A little peppermint candy that began its journey in Austria in 1927 is getting ready for a very BIG birthday!
Yes, PEZ is turning 100 years old, and of course, such an incredible milestone deserves a celebration to remember!
From April 29 through May 1, 2027, PEZ collectors will come together in Orange, Connecticut, home of PEZ Candy USA, for PEZ100 — three days filled with PEZ, friends, trading, shopping, games, and plenty of birthday fun.
PEZ100 is a collaboration between PEZ Candy USA and VPC Productions, the nonprofit organization behind PEZamania and the Virtual PEZ Convention, with Shawn Peterson, Landon Proctor, and Morgan Rhinehart helping bring this very special celebration together.
Some Familiar Faces Behind PEZ100
For many collectors, Shawn Peterson needs little introduction. As PEZ historian, archivist, and manager of the PEZ Visitor Center, Shawn has spent years helping preserve and share the history of PEZ. He is also the author of several PEZ books, including PEZ: From Austrian Invention to American Icon.
Landon Proctor and Morgan Rhinehart bring plenty of convention experience to the celebration. They founded VPC Productions in 2021, and PEZamania became part of the organization in 2023.
Together with PEZ Candy USA, there is certainly plenty of PEZ experience behind this very special 100th birthday party!
Three Days of PEZ Birthday Fun!
The celebration begins on Thursday, April 29, with registration, room hopping, a PEZ100 time capsule activity, a seminar, and Birthday Bash Game Night.
Limited behind-the-scenes factory tours are also planned for Thursday. These special tours of the production and packaging areas are currently listed as sold out.
On Friday, April 30, room hopping and registration continue, with more activities still being planned. At 6 p.m., collectors will head to the PEZ Visitor Center for a special after-hours reception, including swag trading, time capsule placement, and more.
Then, on Saturday, May 1, it's time for the Dealer Show and PEZ Candy Warehouse Sale!
Registered attendees can enter beginning at 9:30 a.m., followed by the general public at 10 a.m. And here's something important for collectors who may not be able to attend the entire convention: Saturday's public show is free to attend, and convention registration is not required.
A casual gathering in the hotel lobby at 8 p.m. Saturday will bring the three-day celebration to a close.
Of course, there is still plenty of time before PEZ100, so the schedule is subject to change and more surprises may still be announced!
PEZ100 Registration
Collectors currently have two main registration options:
- Standard Registration — $75: Includes a dispenser, pin, patch, game card, raffle number, an additional themed item, and access to convention activities except those requiring an additional fee.
- Premium Registration — $95: Includes all items in the regular registration packet plus: Premium Dispenser, Premium Pin, additional game card, extra raffle ticket, extra convention-branded item
When registering more than one person, each registration should be added separately so the organizers receive the correct name and shirt size for every attendee.
Registration packages must be collected in person or by a proxy and will not be shipped. Registrations are also nonrefundable.
Where to Stay
The host hotel for PEZ100 is the Courtyard by Marriott in Orange, located at:
136 Marsh Hill Road
Orange, CT 06477
The special event room rate is $139.99, with the PEZ100 room block covering April 28 through May 2, 2027. The current booking deadline is March 31, 2027.
If the online booking page shows no availability, the PEZ100 organizers recommend contacting them at pez100th@gmail.com, as they are working with the hotel to resolve issues with the room block.
New to a PEZ Convention?
If PEZ100 will be your first collector gathering, you may see a few things on the schedule that are new to you.
Room hopping gives collectors a chance to visit participating hotel rooms to browse, buy, trade, and, most importantly, spend some time with other PEZ collectors.
Swag swapping is another fun part of the convention experience. Collectors can exchange PEZ-themed goodies such as stickers, postcards, or handmade creations. Participation is completely optional — it's simply another way to join in the fun and meet fellow collectors.
100 Years of PEZ!
It's hard to believe that PEZ will soon celebrate 100 years.
From a peppermint candy created in Austria in 1927 to the thousands of dispensers, characters, variations, and collectibles we know today, PEZ has certainly come a very long way.
But perhaps one of the best things to come from those 100 years is the wonderful worldwide community of collectors and the friendships that have grown along with our collections.
PEZ100 will give collectors the chance to come together, celebrate that history, visit with old friends, make some new ones, and, of course, add a little more PEZ to our collections along the way.
And with several months still to go, we have a feeling that there may be a few more PEZ100 surprises waiting for us!
For registration, the latest schedule, hotel information, travel details, and future announcements, be sure to visit the official PEZ100 website and follow the PEZ100 Facebook page.
Happy Collecting!
September 29, 2026
Wow. So sad that I missed about knowing about the 100th birthday gathering
Hotel sold out, registration sold out
In waitlist but wished I was aware of it
Hi Chris, we have read online that as of today 10-02-26 the hotel is not sold out, they are just experiencing such a high amount requests for rooms they have stopped online reservations. I would email Landon and Morgan at pez100@gmail.com if you have more questions, and we will keep reporting on this story. Please don’t give up on the trip just yet.