Pez Convention 2007!

Yup. We took another trip all the way to Minneapolis to attend our second Pez convention. A what? Yeah, people actually collect those fun little Pez candy holders. They've been around for over 50 years and the vintage ones can be quite valuable.
I would guess that there have been over a thousand different versions made over the years. We have been collecting them for about four years and have several hundred, most in the $1-5 range but many $10-25 Pez and one worth about $100! We heard about this convention (there are several throughout the states each year) and went for the first time last year.

Anyway, the convention is held at the Ramada Hotel which is across the street from the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. We first did some room hopping (which means you walk from hotel room to room and all the goodies a Pezhead brought along are neatly arranged on the beds for potential buyers to browse through). Its the best way to pick up the Pez you've been looking for at the cheapest price and meet all the other Pezheads! We then ran across the street to the mall for a look at the fifty gazillion stores but we only made it through about 1/4 of them. Then back to the hotel for swimming. Next morning we returned to the mall to hit the fourty eight gazillion stores we missed the day before. That evening we went back to the hotel for the Pez costume contest and bingo games. Kayla entered and took fourth in her category (she's on the far right)! We didn't have any luck at bingo, though. Nex year we have a good plan but I can't let the secret out yet... The following morning we went to the main Pez sale. About 50 dealers displayed all their vintage and new Pez for sale. Yup, we bought even more. See the picture of the Pez in the case? Well, those were all above MY price range! No $1000 Pez for this poor boy...