CELEBRATING SEVEN YEARS IN 2025!!!
.
Referred to as:
“One of the best in-person shows the scene has to offer“
and
“One of the best Designer Toy Shows on the planet“!
Were both of those quotes by Toyz (A) Live?
Yes!
Does that make it untrue?
Find out for yourself…
:::
Friday, January 31st, 2025
*Assembly Required Kick Off Party
DSSOLVER
63 N Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
8 PM – 10 PM
:: Free Admission ::
Kicking off this annual weekend which celebrates the designer, bootleg and art toy subculture, artists once again descend upon Asheville, NC, coming from across North America and Canada.
Come have a beer and hang out with many of the creatives that will be tabling at this years event! And what better place to do it than at DSSOLVER! We had such a great time last year, we decided to return!
DSSOLVR is an experimentation-driven clearing house for surrealist beverage concepts and design aesthetics standing in opposition to the boring beverage conspiracy. DSSOLVR represents the apotheosis of craft beverages as an expression of creative intent, embodying the nexus of art and fermentation.
With a portfolio including the broadest possible spectrum of handcrafted potables, DSSOLVR is an entirely unique concept that seamlessly blends science, story, and psychedelia into a cohesive whole utterly unlike anything that has ever existed.
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Saturday, February 1, 2025
*Assembly Required: DAY ONE
11 AM – 5 PM
@
Battery Park Hall
46 Haywood St., Asheville, NC 28801
:: $13 General Admission :: $6 Ages 6-12 (Kids under 5: FREE) ::
[To express our appreciation for this wonderful community and to honor the environmental and financial challenges since September, ticket prices are reduced for 2025]
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the chocolate factory…
As the premiere destination for independent designer, bootleg and art toy artists and collectors, *Assembly Required honors this melting pot of artistic expression as a true to form turn of the century, pop surrealistic art movement.
Nestled within a valley of subculture, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountain range, *Assembly Required brings over 50 artists from across North America to celebrate this avant-garde culture, from 21 States including Canada! Attendees will see works of art unlike anything they’ve ever seen before. And, as many of the pieces produced by these artists are made in extremely limited runs, may never see again.
At *Assembly Required, we believe life cannot be celebrated without good music. And in the spirit of keeping it in the family, we are proud to announce that The Free Range DJ, host of Asheville FM’s “Let There Be Rock”, will be joining the family this year, teasing your ears while you get your toy on.
The Free Range DJ has been spinning tunes since the 80s, starting with mix tapes at parties in college to a decade plus gig at Sign of The Whale on Fridays and Saturdays in Washington to dj’ing private parties and weddings. For the last seven years, The Free Range has hosted Let There Be Rock on 103.3 Asheville FM and gigs around town spinning organic locally sourced vinyl from the last 70 years, with a deep and growing love of music from the seventies eighties and nineties.
As you’re bopping around to the soundtrack of the greatest toy adventure ever, stop by Grift Town Goods live screen printing stall!
You heard right! *Assembly Required has teamed up with Grift Town Goods, to bring you live screen printing! It’s totally like magic right before your eyes, except here no gets sawed in half.
Casey, a screenprinting artist living in Asheville for over 12 years, will be printing on demand. After starting her one-woman screenprinting business, Grift Town Goods, seven years ago, she has created endless amounts of designs and excitement for other local businesses and events. Casey’s artwork is all handprinted on responsibly sourced garments and a sustainable way to create hype without the leftover merch. Let her inspire your own attire as well! Having the screenprinting press on site allows for unique, one of a kind prints on your own clothing even. You heard right. You don’t even have to buy a shirt! Speak to Casey about having this exclusive design printed on your own clothing right there at the event!
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Speaking of this exclusive design, what makes this opportunity even more special is that the shirts will be adorned with a design created by local Asheville artist, Edwin Salas himself!
“Inspired by the world of imitation toys, this design blends nostalgic elements of classic villains and monsters into a fun tribute to the wild toy culture of the ’80s.
Nothing says “designer toy fan” like rocking a T-shirt that looks like it came straight from your childhood toy collection.”
Cant wait to get to the show to get your own freshly screen printed shirt?
