By Jane Easterly
Photographs by Jane Easterly
August 1-3, 2025
The Motor City Blythe Group hosted the 2025 Blythecon event in Detroit the first weekend of August. Over 300 guests traveled from all over the world to celebrate Blythe dolls and shop the 42 vendors. In addition to the main event on Sunday at the Detroit Masonic Temple, attendees enjoyed a Friday dinner at the iconic Detroit restaurant The Whitney, assembled for a casual Saturday meetup at Cass Park, and sampled a taste of Detroit at American Coney Island.
Vendor Melissa Caughey said, “The perfect words are often hard to find when our hearts experience immense joy. Joy of friendships, memories, places and spaces, conversations and moments that seem to be around every corner. This event was absolutely joyous. Everything was amazing.”
by Lisa Esping.
Sunday included shopping, workshops, contests, and socializing. Each attendee was given the opportunity to choose one workshop to attend for free. The five workshops were Motor City Kewpie Doll with Ayin of Splattergirl; Resin Eye Chips with Elizabeth of DollyPop!; Boom Box Bag with Barb of Ardent Curse; Polymer Clay Mushroom with Melissa of My Cassie Ray; and Soft Art Doll with Suza of Tootsie Andtheboy.
Attendees each received a goody bag filled with accessories, outfits, key chains, buttons, stickers, and raffle tickets to enter to win a host of amazing donated treasures, including one-of-a-kind dolls. The bag itself was an adorable tote showcasing Blythe art and the convention name.
Organizers arranged a whole bunch of contest opportunities for attendees. These included three photo contests, two diorama contests, four fashion contests, and a contest for the best vendor table. Some of the winners included Jair Retureta for the Blythe and Her Posse photo contest; Lisa Esping for the Summer in the City photo contest; Colleen Elliott for her Blythe and Her Pets diorama, and Melinda Nelson’s recreation of the ShowBiz Pizza Place for the Summer in the City diorama. The Night Circus Blythe Company took first place in the vendor booth contest.
place in the Blythe and Her Pets contest.
who wish everyone fun and joy.
Blythecon Detroit was originally planned for 2021 but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. James Fisher, one of the organizers along with Sandra Coe and Kelly Campbell, said, “The realization of Blythecon Detroit 2025 was a long-awaited milestone. As a team, we take immense pride in what we’ve accomplished. Our goal was to showcase the vibrant city of Detroit, rich in history, art, and innovation, and offer attendees a weekend of engaging experiences. We aimed to bring together collectors, foster new friendships, and celebrate the artistry of numerous talented creators. We believe we achieved our vision. The unwavering support from the Blythe community, our loved ones, and the global Blythe community’s generosity were instrumental in our success. The exceptional prizes and goody bags were a testament to the community’s talent and kindness. The outcome was truly remarkable.”
Check out @blythecondetroit on Instagram to see more photos of Blythe dolls having fun in Detroit. Retureta summed up the event perfectly: “My yearly dose of love and magic in a Renaissance historic gem — Detroit rules — AMAZING.” The next U.S. Blythecon will take place in Philadelphia in 2026. Visit wonderlandofplay.com to stay informed.
Save the Dates:
Blythecon USA 2026
Philadelphia Seaport Edition
Sunday, November 8, 2026
(Community Pre Meet Events on Nov. 7)
