P.U.D.D.L.E Update
The Pullip and Dal Doll Lovers Event has a new home and a 2025 date!
The 17th annual Pullip and Dal Doll Lovers Event has announced their 2025 date, as well as their new location! Keep on reading to learn more about PUDDLE 2025! Before we dive into the future, let me recap a bit about what PUDDLE is, in case it’s new to you!
What is PUDDLE?
The Pullip and Dal Doll Lovers Event is a doll gathering started by Jane Easterly, collector and showrunner. PUDDLE, as it’s known for short, started as a celebration of Jun Planning/Groove dolls, like Pullip, Dal, Taeyang and others. The first PUDDLE had 30 attendees and was held at Chicago’s premiere Japanese market, Mitsuwa. Eventually, the event grew, moving to the Holiday Inn Chicago-Elk Grove, where it called home until 2024’s event.
What happens at PUDDLE? So many things! PUDDLE isn’t a convention, nor is it a small group get-together. It’s a large gathering of people who share a common trait— the love of dolls. And I don’t mean just Pullip dolls. The event has grown to cover all kinds! For example, years ago it was a rare sight to see Danny Choo’s Smart Doll on display at a table, but for 2024’s event, they were quite common and maybe more popular of a doll companion than the Groove dolls that started this fan gathering!
Besides mingling with other doll fans, PUDDLE offers contests (for all types of dolls), treasure chest prizes (think raffle prizes) and lots of shopping. It’s a really fun day with great people.
The Secret Garden
Every PUDDLE has a theme and 2025’s is no exception. PUDDLE attendees will be stepping into The Secret Garden. This theme lends itself to so many creative and interesting ideas, so I’m excited to see what attendees create. I am already pondering what custom doll and custom outfit entries I’ll be submitting!
The event will be held June 7th, 2025. Registration opens in January 2025. There is usually early bird pricing, so it pays to sign up early. While you can’t sign up just yet, you can stay in the know about the event by following the fan gathering on Facebook.
2025’s convention marks the first year that it will take place at the Holiday Inn Chicago-O’Hare Rosemont. It’s a welcome change, even though it means a longer, more complicated commute for my mom and I. I’m hoping the Haunted House convention that is in Rosemont the same weekend doesn’t make too much traffic for us! (Though, now I’m super curious about what that one is like!)
Join Us!
For more information on PUDDLE, check out their website and Facebook page. It’s a fun event, especially if you’re in the Illinois area. I highly encourage you to not only attend, but to also join in on the fun and bring a custom doll or two! It’s honestly half the fun of PUDDLE, seeing everyone’s creative side! Mom and I hope to see you there in 2025!