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There's something about hugging Hello Kitty—heck, even hopping aboard her plane or staying at her suite—that strikes even the most grown-ass person with pure, child-like joy. Like, we know it's just another adult in that big fuzzy suit, but can we please just have this moment? That's just one of the many feelings you'll experience at the Sanrio superstar's Supercute Friendship Festival, which officially kicks off in LA today.
Last night, we hit up a VIP preview of the festivities, which take place at The Forum in Inglewood through this Sunday. It was a lot like last fall's Hello Kitty Con, only less intense and with a lot more singing and dancing. The squeal-inducing event treated Sanrio superfans to tons activity stations (Face painting! Tattoos! Origami!), live performances, photo ops, and more sweet surprises—take a peek inside the scene in the gallery above, and nab tickets ($43.50 to $250) online here.