CALIFORNIA, Md. — Swords and Spoons will celebrate its one-year anniversary this weekend with a two-day Birthday Bash that combines tabletop tournaments, livestreams and a fundraiser for Extra Life, a national gaming charity that benefits local children’s hospitals.
Owner Jenn Galloway said the store’s first year was defined by connection and community, and that Swords and Spoons wanted to give back to the community while celebrating. The weekend’s anniversary event will feature a continuous fundraiser for Extra Life, with proceeds supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Galloway said the goal is to raise more than $2,000, surpassing the total from last year’s inaugural event.
“We participate in Extra Life charity, which is a charity of gamers across the country,” Galloway said. “We’re lucky that Extra Life falls on our one-year anniversary, so we’re just turning it into a big celebration weekend.”
The event begins Saturday at 10 a.m. and continues through Sunday evening, featuring tabletop games, speed-painting competitions, live streaming on Twitch and a celebration with cake and a memory-filled slideshow Saturday at 3 p.m. Players can join events such as Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Digimon, Flesh and Blood, BattleTech and several independent role-playing games. Game entry fees and donations collected throughout the weekend will go toward the charity.
“It starts on Saturday right when we open, but it’s technically not ending Sunday till we close,” Galloway said. “We’ll actually be streaming live on Twitch the entire time.”
Galloway said the anniversary also reflects the store’s growing role in Southern Maryland’s gaming community. Swords and Spoons regularly hosts local clubs such as the Pax Chess and Strategy Club and the St. Mary’s Board Gamers, along with tournaments and youth tabletop groups.
“Everyone’s welcome here,” Galloway said. “If you have a game that you want to play, we’ll try it at least once.”
A Southern Maryland Gaming Community
Swords and Spoons regularly hosts tabletop miniature games such as Warhammer, which draws dedicated players for weekend battles and painting sessions. Some of the major trading card games played at Swords and Spoons include Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Flesh and Blood, Digimon, One Piece, Lorcana and several Japanese titles from BushiRoad such as Cardfight!! Vanguard, Weiß Schwarz and Godzilla TCG.
Assistant Manager Shaun Welch, who has worked in the local gaming industry for more than 15 years, said the community’s support has made the store’s first year a success. He also said that gamers come into Swords and Spoons to play board games that they may not have exposure to.
“There is a whole industry of specialty board games that have a variety of themes to them,” Welch said. “Some of them are more abstract, there are board games for so many things, there are adventure games like Dungeons and Dragons, cooperative games, competitive games.”
Swords and Spoons has become a hub for gamers across Southern Maryland. The store also hosts weekly gatherings for groups like the Pax Chess and Strategy Club and the St. Mary’s Board Gamers, which often fill every table on Friday nights, according to Welch.
Welch said the store’s Discord community has grown to more than 1,000 members, with channels dedicated to card games, miniature gaming and role-playing sessions. He said the enthusiasm from local players fuels the store’s energy.
The store’s inclusive approach has also helped it become a safe space for players of all ages and backgrounds.
“We’re a designated safe place for all,” Galloway said. “I just want people to know we’re a safe place for everyone to play a new game.”
Five Fast Facts About Swords & Spoons
Community Gaming Hub – Swords & Spoons is a fantasy-themed tabletop game store located at 22599 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 126, California, Maryland. It serves as a social hub for gamers, offering space for board games, role-playing campaigns and trading card tournaments.
Diverse Game Offerings – The store hosts weekly events and tournaments for popular games like Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokémon, BattleTech, Flesh and Blood and Dungeons & Dragons, along with indie RPGs and speed-painting competitions.
Local Clubs and Community Nights – Swords & Spoons hosts several community groups, including the Pax Chess and Strategy Club and the St. Mary’s Board Gamers, who fill the store weekly for chess, strategy and tabletop nights. The store’s event calendar features family-friendly gatherings that welcome players of all experience levels.
Giving Back Through Gaming – The store’s anniversary celebration doubles as a fundraiser for Extra Life, a national gaming charity that supports Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Inclusive and Welcoming for All – Owner Jenn Galloway emphasized that the store is open to everyone, regardless of age or background. Swords & Spoons promotes a safe, respectful and inclusive environment where all players can share their passion for games.
The Swords and Spoons Birthday Bash will take place Nov. 8–9 at 22599 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 126, California, Maryland. The public is invited to stop by for games, cake and charity.
For more information, visit Swords and Spoons on Facebook, Instagram or join their Discord community.
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