The fall Maryland Toy Expo was held on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Maryland State Fair in Timonium, MD. Since the show has been steadily growing, the expo expanded to host vendors in both the Exhibition Hall and the 4-H Building.

The expansion into a second building was a smart choice to accommodate the number of attendees and impressive group of vendors. The show opened at 8 AM for the early bird crowd and both buildings were already full by the time regular admission began at 10 AM.

Hundreds of vendors were in attendance, including 2nd Chance Toys, Arsenal Models, Basement Comics, Candance’s Collectibles, Chuck’s Comics, Collectors Corner, Danny Baltimore’s Wrestling Wares, Duncan’s Toy Chest, Eternia Dreams, G.I. Jigsaw, Hide Away Collectibles, Jesse’s Old Toys, Lost in Time Vintage Toy Store, Maryland Funko Hunter, Nerd Elysium, Plastic Armory Toys & Games, ReKennect, Retro 8o8 Pokémon & Anime, SilvaDro Collectibles, The Attic Hunters, They’re Action Figures, Toys for the Ages, Baker Boys Collectibles and Toys, DC Area Star Wars Collecting Club, Flipside Toys, Fright Night Sketches, Game Edge, Joe’s Comics and Games, Main Street Geek, Nerdmatters, Old Soul Toys, Pop’s Cards and Collectibles, Severed Books, Storm Crow Games, Terror Games LLC, The Last Toy Store, Tim’s Comics and Collectibles, Tuna Belly Bows & Bricks, and USA Toy Exchange.

The Maryland Toy Expo has recently added a few celebrity guests to the festivities. For this con, they had Lori “Ice” Fetrick and Jim “Laser” Starr from American Gladiators. The guests chatted with fans, signed autographs, and took photos with jousting props.

Pro cosplayers like the Charm City Ghostbusters, Finest: A G.I. Joe Costume Club, and the 501st Legion’s “Old Line Garrison” were there to take photos with attendees and sell their merch.

The quality and quantity of material at the show was very impressive, catering to collectors who appreciate both vintage collectibles and new memorabilia. The older material consisted of vintage toy trucks and trains, wooden toys, skeleton keys, farming toys, and even early 20th century canes used by parade leaders. There were pop culture and character boardgames featuring Star Trek, Happy Days, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and Dark Shadows, plus lunch boxes and thermoses for characters like Strawberry Shortcake.

Action figures and related toys from the 1970s and ‘80s were prevalent, especially for Star Wars, G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe, and Godzilla. Smaller toys from the ‘80s were found in bins and baskets everywhere, especially The Smurfs, California Raisins, other PVC miniature figures, and McDonald’s Happy Meal toys. Barbie has seen a surge in popularity over the last few months, and multiple vendors had specialty character and anniversary dolls.

On the newer side, vendors had modern DC and Marvel action figures, pro wrestling figures, and new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The new Mythic Legions line of action figures had a strong presence at multiple tables, and Funko Pops were prevalent with large displays throughout both rooms. Vendors had large selections of Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars, as well as trading cards that ranged from older sets of pop culture cards, sports cards, and Pokémon cards.

The show is conveniently located at the fairgrounds with easy access to Interstate 83, and with enough parking to accommodate the crowd. A food truck was outside of the show and there are many restaurants conveniently located nearby.

Maryland Toy Expo’s fall show was a resounding success, with vendors reporting strong sales and attendees leaving with bags and arms full of new purchases.

The next Maryland Toy Expo will be held on June 8, 2024.

To see more photos from the Maryland Toy Expo, check out our In the Limelight coverage.