In itB次元官网网址檚 10th year, the Toy Fair has proved there is an active market for comics, collectibles and toys.
Started by Biagio and Candice Woodward, the Ultimate Hobby and Toy Fair runs twice a year and is celebrating its 20th iteration on Sunday, Oct. 15 in the field house at Pearkes Recreation Centre.
Vendor tables sold out months ago, but the phone continues to ring at the WoodwardsB次元官网网址� storefront, Cherry Bomb Toys on Broad Street.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a packed show,B次元官网网址� Biagio Woodward said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e getting calls almost every day. If I had another venue I could fill that, we could add another 30 tables. People ask, B次元官网网址楥an I just have a table in the corner?B次元官网网址� but weB次元官网网址檙e done adding.B次元官网网址�
Half the vendors are local while the others come in from out of town he said, many of them off-Island.
To date the Toy Fair has run as a single-day event, but that will change. With so much demand, the Toy FairB次元官网网址檚 spring edition will move to a two-day event.
The Woodwards started it in 2008 as a way to grow their three-year-old business, and to build a community that makes people feel comfortable shopping for themselves, for collectibles, to stick together and have fun, and itB次元官网网址檚 worked, Woodward said.
B次元官网网址淧eople have been asking us to extend [Toy Fair], they want it longer,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hen we first started we used half [the field house], we grew to two-thirds, then grew to take over the place.B次元官网网址�
Along the way the Toy Fair added a charity carnival, which has morphed into a charity photo-op area with super heroes, Star Wars characters and Disney-type princesses, all raising money for B.C. ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Hospital. ThereB次元官网网址檚 also silent auction that raises money for the MS Society.
ThereB次元官网网址檚 also going to be a very significant booth that Woodward canB次元官网网址檛 speak of until the official announcement of an upcoming project in Victoria.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be very exciting, itB次元官网网址檚 one of the big pushes for this Toy Fair, a giant project announcement.B次元官网网址�
The Ultimate Hobby and Toy Fair starts at 8 a.m. (earlybird only) with a 9 a.m. regular start until 3 p.m.
Regular entry is $5, earlybird entry is $15 at the door and only $10 if you buy your ticket at Cherry Bomb Toys on Saturday, Oct. 14.
Kids 12-and-under are free, but have to be with an adult.
reporter@saanichnews.com
