Stratford Times September 20, 2024 me 2: | Fans unite for Stratford Toys, Games & Collectibles Show at Arden Park ‘EBECCA SCHREIBER imes Correspondent mn Sept. 15, everyone at the Arden Park lotel banquet hall had something in com- 10n; a passion for collecting cool stuff. The third-annual Stratford Toys, Games, : Collectibles Show was a phenomenal uccess. This electrifying event inspired op-culture lovers of all ages to gather at ie Arden Park. “We have gotten to a bigger location scause our waiting list for vendors was ‘tting so long,” said Duane Sword, -founder and coordinator of the Strat- rd Toys, Games & Collectibles Show. “Every show we were having, the atten- ince was going up and up, so we had out- own our last location and so then we had € opportunity for the Arden Park and ey offered us all four conference rooms” The more-than 80 vendors provided a valcade of collectible eye candy. What can’t be found anywhere else ex- pt the Stratford Toys, Games & Collect- les Show is a table with one half ded- ited to James Bond and the other half dicated to John Deere. The vendor be- nd that table, Stratford’s own Bill Coo- r, owner of Joyland’s Billiards & Games arehouse, has been vending at shows e this one consistently since 1997 and s been a part of the Stratford Toys, -l 5 REBECCA SCHREIBER sper Pop- CULTURE LOVERS Above, The collectors and vendors at the Arden Park hotel Sept. 15. Left, Duane Sword, a Stratford Toys, Games, & Collectibles Show coordinator and now a satisfied customer. their spare time. Eyen with a full-time job and local city council ambitions, Jason Davis, owner of Stratford Comic Shop, has mainly operat- ed online with patrons travelling specifi- cally to these shows to check out his rare “Opening a physical location would be like my version of retirement,” Davis laughed. “Yeah, a millennial retirement; it's haying one job that you're passionate bout. imes & Collectibles Show since its,in- ption in 2020. While some vendors traded and sold from their own personal.collection, others AD pied props, painted canvases and Don't miss the next Stratford Toys, make their living by selling their custom jewellery. Some manage to make this their_~Games & Collectibles Show on Nov. 17 at crafts including handmade leather wear, fulltime gig; others do what they can in the Arden Park from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. eee ommunity of Brist 6 Forman Avenue 519-271-4539 Proclaiming Jesus Christ ith communities of OVE, JOY, HOPE & PEACE Worship with us Sunday 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. — Fellowship and ‘offee Hour B We are a Welcoming Community = Wit, Invite readers to your worship services. Contact stratfordtimes@gmail.com Stratford Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Quality Inn Festival (1144 Ontario St., Stratford) STRATFORD Pick Up Locations Rutherford Funeral Home Stratford Place nate Toots <u es Athens Greek Restaurant preahee® Drug Mart - Huron Stratford Chefs School Auto Tim Risin CH. aor! ion Circle K - Huros HH lca atford KIA. Festival Marketplac hel Pizza West End Pharmacy sy & exe ressway i losso’s im Hortons - Hu: oe ee St erin Nisan Buzz Stop Stratford Hospital United Way Perth Huron n Hortons - Erie St Peavey Mart Union Barber Video 99 - Erie St Sinclair Pha atford Mazda Stratford Honda Mornington Variety Jenny Trout Blowes Stationery leven - Erie St Quality Festival Inn Split Rail Stratford Medical Pharmacy Stratford Tourism ’s Diner McDonald's - Ontario St. Stratford Rotary Complex Stratford Chamber of Commerce Coffee Culture y e Urban Barber Papa Johns Agriplex ANAE 2 Stratford Public Library e Convenience Fore Everyone Golf No Frills Stratford Hyundai The Parlour Restaurant & Inn Sub WalMart Cozyn's ithe sine fibre pies paper Shep | Products Sebringville Esso woe | Mart - Ontario ran hS a Dave's Diner - Sebringyville Stratford Variety Town Crier Marketing w Orleans Pizza Toner & Ink Shop Stratford-Perth Museum Brch & Wyn