October 31, 2014 6:03 PM EDT
E mbrace your inner child, hug the Hello Kitty plush on your bed, and check out photos from the first-ever Hello Kitty Convention at The Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles (Oct. 30 to Nov. 2). The highly anticipated event is pegged to the character’s 40th anniversary—her birthday is November 1!—and an exhibit on Hello Kitty at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM), on display through April 26, 2015.
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Keith Nunez, left, takes pictures of his wife, Carolina at Hello Kitty Con on Oct. 30, 2014, in Los Angeles. Jae C. Hong—AP Carolyn Molina, of Riverside, Calif., laughs while talking to a reporter at the Hello Kitty Con held at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA Thursday on Oct. 30, 2014, in Los Angeles. Jae C. Hong—AP Wearing a Hello Kitty costume, Brandee Amore, center, of Glendale, Calif., walks across the street before the start of Hello Kitty Con on Oct. 30, 2014, in Los Angeles. Jae C. Hong—AP Hello Kitty fans wait in line for Hello Kitty Con on Oct. 30, 2014, in Los Angeles. Jae C. Hong—AP A woman with a Hello Kitty tattoo waits in line to attend Hello Kitty Con on Oct. 30, 2014, in Los Angeles. Jae C. Hong—AP A fan at Hello Kitty Con on Oct. 30, 2014, in Los Angeles. Zhao Hanrong—Xinhua/Sipa USA A man dresses as Bad Badtz-Maru, a Sanrio character, pauses for photos at Hello Kitty Con on Oct. 30, 2014, in Los Angeles. Jae C. Hong—AP Participants of Hello Kitty Con during its opening night on Oct. 29, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. Stefanie Keenan—Getty Images More Must-Reads From TIME The 100 Most Influential People of 2024 The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya 6 Compliments That Land Every Time What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving? If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time