My Little Pony Fair
My Little Pony Fair and Convention is an annual collector-run event celebrating My Little Pony. Worldwide collectors of all pony generations gather together for one weekend each year to buy, sell, and trade, attend educational panels, and meet influential people throughout My Little Pony's 35-year history. This page is specifically geared towards the US Fair; however, many other collector- and fan-run events occur worldwide, including UK PonyCon and many Friendship Is Magic-centered events.
Contents
2004
The first annual My Little Pony Fair took place on August 2nd and 3rd at the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Beginning in 2001, August 2nd was designated "International Pony Day" in the online collecting community.[1] It is unknown whether or not this played a factor in event date selection.)
Events
Cleaning demonstrations - rust removal, surface dirt cleaning, hair care, and inner mold removal
Customizing demonstrations - painting, dyeing, deflocking, and rehairing
Special Guests
Debra Birge, author of books "The World of My Little Pony ®: An Unauthorized Guide for Collectors" and "My Little Pony: Around the World"
Games
Pony Exchange - "Bring a pony that is considered Near Mint condition, not common, but something that is not too rare. It can be either a G3 pony or a G1 pony. Wrap the pony up in wrapping paper... Your going to tell us what the pony is and We will tell you who you are going to exchange with (so that way we can make things even, it woudn't be very fair if someone had a taf buttons trading with ababy cottoncandy) [sic]" [2]
The Charm Game - similar to "Don't Say 'Baby'," played at baby showers
McDonalds Pony Mystery
Pony Feud - similar to Family Feud
Guess Who
The Price Is Pony
Contests
Elvis-themed Pony Custom
Vegas-themed Pony Custom
Vegas-themed Pony Fan Fiction
Kids' Coloring Contest
2005
The second annual My Little Pony Fair & Expo took place July 8th and 9th at Coffman Memorial Union Great Hall on the University of Minnesota Campus in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The theme was "From Another Universe." This year's mascot was "Constellation," created by HollowZero.
Events
Demonstrations - pony care and maintenance, pony cleaning, customizing, rehairing, rust and mold removal
Secret swap
Charity raffle
Special Guests
Kimberly Shriner, creator of popular [but now defunct] reference website Dream Valley
Hilary DePiano, author of "The My Little Pony Collectors Inventory"
Debra Birge, returning guest, author of "The World of My Little Pony ®: An Unauthorized Guide for Collectors" and "My Little Pony: Around the World"
Games
Bobbing for Ponies
Rehair Race
Who Am I? - "Your chance to see how well you know your ponies. You'll be given a pony but you wont know which one you are. You'll have to guess by asking questions about yourself!"[3]
The Charm Game
Pony Ring Toss
Pony Feud
Contests
Custom Pony
Artwork
Fan Fiction
The Parade of Booths - "The object of this event is to turn your booth area into something fun and special! Like Floats in a parade we hope to see some great ideas realized here."[4]
Event Exclusives
Bay Breeze
Hasbro provided the fair staff with 300 figures to sell. This was the first ever My Little Pony Fair exclusive pony and the beginning of the My Little Pony Fair's and the online collecting community's relationship with the toy company.
2006
The third annual My Little Pony Fair Collectors Convention & Expo took place July 15th and 16th at the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway in San Francisco, California. The theme was "Heaven is a Place on Earth." The mascot was "Tulley Fog."
Events
Book Talk and Signing with Summer Hayes
Customizing demonstration
Special Guests
BridgetsMum and Chief, owners of the My Little Pony Arena discussion forum
Summer Hayes, author of "The My Little Pony G3 Collectors Resource"[5]
Games
Pony Jeopardy[6]
Who Am I?
Contests
Pony Custom
Pony Artwork
Event Exclusives
Frisco
Trolley
Hasbro provided Fair staff with 400 leftover Mail Order Love Wishes ponies to be given as that year's exclusive pony. The ponies were cleaned of their Love Wishes cutie marks and laser-engraved with new, San Francisco-related cutie marks; there were two different ponies created. Frisco was limited to 150 total figures and featured the Golden Gate Bridge in her cutie mark. Trolley was limited to 100 figures, available for purchase through random draw from the pool of collectors who had also purchased Frisco. She featured one of San Francisco's famed trolleys in her cutie mark. Due to the overwhelming popularity and 11-hour sell-out of these ponies, a second wave of 50 unnumbered Trolley ponies was released for collectors to purchase through MLP Fair-sponsored auctions.
Ponies that were damaged during the engraving process were provided to a group of collectors to customize for a future MLP Fair "disaster relief" project. Many lovely customs were created; however, the project itself never came to fruition.
