Special Runs at BreyerFest 2009

This year, there were 8 (well, technically 10) Special Run models. These are made in limited quantities and sold only at BreyerFest, so they can get quite pricy. With each purchase of a BreyerFest 3-day ticket, you are given a "timeslot ticket" that allows you to visit the Special Run store within a given hour, and allows you to buy up to 2 of the Special Run models. (And they must be two different ones.) On your ticket is also a random number, and when your timeslot comes, they draw one of the numbers to be first in line-- everyone else lines up in order behind them, with lower numbers restarting behind them.

The Special Runs were tough to choose between. I had two timeslot tickets (one from my admission ticket, and one from my mother's, since she wasn't planning to get anything... she's such a good sport for tagging along) and so I could buy a total of 4 of the Special Runs. They released images of them before the event, so I had some time to try and figure out which I wanted, and the BreyerFest program had them all listed as well, with how many of each were made.

BreyerFest 2009 program page

The Pink Poodle scared me, so that was easy to cross off the list. I definitely wanted Gala, the Translucent 5-Gaiter... I love unique, fantasy-themed models like that! Sprinkles was so unique, and Make A Wish was quite pretty, so they hopped onto the list too. Finally, I really liked Surprise. The way that model worked was that it was handed to you in a pink, opaque bag. (None of the Special Runs come in boxes-- just bubble wrap.) You wouldn't know which version of Surprise you'd gotten until you opened the bag. I was hoping for the pinto.

My first Special Run ticket was for Friday around noon. We got there the suggested 15 minutes early (well, we got there earlier, but enjoyed some funnel cake while we waited) and soon enough, the staff started the process of lining people up. My ticket was number 38.

(The paint on my fingers was from painting the Stablemate models at the craft tent.)

Unfortunately for me, they called number 48. So, 48 was first in line... and I ended up near the end. And since there were around 350 people total, I had some waiting to do.

However, the waiting, at least, wasn't so bad. The people near us in line were all really nice (a common theme throughout the event!) and we passed the time chatting. I got some tips and info on how things at BreyerFest worked, which was nice. And the staff kept everyone moving along efficiently, so the line went quickly.

For each timeslot, there are only a certain number of each model that may be sold. So, if you're at the back of the line, some things may have already sold out for that timeslot. And since I was at the back of the line, this was exactly what had happened. By the time I got up the ramp and into the Special Run area, there were no more Sprinkles, Make A Wish, or Gala models available. In fact, the girl who'd been in charge of giving out Gala informed us that unless you're in the first 90 or so people, you likely won't have a chance to snatch up that one.

One other little twist is that you're kept in a single-file line, and you walk past the tables where you can hand them your ticket to sign off on if you want the particular model offered there. But if you pass by one, and don't see anything else you like, you can't really go back to grab the one you passed... so there was a lot of peering down the tables to try and see what was left, in order to make decisions on what to get.

In the end, since 3 of my Top 4 were gone already, I got one of the Surprise bags, hoping it was the pinto. I also decided to get Buttercream, the buckskin sport horse. (My only other options were that terrifying pink poodle, and Cupcake, the jumping pony.)

I paid for my two shiny new models, and reunited with my mother outside. Of course, she wanted to see them, and I wanted to find out which of the three Surprise models I'd gotten!

I was glad I picked up Buttercream; he was quite cute.

Buttercream

And it was with some glee that I found the Surprise model to be the pinto I'd wanted; hooray!

Surprise

The next day, we had our second timeslot- 9:30am. Now, the event opens at 9am, and we hadn't gotten in until about 9:30 the previous day, because of the huge line of traffic. So you can bet that we got in that rental car and headed over extra-early on Saturday, so that we wouldn't be late for the Special Run line. Because of this, we also got a parking spot literally right in front of the gate to get in, woohoo! (Made running bags back to the car easier!)

So, we milled about until the staff called a number. While I liked the Buttercream model, I now had a tough choice-- assuming they were all still available when I got in, I could only get two. Gala was, of course, the top choice, but that meant I had to decide between Sprinkles and Make A Wish as my other. Eventually, since I liked them both the same amount, I just asked my mom's opinion. Sprinkles it would be! (Assuming they didn't run out.) I also knew that I had to be near the front of the line if I wanted a Gala model...

They draw on the smiley face to show that you've used the ticket. And yes, that time is incorrect-- it was supposed to be am, not pm!

This time around, my ticket was number 28. I waited, breath held, as they drew a number to be first in line... and the one they drew was around 249. Since the numbers went up to about 350, and then restarted, I figured I wouldn't have much of a chance at Gala. There were a good number of people in front of me, and as we made our way up the ramp and into where the models were, I could see that the girl was still passing out Gala models. It may sound silly, but my heart was racing!

Then, a handful of people before me, the girl's box ran out. But before I could curse fate, she pulled out another box and announced that she had about 36 more to hand out! WOOHOO! I claimed one, then snagged a Sprinkles (looking wistfully at the Make A Wish I had to leave behind) and paid.

My mom could see me from outside while I was in line to pay. She put on a questioning face, and was answered by me beaming and waving my bubble-wrapped Gala at her. She'd really liked the look of Gala too, so she was pretty happy that I'd managed to get it!

And, once outside, we had to admire them up close. (Though I had to wait to get good photos back home in NJ!)

Sprinkles

Backlit by the sun, Gala is particularly impressive, with the transparency...

Gala

Especially after seeing the model up close, Gala became my mom's favorite out of all the ones I'd gotten.

The Special Run experience was exciting and a little nerve-wracking. People go nuts for these models, and I was glad that Breyer handled it with the single-file lines and numbered tickets, as it really limited the competition to get one. Instead of everyone being grabby-handed and wary of the others in line, people were friendly and chatty-- if you didn't get what you wanted, you could only blame luck, really. But because of this, people do try and take some 'precaution' to get what they want. One woman in line was telling me that she had 3 of the tickets-- one for her admission, one for her husband's, and then they buy an extra admission ticket simply for the chance at 2 more Special Runs. Yeesh!

Marked on the belly of each Special Run

There was also a Trivia Scavenger Hunt that you could do, and completing it gained you a snazzy BreyerFest 2009 blanket for a model. My mom and I each got one, though the extra was given to my friend Lisa, who'd been feeding Portia for me while I was gone. (Her payment for catsitting... my extra Roxy model, and the extra blanket! Gotta love the bartering system!)

Buttercream, sporting the fancy BreyerFest blanket

All in all, the experience was a little overwhelming at first for a newbie, but I came away from it quite satisfied!