event throughout their ticketed session. Only ticket holders will be able to participate in the Pokémon GO Fest gameplay experience and specialized elements.
Trainers will be required to select from two gameplay sessions to guide their gameplay throughout the day.

Morning Park Experience
With a Morning Park Experience ticket, Trainers will start their day on Randall’s Island and explore all the park has to offer. From 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., there will be no gameplay within the park to allow transit to your preferred play location within the city.
Then, in the afternoon, Trainers will be able to continue the event from anywhere in New York City!

Afternoon Park Experience
With an Afternoon Park Experience ticket, Trainers will begin their day by enjoying event gameplay anywhere in New York City. From 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., we recommend that you make your way from your preferred play location within the city to Randall’s Island.
Then, starting at 3:00 p.m., Trainers can enjoy the Park Experience, taking in all that Randall’s Island has to offer.

Security guards will be located throughout the areas of the event to provide assistance. If additional assistance is needed, find the nearest security staff or call 9-1-1.

Pokémon GO Fest is ADA compliant, including accessible entrances and restrooms. Power outlets for recharging devices will be located at specific locations across the footprint. Please look for the mobility charging signs. For more information on accessibility accommodations, visit the Information Booth during operational hours. Services offered at the Information Booth include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Answers to questions specific to the ADA access program
• Information relevant to our patrons with disabilities

If you encounter a guest with a disability who has any access questions or needs assistance, please direct them to the Information Booth.

Please be considerate of all Pokémon GO Fest 2023 attendees. Never ask the nature of a person’s disability. Never push a mobility device or wheelchair unless asked, but you can help clear crowds as appropriate.

A patron requiring insulin is allowed to bring their medically necessary materials and medications as long as all medicine has a prescription label with the patron’s name. Out of concern for the festival staff who handle the trash, patrons are expected to dispose of medical waste and syringes in the proper disposal located at the medical area. Please do not dispose of these items in other trash bins at the event.

If additional support is required, please check in at the medical area.

• The park grounds are ADA accessible, but please be aware that this is a venue with distances between attractions. Attendees can expect to travel about one mile during their Park Experience. Bear in mind that Pokémon GO Fest 2023 is an outdoor event where most travel is over natural terrain and pathways. Be prepared for rain or shine. Pokémon GO Fest 2023 does not provide wheelchairs for rent or loan, personal care, golf cart rides, or push services of any kind. Guests should make arrangements in advance if a wheelchair is needed and plan to bring attendants, if required.
• Motorized vehicles, such as Segways and golf carts, are not allowed.
• Accessible toilets are available throughout the park.
• A Randall’s Island campus map (including the locations of bathrooms) is available here.

Dogs and cats under the control of a handler and on a leash are allowed in NYC Parks. All other animals are prohibited without permission from NYC Parks, RIPA or his/her designee. No animals (except trained service animals) are allowed in buildings. Any individual(s) engaged in conducting animal shows, events, or obedience schools require permission from NYC Parks, RIPA or his/her designee to schedule such events at any NYC Park and Recreation facility.

You can bring prepackaged food and bottled water. There will also be a variety of food vendors on-site.

Hydration stations to refill water bottles and water fountains will be located throughout Randall’s Island. Don’t forget to bring your reusable water bottle to fill up and keep yourself refreshed throughout the event. Please be mindful of the weather. Drink water even if you don’t feel thirsty. We want everyone to stay hydrated and healthy during Pokémon GO Fest!

Pokémon GO Fest 2023 will have food vendors that provide special dietary options. Please visit an Information Booth for a full list of vendors and further information.

The event will take place rain or shine. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions. No refunds will be given due to inclement weather. In the case of extreme weather, directions to the nearest shelters will be communicated to attendees.

To apply for press credentials, please reach out to press@nianticlabs.com.