One Piece Fest made its debut in Los Angeles at the COSM LA on August 25 and 26, allowing fans to step inside the One Piece universe and enjoy various activities and merch. Upon entering the venue, a giant mural of the Straw Hat Crew greeted attendees. As you enter, a giant mural of the Straw Hat Crew greeted you, setting the tone. A variety of impressive props and decorations lined the entire area, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of boarding the Going Merry. Wooden barrels, rope, and wooden accents had fans taking their phones out to capture even the smallest details. With entry, fans received an exclusive straw hat and tote bag, filled with postcards, a stamp rally card, and a miniature Wanted poster that can be decorated with characters upstairs.
To the right of the entrance was a carnival activation and photo-op area where fans could pose with Shanks, Wanted posters, Zoro’s swords, and a giant Chopper, as well as participate in a few mini games. In front of the carnival was the stage, where panels and performances were held. Also outside was the Bazaar, a marketplace for TCG, Funko, and other official One Piece merchandise. Unfortunately, with the extreme heat and lack of shade, these outside areas were tougher to brave, even for the strongest One Piece fans.
Thankfully, the majority of the event took place indoors, inside COSM LA. Fans were able to order themed drinks and food from any of the three floors, enjoy a special dome show experience, complete their stamp rally, and take photos with a wide variety of photo op stations. From a backlit jail cell with Buggy to Nami’s Boots from Egghead Island to photos with Trafalgar Law or Portgas D. Ace, there was something set up for every fan’s favorite character. In addition, there were several gachapon machines prepared for fans to test their luck, and even a TCG playing area for fans to engage in friendly games.
For programming, three English voice actors for the show participated on a special panel. Brina Palencia (voice of Chopper), Ian Sinclair (voice of Brook), and Matthew David Rudd (voice of Loki) discussed the upcoming release of the Elbaph arc, being part of the One Piece family, and their excitement to be attend this unique event. The trio made sure to steer clear of spoilers, but truly enjoyed being able to interact with fans and share their love and passion for the series. After their short but sweet panel, the actors could also be seen walking the fest themselves, taking pictures at the photo ops, stopping for photos with fans, and enjoying the immersive experience.
Closing out the night was Hiroshi Kitadani, performing his three most iconic songs released for One Piece, and even signing a few straw hats to throw into the audience. His strong voice and fun personality shone through, and for fans, singing along to “We Are!” as they pumped their fists into the air alongside him felt like being part of the Straw Hat Crew.
One of the festival’s strengths is how it gave fair access to real fans. Tickets were distributed through a lottery system, a decision many attendees praised for helping deter scalpers. Whether they were longtime followers or newcomers to the series, attendees could find recognizable moments Brough tot life, take photos with their favorite characters, and explore the festival’s many attractions. Just as meaningful, however, was taking it all in with fellow fans.
“One of the coolest things I’ve seen would be the big Chopper walking around, but honestly, I have to say that I just love seeing everybody in cosplay,” one fan named PADBAE shared. “Just getting to meet so many people in the community and have this really big event was so amazing. The live performance, the panel, and the showing was spectacular. Getting to see all of these little photo op areas, it really feels like a very strong immersive experience! You can go to cons, but you don’t get this same immersive experience.”
Similarly, other attendees felt the same sense of community. Fans were complimenting each other’s cosplays, whether they were extravagant or something as simple as wearing a red cardigan. Attendees could also be seen trading cards and gachapon prizes, ensuring everyone got their favorite characters. Strangers were helping people take photos at their preferred photo ops, fans were allowing other attendees with ADA necessities in front of them for easier viewing access, and players in the TCG area were guiding each other on how to play. With the hot weather, each section of the event had iced water available at no charge. Not only was water available, but each dispenser was stationed with full-sized iced drink cups, lids, and straws, so water could be taken around easily. Attendees could cool down with the air conditioning and plenty of seating inside COSM, and there were portapotties outside and bathrooms on each floor inside. All these small features allowed for fans to take part in every aspect without worry. They may seem self-explanatory or small, but these small details really made a huge difference for attendees.
Ultimately, the festival didn’t necessarily present anything new. There were no signings or exclusive drops. Instead, the festival created a sense of community for everyone, allowing them to share their love for One Piece together in a comfortable and enjoyable environment.
