News

Kid Create Craft Fair Posted on 21 Jul 09:50

Hand Crafted Star Ornaments

July 28th, 3:00 - 4:00pm

Anyone who enjoys hand-made things likes a good craft fair. Well, here at The Toy Boat, we've got a special one for you!

Each year The Toy Boat hosts a Kid's Craft Fair. It's run like most other craft fairs, except showcasing student artists and artisans! How it works is this: kids contact us to tell us about the things they've made that they want to sell--we want to make sure we don't have too many of the same thing--and register. The kids make their product with their own materials, and on their own time. They create displays and signs, and set up their booths exactly as they want to. Once they've set out their wares in their spot, they get to sell their creations and keep 100% of the money they make!

Young Girl at the Toy Boat Kid Create Craft FairThis is one of The Toy Boat's favorite events, for both adults and kids. If this sounds like a fun time, contact us to register! And don't forget--join us on July 28 for a nice stroll down the wharf to support the island's budding artists.


Enchanted Villages at The Toy Boat Posted on 17 Jul 20:53

Fairy house with a jaw bone archwayOur 18th annual Enchanted Villages, Fairy House Building
July 21, 3:00 - 4:00

The Toy Boat Fairy Garden

If you've visited The Toy Boat, you've seen our amazing Fairy Garden. Located in front of the store, our Fairy Garden is a wonderful sight, full of tiny houses for fairies, gnomes, and all sorts of other enchanted beings.

These petite dwellings aren't made by tiny, magical hands, however-- they're all made by local children and helpers here at The Toy Boat. Every gnome-home and fairy-house in our garden is made from natural materials, and the layout changes constantly. Walking around our fairy garden, you'll discover tiny hideaways, stairways to the unknown, and tiny doors that could be portals to a tiny hidden world. Here, a fish-jaw creates a doorway, scallop shells become tiny chairs, and old driftwood is transformed into a fairy treehouse. Our garden is a magical place where kids of all ages can experience the wonder of the secret enchantment of Nantucket Island.

Join Us

Fairy house with a jaw bone archwayYou're welcome to come explore our enchanted garden year-round. However, for one magical hour a year, you can join us to contribute to our garden by building your very own fairy home! All materials are provided, and once you're finished, we'll find a special place in our garden for your creation. Feel free to bring along some extra supplies, like natural materials, string, and scissors.

Oh-- and don't forget, bring your imagination!


20 Years of the Toy Boat Marble Swap Posted on 11 Jul 08:00

A bowl of colorful marbles

July 14, 2016 from 3:00-4:00 PM

For the past 20 years, The Toy Boat has hosted one of our favorite events—the Marble Swap. Once a year, from 3:00-4:00 PM, children and adults alike arrive on Straight Wharf to trade marbles with other collectors.

Marble Swap History

The Marble Swap began with a local boy named Raymond Decosta. Like most visitors to The Toy Boat, Raymond loved buying marbles from our one-of-a-kind Marble Machines. However, since the marbles come out randomly, styles and colors vary! After receiving a number of duplicate marbles, Raymond suggested that we plan a time where other kids could come to the store and trade the marbles they no longer wanted.

Loren and children pick out marbles from a basketSo we did!

Raymond is an adult now, but I've been assured that he and his friends still have their marble collection. In fact, many a friendship has been created thanks to this wonderful event!

Join Us for the Swap

Please join us on July 14th at 3:00 in the afternoon. Bring your marbles (even one is enough to get you started!) This year, we will be giving away an amazing hand-made marble by glass artist Fritz Launstein. His incredible marbles feature in private collections around the world!