Copyright (c) 2013 World's Greatest Hobby on Tour. All rights reserved.
120 Easy Street #4, Carol Stream, IL 60188 - 630-279-5094 - info@wghshow.com
"Thomas the Tank Engine" is a registered trademark of Hit Entertainment
Be a part of the show and help grow the hobby of model railroading.
The model railroad industry believes in the mission of the show, which is to promote
the hobby of model railroading to the general public. Each show has representation
from all the best manufacturers in the industry.
Read what the industry is saying about the show (pdf)
The show has a proven record of getting people to the show.
(See our list of previous show attendances).
The World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour consistently attracts an average of 25,000 people
to each show proving there is indeed an interest in the hobby of model railroading.
The show holds the record for the largest two day train show ever with the Chantilly,
Virginia in January of 2010 with 41,036 people. That broke the previous record which
was the World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour in Philadelphia, PA in January of 2009 with
40,152 people.
We understand that a show promoters job is to promote!
Advertising & promotion. We spend, on average, over $60,000 per show on advertising.
This includes ads in all the major model railroad magazines like Model Railroader,
Railroad Model Craftsman, Classic Toy Trains, O Gauge Railroading, Model Railroad
News, and more.
Locally, before each show we run extensive television, radio, newspaper, and Internet
advertising specifically targeted at reaching people who have an interest in the
hobby but have never attended a train show before.
Ten of thousands of emails and postcards are also sent to people who have been to
train shows in the past.
Exhibitor Applications:
Booth Registration Forms & Information (pdf)
Layout Registration Forms & Information (pdf)
(California exhibitors must complete a BOE-410 form).
So whether you are a model railroad manufacturing company, a model railroad club,
a hobby shop owner, or someone who just likes trains and wants to help promote the
hobby of model railroading we hope you will consider being a part of the show and
help us show others what we already know…
..that model railroading is the world’s greatest hobby.
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2013 Show Schedule
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January 5 & 6, 2013
Fort Worth, TX
Will Rogers Memorial Center
3401 W Lancaster, Fort Worth, TX 76107
4th largest US market, 2007 attendance was 21,064
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January 12 & 13, 2013
St. Louis, MO
America’s Center
701 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63101
19th largest US market, 2005 attendance was 33,390
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February 9 & 10, 2013
San Diego, CA
Del Mar Fairgrounds
2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014
17th largest US market, 2008 attendance was 23,239
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February 23 & 24, 2013
Sacramento, CA
California Exposition & State Fair (CAL-EXPO)
1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95852
25th largest US market, 2008 attendance was 22,049
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March 2 & 3, 2013
San Francisco, CA
The San Mateo County Event Center
1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo, CA 94403
San Francisco is the 4th largest broadcast market and the only top 5 market in the
US where we have yet to hold a show.
Click here for pdf exhibitor information on this new show
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Becoming an Exhibitor
Since 2004, World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour has been promoting the hobby across the
country. Our staff is dedicated to providing the best events that truly promote the
hobby in a positive way. We want people attending our shows to leave so excited about
model railroading they can't wait to start building a model railroad!
Manufacturers & Distributors
This is a great occasion to expose your products to consumers of every level, from
very experienced hobbyists to those brand new to the hobby. You can create new customers
for your products and help create life-long members for the hobby trade. In addition,
you will be able to meet with other members of the trade and industry including distributors
and hobby shops. This gives you an opportunity to see what is being done in the hobby
industry by your competitors, the model and train community and by the distribution
channel.
Hobby Shops
Local hobby shops have a great chance to capitalize on the excitement this show generates
with both sales at the show and with creating new long-term customers for your stores.
You can seize the opportunity to sell a customer their first train and to become
their long-term provider of all things model train related. This is an excellent
environment to promote your store.
Operating Model Railroads
If you want to show off your club's modular railroad we will provide you with free
space at the show. We want your help in recruiting the next generation of model and
toy train enthusiasts. We're always looking for clubs and individuals that would
like to bring in their operating model train layouts to the show to share with the
public.
