Grand Theft Ani-Mayhem: Three Days Inside Galactakon

WI Lifestyle Magazine
13 hours ago
6 min read

There are some events you attend for a few hours and then there are those that somehow manage to turn into an entire experience. For three days, Galactakon’s “Grand Theft Ani-Mayhem Weekend” gave us exactly that—a weekend filled with anime, gaming, cosplay, food, fashion, nostalgia, music, and more than enough activities to leave you completely exhausted by the time you got home.

My mom, my sister and I decided to experience the weekend together, and naturally, we couldn’t just attend—we had to show up in costume.

What started as a fun family outing quickly became three days of stepping into different worlds, discovering new things, reliving old memories, and making a few of our own.

Day One: Arcade Heist

The weekend kicked off on Friday, August 28, with Arcade Heist, held at Game Busters Arcade at Valpark. Compared with the excitement that would come later in the weekend, the morning had a much more relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

My mom, sister and I arrived dressed as the Powerpuff Girls, ready to enjoy a morning of games, food, drinks, and cosplay. The arcade was filled with people dressed as their favorite anime characters while playing classic video games, enjoying good food, and simply having a great time.

There was something incredibly inviting about the space. It felt comfortable, casual, and easy to settle into, and the staff definitely added to that experience. Their customer service was great, and everyone we interacted with was pleasant and welcoming.

For us, Arcade Heist was the perfect way to ease into the weekend. We got to play games, take in the different costumes, enjoy the atmosphere, and, most importantly, have fun together.

Later that day came Cut Scene Party Cade, the after-party for Arcade Heist, held at the same venue. It was a continuation of the gaming and anime-inspired energy, but with the excitement turned up a little more.

And that was only day one.

Day Two: Grand Theft Ani-Mayhem

Saturday marked the beginning of the main convention, Grand Theft Ani-Mayhem, and this time, our costumes were a little different.

The three of us decided to represent characters from Hunter x Hunter. My mom came as Leorio, my sister dressed as her favorite character, Killua Zoldyck, and I created my own version of Hisoka Morow.

My mom's costume, however, came with an unexpected problem. Despite being dressed as Leorio, she spent most of the afternoon being mistaken for someone from Men in Black. At this point, we simply had to laugh about it.

The convention itself was packed with creative anime items, alternative jewelry and the highlight of the day was the Cosplay runway. There was always something to see or experience around the corner. The patrons and vendors were welcoming and helpful, which made navigating the event much easier.

One of the things that stood out to me was the combination of Japanese and Trinidadian culture, especially when it came to the food. The menu offered a wonderful fusion of influences, allowing attendees to experience something different while still having that familiar Trinidadian touch. While sushi was certainly part of the experience, it was far from the only option available. Guests could also enjoy local favourites such as doubles, alongside more familiar comfort foods including burgers and fries. For those with a sweet tooth, there were cakes, cookies and other sweet treats. While milkshakes and teas offered refreshing options to complement the variety of food available.

The diverse selection made the experience feel welcoming to everyone, bringing together international influences with flavours and favourites that felt distinctly Trinidadian. It was another example of how Galactakon brought different cultures together in a way that was fun, accessible and uniquely its own.

Though the sushi was a little pricey, in my opinion, it was worth it.

The Fashion Show

Without a doubt, one of my highlights of the day was the fashion show.

Seeing everyday fashion blended with anime-inspired costumes was honestly fascinating. The creativity and effort that went into some of the looks were incredible, and the variety kept things interesting from beginning to end.

From a group dressed as the Akatsuki clan to the smallest and cutest Batman I have ever seen, there was something for everyone.

It was one of those moments where you could simply sit back and appreciate the creativity of the people around you. Cosplay is about more than just putting on a costume—it is about becoming a character, expressing yourself, and sharing that passion with like minded people.

By the time we eventually made it home, the three of us were completely exhausted. So exhausted, in fact, that we weren't even sure if we were going to make it to the after-party that night.

But somehow, we did.

90's Vice City Disglo

Saturday night brought 90's Vice City Disglo, the after-party for day two.

The name pretty much tells you everything you need to know.

The event brought a glow-in-the-dark atmosphere together with a strong 90s-inspired vibe, and it ended up being my mom's favorite part of the entire convention.

She could not stop talking about how much the event reminded her of going out when that style of nightlife was more popular. For her, it wasn't just a party—it was a trip down memory lane.

Watching her enjoy herself so much made the experience even better for me.

Day Three: One Last Round of Ani-Mayhem

Sunday was the final day of Grand Theft Ani-Mayhem, and by this point, we had already experienced so much that it was hard to believe the weekend was almost over.

We spent so much of the day wandering from vendor to vendor, and honestly, choosing what to purchase was half the challenge.

There were comics, figurines, key chains, plushies, games, stickers, collectibles, posters and so many other things that caught our attention. My mom, sister, and I moved through the different booths trying to take in everything. Naturally, we also had a mission: finding stickers of the characters we were dressed as.

Looking through the different vendors gave us an even greater appreciation for just how much was available at Galactakon. Whether you were a longtime anime fan, a gamer, a collector, or simply someone looking for something interesting, there was plenty to discover.

I even decided to test my strength on the boxing machine.

Let's just say the score was very humbling.

But was it worth it?

Absolutely.

My favorite purchase of the day, however, had nothing to do with the boxing machine. I ended up buying Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, and seeing them immediately brought back memories of collecting them when I was younger.

There is something special about nostalgia. Sometimes all it takes is seeing something you haven't thought about in years to instantly take you back.

And for me, those cards did exactly that.

South Beach Wasted

Then came the final event of the weekend: South Beach Wasted. By this point, I thought I knew what to expect from Galactakon. I was wrong.

Words honestly cannot fully describe that night. I had heard that previous years had larger crowds and bigger sliders, but that didn't stop me from having an amazing time. The atmosphere was energetic, playful, and completely immersive.

One of my favorite moments came when Mela Caribe performed Lost in Trinbago. Dancing in the foam while listening to the performance created this euphoric, almost surreal feeling.

The music was another major highlight. The combination of soca, early-2000s dance music, techno, and anime theme songs somehow worked incredibly well together.

It was chaotic in the best possible way.

At that point, I realized that I had gone from simply attending an anime convention to being completely immersed in the experience.

Forget Lost in Trinbago.

I was Lost in Galactakon.

Until Next Time...

Looking back, Galactakon's Grand Theft Ani-Mayhem Weekend was definitely one for the books.

From dressing up as the Powerpuff Girls on Friday, stepping into the world of Hunter x Hunter on Saturday, discovering new vendors and reliving childhood memories on Sunday, and ending the weekend dancing in the foam and lounging around in the pool, every day brought something different.

What I enjoyed most was being able to experience it all with my mom and sister. We laughed, dressed up, explored, ate, shopped, played games, danced, and created memories together.

Galactakon proved that you don't necessarily have to be the biggest anime fan or a hardcore gamer to enjoy yourself. Sometimes, all you need is an open mind, a good costume, and a willingness to have fun.

Three days later, we were tired, slightly broke from all the tempting things to buy, and already looking forward to the next one.

Grand Theft Ani-Mayhem may have come to an end, but one thing is certain: I'll definitely be going again.