How to go
What: The Miniature Society of Cincinnati presents the 37th annual Dollhouse Miniature Show and Sale, “Everyday is a Holiday”
Where: EnterTRAINment Junction Expo Center, 7379 Squire Court, West Chester
When: Noon-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday
Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 4-12
More info: www.Cincy-Miniatures.org. Visit EnterTRAINment Junction online at www.EnterTRAINmentJunction.com or call (513) 898-8000.
Collectors and enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels will come together at EnterTRAINment Junction’s Expo Center as The Miniature Society of Cincinnati (MSC) presents the 37th annual Dollhouse Miniature Show and Sale on Saturday and Sunday.
“This has turned out to really be nice, because EnterTRAINment Junction offers something for the whole family,” said Jean Ellsworth, founder of MSC. “What we’ve found the past two years is that mothers will bring the girls into the dollhouse show and dads will take the boys to see the trains, so it’s a family event.”
Ellsworth’s love for the craft led to the start of MSC in 1975, she said.
“It’s the only show in our area where we have an opportunity to buy from outside vendors, since we really don’t have any local dollhouse shops anymore,” Ellsworth said. “There’s every accessory you can imagine for the dollhouse.”
Creations vary: from full-size dollhouses, authentic period room boxes, miniature dolls and log cabins to tiny scenes in pocket watch cases, or tea cups. Miniature working lamps, musical instruments, tiny floral arrangements, china, foods and furniture are other popular items. Traveling dealers and vendors, along with local experts, offer a mix of handmade and commercial pieces.
MSC officials said miniatures are 1/12th scale, and often called dollhouse scale, meaning a one-inch in scale size is the equivalent to one foot in actual size. The group also works in smaller scales, half-and-quarter-inch to the foot.
Attendees will celebrate this year’s theme, “Everyday is a Holiday.” Last year, approximately 500 people attended the show over the course of the weekend. This is the third year the show and sale has been held at EnterTRAINment Junction.
“This is a very unique show with a lot of different things. Many of people at the show make the pieces that they’re selling. They are miniature works of art,” said Bill Balfour, general manager, EnterTRAINment Junction.
“We sell dollhouse items in our hobby shop, but I had no idea when we first brought in the show, the wide range of things you can do as a dollhouse hobby,” he said.
For families attending the show, EnterTRAINment Junction’s celebrated attractions will be open, including the world’s largest indoor model train display, the interactive Coney Island replica, a kids’ play area, a circus-themed A-Maze-N FunHouse as well as the educational American Railroading Museum and more. EnterTRAINment Junction offers 80,000 square feet of family fun.
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