A Dream We Never Dared to Dream! Looking Back at Our 3rd V.I.P. Vienna International PEZ Gathering!
When Willi, Yasin, and I first started planning our very first V.I.P. Vienna International PEZ Gathering back in 2014, we immediately agreed on one thing: this special event should only take place every four years.
With our first gathering being held in 2015, the timing worked out perfectly.
We knew that when the big anniversary year of 2027 arrived, our 4th V.I.P. Gathering would coincide with an even bigger celebration: 100 Years of PEZ!
But back then, we could never have imagined what would happen next.
We never dared to dream that our V.I.P. Gathering would grow into the largest and most international PEZ collectors’ meeting in Europe.
The planning for our third V.I.P. Gathering had started long before the event itself, and every time it amazes us how quickly the weekend arrives—and how quickly it is over again.
Months and years of preparation seem to fly by in the blink of an eye.
The Tradition of V.I.P. Dispensers
For our third gathering, we had prepared many surprises, special activities, and unforgettable moments.
But let’s be honest—we know what collectors are most interested in:
What special PEZ dispensers were created for the event?
Let’s start at the beginning.
Over the years, our exclusive V.I.P. dispensers have repeatedly created excitement throughout the PEZ collecting community.
In 2015, we proudly introduced our stunning White and Red Crystal V.I.P. Groom dispenser to collectors around the world.
Four years later, at our second V.I.P. Gathering in 2019, the story continued with the release of the matching Bride dispenser.
The Birth of the V.I.P. Girl
For months leading up to this year’s event, our promotional artwork, beautifully created by the incredibly talented Ty B., featured hints that something special was coming.
Among the images were the pregnant Bride and even a stork delivering a baby.
Many collectors had already begun speculating.
After all, the PEZ Pal Boy has appeared in countless color variations over the years and has become a familiar face in collections worldwide.
Yet a matching PEZ Girl seemed nowhere to be found.
That is exactly why we decided it was time.
Time for a cute PEZ Girl to return to our collections.
Working together with PEZ International, a truly unique dispenser was created exclusively for our V.I.P. Gathering.
Using the new Bride mold as the foundation, PEZ replaced the traditional bridal veil with a beautiful bow, transforming the character into an entirely new and charming PEZ Girl.
The result exceeded all of our expectations.
Our beautiful blonde V.I.P. Girl features crystal matte blonde hair, a transparent face, a bright yellow stem, and a pink V.I.P. 3 logo printed on the stem to perfectly match her pink bow.
She instantly became one of the most talked-about dispensers of the entire weekend.
Produced exclusively for the 3rd V.I.P. Vienna International PEZ Gathering, the dispenser was limited to just 360 pieces and distributed as part of the official Goodie Bag in Vienna.
A Truly International Gathering
This very special dispenser would never have become reality without the support of Gabi M. and her colleagues at PEZ International.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of them for helping bring this dream project to life.
And what an incredible weekend it was!
This year, 130 collectors from 19 different countries attended our V.I.P. Gathering, making it one of the most international collector events ever held.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event possible.
Most importantly, thank you to every single collector who traveled from near and far to spend this unforgettable weekend with us.
The friendships, laughter, stories, and shared passion for PEZ are what make this community so special.
The Countdown to 2027 Begins
And now?
We can hardly wait to begin planning our 4th V.I.P. Vienna International PEZ Gathering.
Because somehow, we have to top everything we have done before.
And with the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of PEZ waiting for us in 2027, the challenge—and the excitement—has never been greater.
The countdown has officially begun.
Happy Collecting!
…and see you in Vienna in 2027!
August 26, 2023
