How much does merchandise cost at SacAnime Spring? Here are affordable options
Every year, I go to SacAnime. And every year, like many convention-goers, I find it difficult not to splurge.
Going to SacAnime is a seasonal tradition for many Sacramento anime fans. I’ve been attending anime conventions since I was teenager and as a hobby, I cosplay.
In my personal life, I joke that SacAnime is my own personal SuperBowl. It’s a weekend where my friends and I go all out. We cosplay, plan which voice actors we want to meet and map out our entire weekend around the convention.
While SacAnime weekend is one of my favorite times of the year, it’s not unheard of for fans to drop thousands of dollars on the weekend alone.
So this year, I gave myself a goal to spend under $100.
What is SacAnime?
SacAnime is Sacramento’s very own anime convention, held in the summer, winter and spring. This month, it returned to CalExpo after its short relocation to Roseville. The entrance to the convention is at CalExpo’s Blue Gate.
The convention has a long history in Sacramento. Starting in 2004, SacAnime has brought big names in anime and cartoons to Sacramento. Most notably, the convention in hosting Don Bluth, the director and creative mind behind “The Land Before Time,” “Anastasia” and “All Dogs Go to Heaven.”
How did I find affordable merch?
Once you get past registration and have your convention wristband, you’ll be able to explore vendors spread across two separate building.
In Building D, you’ll find commercial merchandise and some local artists. This year, the convention boasts around 350 vendors. As a veteran con-goer, I learned the golden rule: Never buy the first thing you see.
That means, essentially, to explore any vendor hall before making a purchase, because oftentimes, you’ll find merchandise of the same variety at a cheaper price.
While I explored different vendors, I found anime-themed Funko Pops, ranging from $15-$40, depending on the rarity. Some even go for $150 to $200, with autographs from a character’s voice actors.
Anime figurines on the other hand, had a cheaper and shorter price range. Figures cost approximately $35 to $45. Some of these are bargains compared to online shopping options. For example, I found a rare in-box Hatsune Miku Project Sekai movie figurine, priced at $45. Online, this figure goes for $60 to $100, not including shipping.
Throughout Building D, vendors sell anime replica swords, shirts, plushies and keychains. As a certified lover of cute things, I typically lean towards plush keychains while at conventions. During my search, I found a $12 Tony Tony Chopper plush keychain from Camila’s shop, from the beloved anime, “One Piece.”
Local artists
But as a frequent convention attendee (and spender), the heart of merchandise at SacAnime is in the artist alley. Located in Building C, local artists from across the Sacramento area and Northern California travel to SacAnime to sell their homemade art.
Marisol Montano is a graphic artist from Stockton. She sold prints, stickers, and handcrafted pins — which cost $15 each, featuring art from the “Sonic the Hedgehog” franchise and the animated movie, “The Book of Life.” I also met James Plummer, a Sacramento-based artist with prints priced at $10 and commissioned art from $25 to $70.
Other stands, such as Lemon-Creme studios sold hand-drawn acrylic keychain charms for $18. As a lifelong Pokémon fan, I bought the Galarian Ponyta one. My keychain quest continued with AmeAme, who sold keychains for $12 each (a free Pokémon sticker). I also snagged an Umbreon keychain from Ariamisu, an artist based in Hayward, a $3 sticker from California-based artist, Midori Chann and three anime prints from Seattle-based SouperMando for $28.40.
In total, I spent $99 at this year’s convention, a dollar shy of my budget.
SacAnime Spring continues through the weekend from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 8:00 AM.
