Pokémon GO Club

Downtown Winter Garden is crowded with monsters.

Pocket monsters, to be exact—and they’re what draw a group of friends together on Wednesday nights to walk, talk, and play the wildly popular mobile game Pokémon GO.

The app uses GPS and augmented reality through the phone’s camera to place Pokémon in the real world; in this case, right outside familiar landmarks like City Hall, Crooked Can, and The Whole Enchilada.

For an hour or two, the Winter Garden Pokémon GO Club strolls through downtown collecting Pokémon, spinning PokéStops, and strategizing for battles. Sometimes they divide into smaller groups, sometimes they just chat and trade creatures. The game has come a long way since its viral launch in 2016, evolving with new features like raids, quests, and community events. Organized clubs like theirs even earn access to exclusive in-game items and rewards based on participation levels.

And while not every outing yields a rare catch or major win, that’s not really the point, says club leader Jewel Coelho.

“The experience itself is the reward,” she says. “I’ve never once said it’s a waste of time.”

That sentiment is shared by millions. As of 2023, Pokémon GO still boasts over 80 million monthly active users worldwide—and nearly 40% of them are older than the age of 25. The game’s combination of nostalgia, movement, and real-time social play has made it a surprisingly sticky (and for some, addictive) hobby for adults, with studies citing increased physical activity and reduced stress as side effects.

In Winter Garden, the club welcomes beginners and veterans alike.

“The skill barrier is pretty low,” Jewel says. “Anyone can figure it out—and everyone’s happy to help.”

Even if you don’t catch ‘em all, chances are you’ll still leave with a few new friends.