Childhood toys bring a nostalgia and a reminder of special memories from a time when people were younger.
Toy lovers and collectors will get a chance to see antique and vintage toys from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, reminding them of their childhood days during the return of the Florida Antique Toy and Advertising Show.
The two-day show is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 7 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Lake County Fairgrounds Expo Hall, 2101 N. County Road 452 in Eustis. Tin toys, pedal cars, bikes, baby dolls and other antique toys will be on display and available for purchase from more than 100 dealers and vendors during the show now in its sixth year. There also will be vintage advertising signs on display.
“Grandparents end up bringing their grandchildren to the show,” said Nancy Muenzmay, event coordinator and accountant. “The grandkids get excited to see the toys and grandparents say, ‘I used to play with that’ or ‘I had one of those.’ The show brings together the different generations.”
Nancy Muenzmay, Larry Melgary, John Buxman, Linnie Dossett and Tom Hathazy got together in 2019 to form the board for the Florida Toy and Advertising Show, LLC. That same year, the toy collectors held their first toy show.
They were inspired by the antique toy shows up north, which are more common.
“During the winter Northerners come here, so they thought to do a Florida winter show for the people to visit,” Muenzmay said.
Since she began coordinating the shows, Muenzmay said she has learned more about the history of vintage toys, from who made product s
to how they changed over time.
Melgary, owner of Splinter Toys and Antiques, said the show experience brings in people from across the nation and it has helped him meet a lot of other toy enthusiasts.
On average, about 800-900 people attend the two-day show.
The show also can be a way for some to see the toys of their childhood that they didn’t get the chance to own. “I am 84, and when I was a kid growing up during the war there weren’t many toys, especially tin toys, because that metal was going toward the war,” Melgary said. “A lot of other people my age didn’t have a lot of toys, so going through the show makes them smile.”
Items collected by Melgary can be found at different locations across the county including the Mount Dora Library and Splinter Toys and Antiques, a free museum at the Renningers Mount Dora Flea Market and Antique Center, 20651 Highway U.S. 441 in Mount Dora.
He said the most surprising antique toy was the recent acquisition of a 1860 wood velociped tricycle because of how good the quality of the toy was.
Admission for the show is $8 per person. Enthusiasts who are too excited to wait can purchase tickets for an early buyer event for $25 and shop from 7 to 10 a.m. Feb. 7.
Providing a place to see high-quality vintage toys has been one of the goals of the Florida Toy and Advertising Show.“We have a good reputation for putting on quality show with quality toys,” Muenzmay said.
For more information about the show, or for more information, visit floridatoyandadvertisingshow.com.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
