The second annual Play Fair introduces its first Industry Preview Night for members of the media and toy industry professionals on Nov. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m., the evening before Play Fair opens to the public. The event will offer press, buyers, and industry professionals advance access to exhibitors, talent, entertainment, and play experiences. Preview Night attendees will also receive a first look at the nominees for The Toy Association’s 2018 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards.
Hosted by The Toy Association in partnership with Leftfield Media, Play Fair returns to New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center this year from November 4 to 5. The inaugural event was held in February 2016 with a crowd of more than 20,000 parents, children, and toy enthusiasts. Play Fair organizers expect a significantly larger crowd this year, with an expanded 230,000 square feet of space (triple the size of Play Fair 2016), a new Industry Preview Night, and additional stages featuring exclusive content. Building on last year’s success, the upcoming Play Fair will also feature more character appearances, and the Toys ”R” Us main stage will double its seating to accommodate twice the number of excited fans.
Play Fair 2017 will feature returning brands Nickelodeon, Lego, Hasbro, and Mattel, all of which are one-of-a-kind experiences for 2017. New exhibitors will include companies such as Alex Brands, VTech/Leapfrog, Cartoon Network, Snazaroo, WowWee, and Magformers.
