Whether you're an avid die cast toy collector, memorabilia collector, or just remember visiting your grandparents' farm and want to recapture the nostalgia, there's something for everyone to see at the 35th annual Lafayette Farm Toy Show that runs March 8 to 10 at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, 2930 Waterfront Parkway West Drive, just off of I-74/I-465 at Crawfordsville Road on the west side of Indianapolis.
The Lafayette Farm Toy Show - the second oldest hotel farm toy show in the U.S. - features room trading as well as banquet room sales and displays.
"Room trading allows the toy dealers to set up in their hotel room," Alan Chesnut, toy show director, said in a press release. "Folks can go from room to room down the hall and see the various toys and toy parts on display by the venders."
Room trading opens at 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
"An advantage to the room trading is that many venders will keep their rooms open past the closing time of the banquet room," Chesnut said. "This allows you to see the toys if you can't make it during the stated hours."
Banquet room hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Back this year will be a consignment auction, beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday. Consignment items will be accepted Friday evening for the Saturday auction.
"The auction is not limited to toy show vendors," Chesnut said. "Anyone can enter an item in the auction."
In addition to the toy show vendors, there will be a model contest including categories for trucks and farm machinery, as well as a display contest on Saturday.
"The display contest will feature folks that have created a farm display on a large surface, some as large as a sheet of plywood," Chesnut explained. "They'll have buildings, fences, and farm toys on the display. It takes you back to your days of playing on the living room rug as a kid."
New to this year's show will be workshops on Saturday that focus on custom building farm toys, constructing model buildings, and how to make diorama scenery. Workshops will be held right at the show at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 2:30 p.m. Saturday by experts in each area.
During the auction, a gold-plated 1/32-scale International 1456 tractor will be for sale, with proceeds going to local FFA chapters.
One admission price covers both Friday and Saturday. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children ages 6 to 12, with younger children being admitted free.
"There is free admission for everyone on Sunday," Chesnut said. "With the low prices and free admission on Sunday, we hope everyone comes out to see all the farm toys on display."
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