The Owensboro Card Show is back at the Owensboro Convention Center today, offering one of the region’s largest gatherings of sports cards, Pokémon cards, memorabilia, and collectibles.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the German American Ballroom on the Convention Center’s third floor. Admission is $2, with children 5 and under admitted free. Parking is free, and a trade night will follow from 5-7 p.m.
It will be the third show organized by Owensboro residents Jordan Bittel and Joey Higdon, and the second held at the Convention Center. Organizers have expanded from 80 tables to 100, and all vendor spaces are already sold out with a waiting list.
“Last year we had over 300 people show up, so this year we’re expecting a large turnout again,” Bittel said.
Bittel said the pair started the event after realizing the region lacked a consistent card show. Before they launched their event in 2023, local collectors often had to travel to Evansville, Louisville, or Nashville to find shows of similar size.
“We noticed there was a gap in the market,” he said. “With as popular as sports cards are, and with as big as Owensboro and the surrounding area is, there’s no reason we couldn’t have a nice, big card show too.”
Vendors and attendees will bring cards from every major sport as well as Pokémon and other trading card franchises. Bittel said collectors can expect everything from rare vintage pieces to modern stars.
“You’ll have guys there with really rare Mickey Mantles, all the Charizards, some of the Shohei Ohtanis from the World Series,” he said. “Last year, some guy had like a $5,000 Mickey Mouse card. It really is something for everybody.”
Higdon said the show will also include collectible items beyond trading cards.
“Plushes, bags, jerseys, baseball bats, footballs — there’ll be something for everybody,” he said.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own cards and memorabilia. Vendors will offer buying, selling, and trading throughout the day, and the two-hour trade night gives collectors additional time to make deals.
“We encourage the public to bring their stuff,” Higdon said. “If you have something at home and you’re curious, bring it in. Somebody will be there who can tell you what it’s worth, or we can figure it out together.”
Last year’s event drew visitors from five states, including one collector who drove six hours from West Virginia.
“He said he hadn’t been to a show in 20 years and just saw it pop up on Facebook,” Bittel said. “I was a bit astonished by that.”
Both Bittel and Higdon grew up collecting cards and have watched the hobby surge back to life. Higdon said the pandemic brought a spike in interest as people revisited old pastimes, and the momentum has returned again in recent months.
The show will also include giveaways for children throughout the day.
“We just want everyone to come and have some fun and share in the hobby that we all enjoy,” Bittel said.
Vendor tables for this year’s event are sold out, but organizers say they hope to continue growing the show in future years.
