Basic Fun! and Hasbro are going BIG to celebrate Tonka’s 75th anniversary.
The toy companies are hitting The Big Apple alongside Tonka spokesperson Shaquille O’Neal to formally launch the Tonka Playcation campaign. The initiative is the crowning moment for Tonka’s year-long 75th anniversary celebration and calls upon families to spend time together while enjoying open-ended, imaginative play with their favorite Tonka vehicles.
“Happy 75th Birthday Tonka! I’m so proud to be a part of this effort to inspire families to play with their favorite Tonka toys,” O’Neal says.
Tomorrow, September 2, 2022, the Tonka Playcation Truck will be parked at 1 W. 24th Street, on the corner of 5th Avenue, across from Madison Square Park in front of PetSmart from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. There, O’Neal will drop by for an epic playdate in which families can pick up their own Tonka Playcation Kits by pledging to spend some screen-free time to “Tonka together.”
“We’re excited to celebrate this milestone for Tonka with Hasbro and Shaq, whose energy and playfulness make every day a
‘Playcation,’” says Maureen Dilger, Basic Fun! senior director of global brand marketing.
Shaq joined Basic Fun! as the official Tonka spokesperson in Feb. 2020 and stepped into the role by cutting the ribbon to open Toy Fair New York. Tonka, which started in 1947, is manufactured by Basic Fun! under license from Hasbro.
Next month, Basic Fun! will roll out the Tonka Mighty Monster R/C Steel Dump Truck, the first-ever R/C Tonka truck made with cold-rolled steel. It features high torque tank steering with 4-wheel drive, variable speed control, and monster lightweight foam tires.
In the meantime, families that stop by tomorrow’s Playcation event can pick up a Tonka 75th Anniversary Limited-Edition Metallic Dump Truck for just $20.
“We can’t think of a better way to celebrate 75 years of Tonka, five generations of fans, and more than 300 million trucks sold since 1947,” says Jess Richardson, vice president, global toys and games licensing at Hasbro. “This epic milestone is truly a reflection of our brand-building capabilities and keeping classic brands alive for generation after generation.”
A host of new Tonka vehicles are currently available at retailers nationwide.
