Toy Shows: January 8-10

The winter toy show season is upon us, and I'll do my level best to bring you the interesting places to go in the world of toy shows. If you know of events in your area, please add them in the comments below.

Farm Toy Shows
January 8-10, Urbana, IL: 6th Annual Illini Farm Toy Show sponsored by the Illinois Farm Bureau District 12 Young Leaders at the Hanford Inn and Suites, 2408 N. Cunningham Ave.
Hours: Fri. 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.; Sat. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., farm toy consignment silent auction from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Sun. 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more info call (217) 247-2644.

January 9, Peotone, IL: 19th Annual Peotone FFA Farm Toy Show at the Will County Fair Atrium, West St. and Wilmington Rd.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more info call (708) 258-3236.

January 9, Burt, MI: Saginaw Valley Toy Show at Albee Township Hall
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more info call (989) 777-9819.
 
Toy Trains
There are quite a few train events happening this weekend. Classic Toy Trains magazine maintains one of the most comprehensive show calendars in this hobby. Click HERE to see what's going on in your area.
 
Have fun and remember to support your local toy shows!

Kalamazoo Toy Show

The Circus Maximus Toy Show is this Saturday, May 16, 2009. Held twice annually at the Kalamazoo Co. Fairgrounds, it's the biggest show in Michigan. And it's one of the finest toy shows in the Midwest. Period.

Like me, you may know it best simply as the "Kalamazoo Toy Show," but no matter what you call it, this show has something for everyone. Vintage pressed steel, cast-iron toys, gas-powered cars, tin wind-ups, and pedal cars all share the grounds with battery-ops, action figures, die-cast cars (Tootsietoy, Corgi, Dinky, Husky, Matchbox, Hot Wheels and more), farm toys, cap pistols, space toys, and even PEZ dispensers.

Bruce and Dee Beimers have been hosting the show since 1983 and should probably write a book on how to organize and promote a show through all of the ups and downs, changes and trends that accompany a long-running show. One of the "secrets" to their organizational success is that they've kept the show dates consistent--always the third Friday/Saturday in May and always the Friday/Saturday after Thanksgiving in November. Their consistent approach to advertising in a wide variety of hobby publications is certainly one "secret" to their promotional success. And their genuine love for the toy collecting hobby isn't a secret at all -- it's the magic that makes the show a treat for everyone.

Click HERE for additional information about the show. The doors open Saturday morning at 9 a.m. (EST).

Chicago G.I. Joe Show

The Chicago G.I. Joe & Action Figure Show 2009 will be held this Sunday, May 3. Sponsored by the Chicago G.I. Joe Collector's Club, the show will take place at Harry D. Jacobs High School in Algonquin, Ill. It will open to the public at 9:00 am and close at 3:00 pm.

In addition to the dealers, patrons will enjoy 1:6-scale and 3-3/4" dioramas and displays of custom figures. Classic G.I. Joe videos will also be shown. No matter which era you prefer -- painted hair figures of the 1960s, flocked hair figures with Kung-Fu grip from the '70s, the 3-3/4" figures of the '80s (through today), or the 12" collector's editions -- if you're a G.I. Joe collector, you don't want to miss this show!

And the admission fees are going to benifit the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, so bring a friend or two or three...

Here's the info:

Chicago G.I. Joe & Action Figure Show 2009

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Harry D. Jacobs High School

2601 Bunker Hill Dr.

Algonqin, IL 60102

Show hours: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm (Early Birds 8:00 to 9:00 am)

Admission: $4, under 10 years old is free

Early bird admission: $6

Chicago Toy Show

The Chicago Toy Show is this Sunday, April 26, 2009. As always, the event will be held at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 South Randall Road in St. Charles, IL 60174. The show opens to the public at 8:00 am and will go until 3:00 pm. Admission is $7.

During the 35 (or is it 36 now?) years that the show has been held, it has been known as the Kane Co. show, the Antique Toy World show, or simply, the Chicago show. No matter what you call it, this is one of the finest antique toy shows in the country. Oh yes, it's a doll show, too. Major auction houses come to preview their upcoming auctions, toy dealers and customers from around the world attend, and if you collect toys, this is the place to be.

The show is run by Dale Kelley of Antique Toy World magazine, and the improved facilites at the fairgrounds have made the show even more fun for everyone.

For more information and driving directions, go to the website.

Farm Toy Show, Walnut IL

Attention farm toy collectors!

For those of you in the north-central Illinois area this Sunday, April 19, the 23rd Annual Farm & Toy Show will be held at the Bureau Valley North school gym. The school is located at 323 S. Main St. in Walnut, Illinois, and the show will run from 9am to 3pm. For more information call (815) 303-8764.

Sounds like a nice show!