Over the past four decades, Hello Kitty has planted her flag on the worlds of toys, fashion, animation, music, video games, comic books, restaurants and even home appliances. And next the adorable Japanese bobtail/merchandising juggernaut is setting sail for new waters: conventions.

As part of the character's 40th-anniversary celebration, owner Sanrio is staging the first-ever Hello Kitty Con Oct. 30-Nov. 2 in Los Angeles. Held at the Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the four-day event will feature lectures, panels, workshops, exhibits, a pop-up shop, a tattoo parlor, parties, an arcade and, of course, plenty of exclusives.

Sanrio made its Comic-Con International debut last year with the release of the first Hello Kitty graphic novel from Viz Media, which was supported by a fan hub and pop-up shop at San Diego’s Petco Park and the Kitty-chan Secret Space at the convention center.

Tickets for Hello Kitty Con 2014 -- they're $30 each day for adults, $20 for kids ages 6 to 12 -- can be purchased now on the event's website.

(via LAist)