The Inaugural Designer Toy Art Festival is Coming to Philly With 100+ Creators, a Puppet Slam, Music, & More
If you’re a fan of toys and want to let your inner child run wild or just simply want a cool event to take your child to, The inaugural Designer Toy Art Festival is coming to Philly and will feature a variety of interactive experiences, emerging vendors, music, food, and much more.
What began in North Carolina as a grass roots assembly of underground toy artists, sculptors, and collectors eventually became a formal organization named *Assembly Required. Now looking to expand its reach, *Assembly Required will host Philly’s first Designer Toy Art Festival which will run August 8-10th.
To make the Philly experience event more engaging, *Assembly Required joined forces with creative powerhouses GoHero and POP Solutions to bring an elevated experience by launching a curated activation within the show called the Designer Toy Art Festival. Through immersive exhibits, limited-edition exclusives, and hands-on opportunities for creators to share their stories, the Designer Toy Art Festival aims to celebrate the independent toy movement while opening doors to licensing, retail, and media collaborations.
The festival is open to all that want an immersive toy experience where guests can expect over 100 pop culture creators and vendors, indie artists, original designs, emerging brands, live DJs, a puppet slam, food, drinks, and more.
The schedule of events include:
Friday, August 8
• 6:00–9:00 PM – Kick-off party at The Space Lab (617 S. 2nd St.)
Saturday, August 9 (Ticketed events)
• 8:00 AM–9:30 AM – Brand Builder Breakfast (Location TBD)
• 11:00 AM–5:00 PM – Main Show at the Armory (Exhibits, DJ, Cosplay, Toy Drops, Artist Booths)
• 8:00 PM–10:00 PM – Wham Bam Puppet Slam @ Deep End Studios
• Late – Afterparty @ José Pistola’s
Sunday, August 10
• 11:00 AM–4:00 PM – Event wrap up at the Armory.
Built on the belief that toys can be art and artists deserve a stage, *Assembly Required became one of the only events in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to independent designer toys, resin figures, bootlegs, customs, and pop-surrealist collectibles. “We proudly welcome artists of all backgrounds—from breakout sculptors to established scene veterans—and invite attendees of all ages to explore a vibrant community where toys, art, and expression collide,” states *Assembly Required Founder, Mathew J. Casale.
Tickets to the Designer Toy Art Festival are available at toyartfest.com.
Adults – $20/ Door $25
Youth – $10 / $Door $15
Kids under 12 – Free
Military – $10
