Dolly fun since 2010…
BlytheCon UK is the annual UK-based convention for Blythe doll collectors.
The event is presented on a not-for-profit basis by The Blythe Club.
Since 2010, BlytheCon UK (often abbreviated BCUK) has been held on the first Saturday of October in various UK cities (apart from 2020 due to Covid, and 2021 which was held virtually).
The event moves each year to benefit visitors from different regions, to encourage visitors both domestic and international to explore our beautiful country, and to experience something/somewhere new! Each year has a theme that is often, but not always, inspired by the location.
Play Hard, Work Hard…
As a homegrown event put on by a small doll club, BlytheCon UK is broadly not-for-profit. Some funds from one year will help to secure the next year’s venue, but as much as possible is spent on the event itself. We are proud to have kept ticket costs quite affordable over the years in comparison to similar events and are able to do this through volunteer organising.
The thing that we are most proud of through the history of BlytheCon UK is our charitable element. Each year many generous makers, designers, artists, and regular old Blythe fans donate items to our raffle. We wouldn’t dream of asking for anyone to donate something and then profit from it. So every penny from the BCUK raffle is donated to a chosen charity each year. Over the years, this has been many thousands of pounds to charities usually based in or near that event’s location. Our popular Bring & Buy secondhand stall is available to all attendees to sell their unwanted items at no fee, but 10% of sales prices then go to the charity. The treasures to be found at the Bring & Buy are always surprising!
A Community Focus…
At its heart, BlytheCon UK is and always has been an event about and for our community – both our UK Blythe community, and our friends from abroad. We rarely have years where attendees and vendors come from fewer than three continents, and often have more! We all join together through our love of that wide eyed beauty, Blythe.
Who are The Blythe Club?
A small group of Blythe enthusiasts who many years ago knew each other through the community, Flickr, forums, etc.
All were involved in varying ways in the first few BlytheCon UK events (as helpers, organisers, web wizards, vendors, presenters etc.) and joined together in 2014 for BlytheCon UK in Brighton – they’ve helmed the ship since! As a club, our mission is to promote and support Blythe in the UK, and we do so by hosting BlytheCon UK. Members of The Blythe Club organise BlytheCon UK on a volunteer basis.