Annual Barbie Doll Collectors Convention This Weekend In Houston

HOUSTON, TX — Barbie dolls and Barbie aficionados alike will swarm the Hyatt Regency downtown this weekend for the National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention. The annual event moves from city to city each year, and this year it's Houston — aka Space City. Fittingly, this year's theme is "Blast Off With Barbie."

The event is a chance for Barbie collectors to show off their dolls, purchase new dolls or just meet fellow collectors. Members from the Houston Doll Society, in conjunction with the National Collectors Convention Steering Committee, have collaborated to host this event.

The convention unofficially began Wednesday night with a launch party at the Hyatt, and the public is welcome to attend on Saturday (July 22) at the Celestial Salesroom. Admission is $5 per adult while children 12-and-under get in free.

Guests can also view creations done by individual artists, and some will make their own Barbie dolls and others make custom clothes, shoes and accessories.

Dawn Arney-Moore, a member of the Houston Doll Society, told ABC13.com that folks can find "everything Barbie" at the convention.

"You can see everything from an original 1959 number one Barbie to the rarest Mattel platinum labels that they sell today," said Arney-Moore.

For a list of daily scheduled events, visit barbieconvention.com.

Caption: The 2017 line-up of Barbie career dolls is showcased at the New York Toy Fair, Friday, Feb. 17, 2017. New careers this year are folk singer, pet vet and Builder Barbie.

Photo by Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Mattel