2007
The fourth annual My Little Pony Fair and Collector's Convention took place July 28th and 29th at the Memphis Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee. The theme was "A Musical Journey," featuring mascot Memphis Melody by teera-misu.
2008
The fifth annual My Little Pony Fair and Collector's Convention took place on Saturday and Sunday, June 21st and 22nd at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The theme was My Little Pony Comes Home: Celebrating 25 Years. The logo featured either a white Collector Pony silhouette on a black background or a black Collector Pony silhouette against a rainbow of colors representing the original six Ponies. This marked the first year of more extensive Hasbro engagement with the collecting community. Representatives hosted a Q & A panel and preview of upcoming toy releases, and Hasbro displayed several of the Pony Project ponies, including Twinkle Hope, Silver, and a Pony Project-sized Fair Exclusive. Featured guests included Bonnie Zacherle, My Little Pony creator; Kirk Hindman, a Pony sculptor for Hasbro in the 1980s; and Grace Garcia, a pony sculptor for Hasbro in the 2000s. Kirk displayed many prototypes, wax models, and an original factory mold. Grace showed off her sculpting skills by making a pony head from clay on the spot.
A special tour of Hasbro Headquarters in Pawtucket, Rhode Island was offered to a pre-registered group of collectors on Friday, June 20th. Bonnie Zacherle gave a presentation on the creation of the line. She brought her original prototypes, and Hasbro displayed many original artwork samples. Collectors were also offered a glimpse of how the toys go from concept to reality, featuring the creation of the G3 Ponyville Amusement Park. Each tour guest received a "swag bag" containing a pony from the upcoming "Core 7 Best Friends" line and a silver 25th anniversary pin.
The exclusive pony this year, named "Providence," featured an art pony-like swirl design with "Providence," "MLP Fair," and "'08" in the heart at her rump. UK Pony Con received the same pony that year in a black/yellow color scheme, minus the words "Providence" and "MLP Fair." She is known as "Sunny Grace."
2009
The sixth annual My Little Pony Fair and Collector's Convention returned to Las Vegas, Nevada, location of the first Fair in 2004, and took place at The Orleans Hotel on June 20th and 21st. The mascot remained the same as the previous year. Event organizers announced this year that the MLP Fair would be permanently located in Las Vegas and return to Rhode Island in anniversary years (30th, 35th, and so on). After much controversy and public outcry, the decision to keep the Fair in the same location was reversed when event leadership changed hands after this year's event.
The event exclusive was a white art pony with a peacock cutie mark over much of her body. Her packaging is the same as other G3 art ponies, with viewing windows on each side.
2010
The seventh annual My Little Pony Fair and Convention took place July 17th and 18th in Louisville, Kentucky. The mascot remained the same as the previous two years. Contests included customs contests, artwork contests, and the Parade of Booths. Games included MLP Bingo, a Pony Symbol Quiz, and MLP Trivia. Hasbro conducted a Q & A panel, Debra Birge and event organizer Summer Hayes held book signings, and new collection inventory website KLECT.com hosted a presentation about their site.
Event exclusive art pony Dandelion featured a pink and green floral butterfly cutie mark and was available for sale at the event and later in the MLP Fair online store. She was packaged like previous art ponies, with viewing windows on each side of the box.
2011
The eighth annual My Little Pony Fair and Convention took place July 8th and 9th and returned to Rhode Island; it was hosted at Hasbro's Pawtucket headquarters. Hasbro again opened their doors for a tour on Friday, with an ice cream social following, and community member MustBeJewel's pony collector documentary "My Little Obsession" had special screenings in the evening. Games included pony "The Price is Right" and MLP Bingo. Presentations were hosted by KLECT.com and Hasbro. Contests included the custom contest, art contest, and a costume contest.
An event exclusive G3 pony was sold to attendees and later offered in the My Little Pony Fair online store. The MLP Fair 2011 Pony featured an Egyptian-inspired design and also served as the fair mascot for the year. This is the last year that Hasbro produced a figure exclusive to the MLP Fair. It is also the last year that a G3 art pony would serve as an event exclusive. From 2012-2016, the MLP Fair would receive a designated amount of San Diego Comic Con exclusive G4 figures to be offered as a sort of pre-sale for the west coast pop culture event.
2012
The 9th Annual My Little Pony Fair and Convention took place July 7th and 8th at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida. This year began a series of Hasbro-official throwback logos featuring G1 ponies. Firefly was the 2012 featured pony. Games included Applejack's Apple Toss, Sea Pony Ring Toss, and Pony Bingo. Contests included the costume parade and contest, artwork and custom contests, and the Parade of Booths. Hasbro again hosted their Q & A panel, and there were book signings with Summer Hayes as well as a Nirvana Panel by Roogna and Airbrushing Demonstration by pop-girl. On Saturday evening, the fair hosted a pajama party event with MLP episode screenings and door prizes.
