50,000.
That’s how many people attempted to purchase tickets to Funko Fundays, the celebration for all things Funko. Out of those 50,000, less than 3,400 were lucky enough to score tickets. The event was held outdoors for the first time at the Rady Shell located behind the San Diego Convention Center with “Camp Fundays” as this year’s theme.
When you entered the facility you were given a few very important items. The first item was a badge which let you know what table you were at and — more importantly — what team you’re on.
The tables were divided into four sections, one for each of the teams. You were either a Funamuck Bears, Chaseapeak Eagles, Protomoa Wolves, or Popawaka Lumberjacks. The next items you received were a hat, bandanna, BamBams, a sack lunch, and a giant Funko branded bag with a Fundays Box of Fun in it.
Each Fundays Box of Fun comes with five mystery, exclusive items, only available through the Fundays Box. Each box comes with three mystery Pops! and two mystery SODA figures, which are all 2023 Fundays exclusive collectibles. The doors opened at 5 p.m., but the event didn’t officially start until 7 p.m. which allowed attendees an opportunity to open their Box of Fun and trade with fellow collectors. This wouldn’t be the only time that they would be receiving giveaways that night. In fact, by the end of the night their giant Funko branded bag would be filled to the top with Funko Pops, pins, SODA, and other Funko products exclusive to the Camp Fundays campers.
When the event officially kicked off at 7 p.m., Chip Chipper and activities director Dale greeted the eager audience and let them know what the night was going to entail. The first of many giveaways was a limited edition Funko Pop of our team mascot, limited to the amount of campers on that team. Next on the stage were camp counselors Brian Mariotti and Mike Becker discussing how this is Funko’s 25th anniversary and they were celebrating that tonight by giving away an exclusive silver anniversary Freddy Funko Pop to only 600 lucky campers.
Shortly after, Becker brought out the first of three celebrity guests. The crowd went crazy as comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias took the stage. Becker surprised Fluffy by letting him know that he was the most pooped entity in the company’s history and the first inductee into their hall of fame. He introduced an exclusive Jumping Fluffy Pop only available on his official store and blessed some fans with an another exclusive that was given out to a select number of campers. Other guests throughout the night included Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean who led a dance contest with the band’s hit “Everybody.” Our final guest was actor Corey Feldman who announced that he was also releasing a store exclusive Pop that was so popular that it crashed his website.
Did I mention giveaways yet?
Because they didn’t stop throughout the entire show. Teams would compete in games to win exclusives only made available to that team. One prize captain was chosen per table and the prize team would deliver bags of goodies to each table after each game or giveaway was announced. Our team (the Lumberjacks) won the first team prize of the night, which was a Freddy as Spock. We would compete throughout the night for other prizes with each team winning 1/4 exclusive pops limited to 850. At the end of the night, one team was awarded a carved championship medal and another exclusive Pop.
The end of the night was saved for reveals of upcoming Funko products from across all of their properties like Loungefly, Bitty, and Rewind, their brand new collaboration with Blockbuster. The energy throughout the night from both the Funko staff and campers was electric. There are no fans like Funko fans and there is no brand that is doing for fans what Funko is offering. It was a truly incredible night that cemented the fun in Funko.
