Classic Plastics celebrates pop culture one last time with final Toy Expo | News, Sports, Jobs

Chantel and Rick Weisenmuller sold Funko pops, graded comics, collectable figurines and handmade stuffed figures, like the Cthulus seen above, at Saturday’s Classic Plastics Toy Expo at the Parkersburg Arts Center. This was the couple’s first time at the expo as vendors, but they had come to the convention before as shoppers. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

PARKERSBURG — Classic Plastics Toy Store held its final Classic Plastics Toy Expo at the Parkersburg Arts Center this weekend.

Tony Workman, showrunner of the expo and owner of Classic Plastics Toy Store, said this weekend’s expo was the last show “for now.” They do not have the means to keep the show running, but he hopes to get it back up and running soon.

The expo started in 2015 to “bring the community together around pop culture,” Workman noted.

The expo features things such as action figures, handmade crafts, comic books, video games and “a little bit of everything pop culture.,” he said.

Workman was there as the showrunner and as a vendor; he brought merchandise one would typically see at the Classic Plastics Toy Store, now located in Rinky Dinks Flea Market on Ohio Route Seven. Workman had action figures, Funko pops and select video games; Workman noted the funko pops were his best seller on Saturday.

Classic Plastics Toy Store held their annual Classic Plastics Toy Expo on Saturday at the Parkersburg Arts Center. There was everything from a cosplay contest, comics, funko pops, music vinyls, collectables, action figures and more. The event was held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There was another event on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Parkersburg Arts Center. According to owner of Classic Plastics Tony Workman, this will be the last show “for now.” (Photo by Clara Noelle)

There was a wide array of vendors at this weekend’s expo.

Jodin Marcum was there with her business Spider Spell Emporium. Marcum raises and sells pet jumping spiders and enclosures. She brought some spiders to the expo for guests to look at and interact with. Marcum was at the same booth as Heather Adams and her shop Shadow Rogue Studio.

Terry W. Ervin II, an author from St. Paris, OH, was also at this weekend’s expo. Ervin has written 15 books, all of which he had available for sale. He mainly writes fantasy and science fiction. He has several different series, some stand-alones and a short story collection. Ervin teaches English at a career technology center.

Moriah Spencer, who is the owner of local business Spencer 3D, was there this weekend as a vendor. She has been to the expo the past two years.

“I hope they’ll be able to do it again,” Spencer said. “We love the nerdy events.”

Kaytlyn Gillis won first place in the masters category on Saturday at the Classic Plastics Toy Expo’s cosplay contest. Gillis is cosplaying as K/DA All out Evelynn from popular video game League of Legends. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

Chantel and Rick Weisenmuller were first time vendors at this weekend’s expo. They have attended the event before as shoppers, but this time they brought their small business. They sold funko pops, graded comics, collectable figurines and handmade pop culture plushes. While they don’t have a storefront, they make sure to go to shows and vendor events like the expo.

There was also a cosplay contest at this weekend’s expo. Gordon Briggs won first place in the journeyman category for his cosplay of Nick Fury from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Elk, who preferred not to provide their last name, won honorable mention in the masters category for their cosplay of Velvet from the popular Dreamworks Animation film “Trolls 3: Band Together.” Kaytlyn Gillis won first place in the master’s category for her cosplay of K/DA All Out Evelynn from popular video game League of Legends.

Clara Noelle can be reached at intern@newsandsentinel.com.

Gordon Briggs won first place in the journeyman category on Saturday at the Classic Plastics Toy Expo’s cosplay contest. Briggs is cosplaying as Nick Fury from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

Elk, who preferred to not provide their last name, won honorable mention in the masters category on Saturday at the Classic Plastics Toy Expo’s cosplay contest. They were cosplaying Velvet from the popular Dreamworks Animation film “Trolls 3: Band Together.” (Photo by Clara Noelle)

Moriah Spencer sold 3D printed objects at Saturday’s Classic Plastics Toy Expo at the Parkersburg Arts Center. According to Spencer, she’s been coming to the expo for the past two years. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox