Last Saturday saw the seventh iteration of the Retro Event at the Due Drop Event Centre in Manukau - that just like L&P is pretty much becoming World Famous in NZ’ The event happens twice a year & has become a permanent fixture in my calendar.
From ‘Retro’ Toys to Retro Gaming - this event is definitely the place to be if you are into Toys & Video games from the 80’s / 90’s & early 2000’s.
Previously the event has been held on the North Shore but given the increasing popularity of the event they had moved to Manukau where they can fill two halls of retro goodness - one for gaming & one for toys.
With over 200 vendors & an estimated attendance of well over 4,000 people it pays to come early and be ready for when the doors open & at 9am when the ‘VIP’ Ticket Holders were let in the place was already bustling with.
Just walking through the event was a real trip down memory lane - from collectible Barbies, to Star Wars figures to Nintendo 64, PS 1 & 2 and everything in between, pretty much all the things you can imagine from the last few decades were there - even a Delorean and K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider!
Pricing of the items (in my opinion) were a little ‘hit and miss’ - but given that the vendors were all private sellers too there was always the chance to negotiate and reminisce with like minded people and I didn’t have to ‘break the bank’ with a the few items I managed to pick up - including an 18” First Order Flame Trooper for my ever growing collection at the Book Hero HQ.
In short - if you’re a fan of the ‘golden’era (showing my age) of Toys, Video Gaming & Pop Culture I strongly encourage you to check it out in November in Auckland & I believe they are heading to Wellington for the first time too in September.