It’s time to plug a great toy show that’s within easy driving distance of Charleston,  but alas, it’s one I have to miss this year.

The Sixth Annual Kentuckiana GI Joe Toy Expo happens next weekend in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Airport, with an early preview package available for Friday night. This is a great show. I’ve been to a few in the past, and above and below you’ll see videos I made to document the visits. Up top it’s our clip from last year. At the bottom of this post, below the cool photo of the Apollo 11 Mission Control exclusive set, you’ll see our clip for 2017,

There will be dozens of dealers with great vintage GI Joes, plus GI Joe from the Real American Hero era and brand-new custom uniform sets and figures for 12″ and 3 3/4″ GI Joes. Plus there will be tons of other action figures and toys for sale. You might find MEGO, Big Jim, Super Joe, Johnny West, Major Matt Mason and many other great toys from the past.

This year the convention special is a box/uniform combo commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. In addition to that set, there will also be a Mission Command set, that includes a Flight Directer uniform, a office chair and Artlab’s Apollo Mission Control set.

Collectors can also expect other new sets from folks like Mark Cole and Mattsquatch Customs. This is some terriic stuff that is keeping the 1/6 scale hobby alive. I believe that there will also be more than one exclusive 3 3/4″ GI Joe-style figure for sale at the show.

There won’t just be dealers on hand. Representatives from other GI Joe shows, like ToyLanta, The Hershey Action Figure and Toy Show and The DFW GI Joe and Action Figure Show will be on hand to show their support.

Visit the Kentuckiana GI Joe Toy Expo Facebook event page for more information. It should be a great time, and your PopCulteer will be there in spirit. We plan to return for real next year.