Maybe you’re not attending, but still want one?
No worries, you can obtain this ON-LINE EXCLUSIVE COLOR VERSION right here/right now.
Grab this shirt and check out other merch featuring this design at Edwinsalas.com
As you walk through the artist alley, you may also smell fresh coffee, hot tea and coco. Does that aroma send you over the moon?
That’s no moon…
It’s Starview Coffee!
At Starview Coffee, they believe the greatest moments of celebration are enhanced with a delicious beverage. Their journey began with a vision to blend the warmth of gatherings with the artistry of coffee-making.
Infused with a passion for both coffee and creating meaningful connections they strive to ensure that every client feels like part of our extended family. In addition to crafting excellent drinks, they are dedicated to working with local businesses and using environmentally conscious products whenever possible.
Their goal is simple: to be your corner of cozy, fun, delicious happiness.
Along with their lovely mobile cart, they aim to bring a touch of Starview sensation to every cup and every guest.
:::
*Assembly Required After Party: NIGHT ONE
The Wham Bam! Puppet Slam!
Doors @ 7 PM
@
Sly Grog Lounge
271 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801
::General Admission: $20::
::*Assembly Required Vendor/Artists: $10::
Rising from the ashes, the Slygrog returns!*
And there is no better way to celebrate this return with Asheville’s Unparalleled Purveyor of the Peculiar:
Toybox: America’s Favorite Cartoon Witch!
Continuing with tradition as the official after party of *Assembly Required, Unboxing Asheville and Toybox, America’s Favorite Cartoon Witch, team up to bring you the Wham Bam! Puppet Slam! A night of adult short form puppetry
Toybox Theatre is a multi-award winning company, performing for audiences of all ages for more than 20 years. Blending stand up comedy, deft character acting, storytelling and puppetry for a unique performance. Awards include: Fan Favorite and Best Performance at the National Puppetry Festival, funding from The Jim Henson Foundation, and an UNIMA Citation for Excellence in The Art of Puppetry, the highest award given in the field.
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* Two months before our return to an In-Person event in February 2022, the Sly Grog Lounge was devastated by a massive fire. *Assembly Required had two after parties there in 2019 & 2020, hosted by and Toybox Theatre who has hosted innumerable events at the Sly Grog. After more than two years of rebuilding and renovations, the Sly Grog reopened to the public May 17, 2024.
:::
Sunday, February 2, 2025
*Assembly Required: DAY TWO
@
Battery Park Hall
46 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801
:: $13 General Admission :: $6 Ages 6-12 (Kids under 5: FREE) ::
Did you spend too much time worrying about a good excuse as to why you didn’t want to come out for day one?
Maybe you were here yesterday, and you passed on one thing that haunted you all night! So much so that you have to come back for a second day!?! Yep… been there. Thankfully…
DAY TWO ENTRY IS FREE WITH PROOF OF DAY ONE ENTRY!
If for some strange reason you didn’t purchase a ticket for day one (sus?), come for day two anyway to simply support an independent event that supports awesome independent artists! Asheville hasn’t seen anything like this, and we want to keep coming back.
Don’t wait! We’ll only be here one more day, before you have to wait another whole year to get your toy on!
:::
*Assembly Required After Party: NIGHT TWO
SHOW AND TELL: A CHILL AFTER PARTY
Doors @ 7 PM
@
Sly Grog Lounge
271 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801
::General Admission: $10 ::
::*Assembly Required Vendor/Artists: FREE ::
IT’S NOT OVER FOLKS!
By popular demand, the festivities continue!
Come out and share your awesome toy haul from *Assembly Required and enjoy the eccentric sounds provided by local fan faves The Deviled Eggs & Bad Ties!
“It’s the best event in Asheville. I look forward to it every year.”
~ a lot of people
As in independently run event, a lot of hard work that goes into organizing this expo behind the scenes. If you look forward to coming every year to this event, please consider a donation in any amount to help us continue to bring this very special event to you; to the artists; to the collectors of this community.
Thank you. Your support is humbling. And immensely appreciated.
Matthew J. Casale, Creator, *Assembly Required