This is the first year that a Friendship Is Magic pony was the fair exclusive. It is also the first year that Pony Fair shared an exclusive with San Diego Comic Con. The special edition pony sold this year was popular fan favorite Derpy Muffins/Ditzy Doo/Bubblecup. MLP Fair stock of the special edition pony sold out on the first day of the event.
2013
The 10th annual My Little Pony Fair and Convention took place July 6th and 7th at the Sheraton Indianapolis at Keystone Crossing in Indianapolis, Indiana. This year's logo featured Collector Pony Snuzzle. On Friday evening, the Fair hosted a celebration and hall of fame induction dinner. The Hall of Fame presentation was conducted by MustBeJewel, and 2013 honorees/inductees were Bonnie Zacherle, Firefly, and G4 Pinkie Pie. Games included Mermaid Pony Ring Toss, MLP Trivia, and the Parasprite Toss. Contests included the costume parade and contest, artwork and custom contests, and the Parade of Booths.
Hasbro again hosted their Q & A panel, and there were book signings with Summer Hayes, autographs with special guest Bonnie Zacherle, a Petite Pony Panel by Roogna, and a trading card panel by Enterplay. Friendship Is Magic-inspired band The Shake-Ups performed songs on Saturday afternoon. On Saturday evening, the fair hosted a pajama party event with MLP episode screenings and door prizes.
The Fair shared its special edition DJ Pon-3 figure with San Diego Comic Con again this year; she featured elaborate, light-up packaging and Swarovski crystal accents.
2014
The 11th annual My Little Pony Fair and Convention took place July 12th and 13th in Nashville, Tennessee. This year's special edition pony was a "styling-sized" version of Mane-iac Mayhem with poseable hair tendrils and Spike dressed as Humdrum from the "Power Ponies" episode.
2015
The 12th annual My Little Pony Fair and Collector's Convention took place June 27th and 28th at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg in Chicago, Illinois. This year's special edition pony was Pinkie Pie dressed as a chicken, commonly referred to as "Chicken Pie" from the "Luna Eclipsed" episode. She was also shared with San Diego Comic Con.
2016
The 13th annual My Little Pony Fair and Collector's Convention once again took place at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg in Chicago, Illinois on July 9th and 10th. The special edition figures, once again shared with San Diego Comic Con, were Discord and Fluttershy in another highly-detailed, lighted package like that of 2013's DJ Pon-3 figure, but on a much larger scale.
2017
The 2017 My Little Pony Fair and Collector's Convention was merged, along with many other Hasbro toy-related conventions, into Hasbro's self-proclaimed "Premier FANmily Event." The event occurred September 8-10 in Providence, Rhode Island. This would have been the MLP Fair's 14th year. HASCON featured interactive brand experiences for fans of its various active toy lines, including My Little Pony, Transformers, Nerf, and more. My Little Pony experiences included the chance for attendees to be "ponified" into their favorite Friendship Is Magic characters, a gallery of never-before-seen original 1980s Pony artwork, and a design panel featuring prominent individuals involved in the creation and evolution of the My Little Pony brand.
While there were no exclusive figures this year, there was a My Little Pony Box featuring a Pony Friends figure, a miniature plush seapony, a Tech 4 Kids' My Little Pony Stackems, a My Little Pony: The Movie pen and journal, a Bendon PlayPack, a Zak Designs tumbler, "My Little Pony: The Movie - Friends and Foes" book, and a HasCon exclusive youth t-shirt. A set of My Little Pony-themed Dungeons and Dragons dice was also sold.
It was originally announced that the My Little Pony Fair would still take place as its own event to which MLP collectors had become accustomed within HASCON, but those plans were abandoned very late into the event planning stage. HASCON is taking a hiatus for 2018, and Pony Fair 2018 will take place without Hasbro involvement.
2018
The 2018 Pony Fair and Convention will take place June 16th and 17th at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida.
References
- ↑ http://www.ponytopia.com/ipd/ipd.htm
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20040708080306/http://www.graphic-contest.com:80/meet/ponyexchange.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20051103075303/http://mlpfair.com:80/events.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20051103075708/http://mlpfair.com:80/contests.html
- ↑ https://ponycon.livejournal.com/
- ↑ http://mylittleponycollector.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-little-pony-fair-through-years-san.html
