The 2024 Sasha Festival closed with breakfast, special doll raffle wins, keepsakes and a first look at the 2025 gathering in Columbus, Ohio.
The final morning of the 2024 Sasha Festival brought the weekend’s collecting, conversation and goodbyes together around one breakfast table. Special doll raffle draws gave the gathering a lively finish, while the announcement of a 2025 festival in Columbus, Ohio, offered attendees a next date to look forward to. After three busy days celebrating Sasha dolls, even the practical business of packing up came with a memorable surprise: a new Gregor and a generous collection of clothes and toys headed home with my daughter.
Dolls at the breakfast table
Sunday breakfast took place in the conference room instead of the restaurant on the top floor. The change made room for a table full of dolls and a chance to catch up before the raffle began. My daughter, Dmd, brought Laura wearing her Fair Rosamund outfit, along with Aurelia, whom she had recently purchased. I brought toddler Louisa and my newly purchased Katie, plus Trudi in the travel bag Dorisanne had given me two years earlier.
The dolls offered a small, personal snapshot of the festival: familiar companions, new finds and outfits that invite a closer look. A postcard for the 2025 festival joined them on the table, linking the morning’s conversation to the next gathering. Other attendees had brought dolls too, including a Trendon Gregor, a Gotz Sasha and a Studio doll. Seeing different dolls in the same breakfast setting gave collectors an easy way to share what they brought and enjoy the variety around them.
Aurelia, Laura (Fair Rosamund), Louisa and Katie with the 2025 festival postcard at breakfast
Raffle draws and an unexpected win
The Special Doll raffle draws were the morning’s main event. Sheila drew the Baby Tally raffle, and Dawn prepared the draw for Gregor. When Dawn read out “number 19,” recognition came a moment later: it was Dmd’s number. She went up to collect Gregor, turning the draw into a particularly happy surprise for our table. The new doll soon joined Aurelia, Laura, Louisa and Katie at breakfast.
Other draws followed, including Judith Dollydoodles drawing the ticket for her Special Baby raffle and Diane and her granddaughter drawing the ticket for the Special doll donated by Petrana. The photographs capture both the moment of anticipation and the people gathered around the process. For a collector, a raffle win can become part of a doll’s story as much as the doll itself: who drew the ticket, where the surprise happened and which friends were there to share it.
Dmd’s Gregor came with more than the doll. At packing time, we had the joyful task of taking all the outfits for the Gregor Special raffle doll off the display board and putting them into our bags. The photographs show Dmd with Gregor and the clothes and toys that accompanied him. That collection of pieces made the win feel especially complete, and gave us plenty to bring home and remember from the festival.
Souvenirs, thanks and the next gathering
Attendees received their final souvenirs in flag bags. Petrana had gone to considerable effort to obtain doll-sized trolley bags, which were included with doll underwear. I plan to show the festival souvenirs in a separate post; together, the gifts provide a tangible record of the care that went into the event. Petrana also gave festival notebooks to the table hostesses and presented gifts to people who had helped. Roses for Dawn and Janet added another personal touch to the closing thanks.
Heidi shared plans for the 2025 Sasha Doll Festival in Columbus, Ohio. The breakfast postcard made that announcement easy to carry away, and the conversation offered a natural bridge from this year’s gathering to the next. Details beyond the location and year weren’t part of the morning’s announcement, so the postcard is the clearest reminder for now.
Then it was time to pack, say goodbye and carry the dolls and souvenirs home. After three intensely fun days celebrating Sasha dolls together, leaving was hard. Thank you to Petrana for taking on the considerable financial risk of the 2024 festival, for the thoughtful souvenirs and for creating such an enjoyable event. Many people contributed their experience to different parts of the gathering. For our family, the final morning will be remembered for the breakfast table of dolls, the raffle call that turned out to be Dmd’s number, and a new Gregor with an armful of outfits ready for the journey home.
Awaiting the Special doll raffle draws at breakfast time
Chatting at breakfast time
A Trendon Gregor, Gotz Sasha and a Studio doll at breakfast
Sheila drawing the Baby Tally raffle
Preparing to draw Dawn's Gregor raffle
Dawn reads out 'number 19' for Gregor raffle and it dawns on me who that is!
An astonished Number 19 (my daughter) goes up to collect Gregor!
JoAnn, Dmd with Gregor and Sheila at the special doll raffle
Judith Dollydoodles draws the ticket for her Special Baby raffle
Judith reads out the winning number
Diane and her granddaughter draw the raffle ticket for the Special doll raffle donated by Petrana
Dmd's new Gregor joins Aurelia, Laura, Louisa and Katy on our breakfast table
Petrana presents gifts of a festival notebook to each of the Table Hostesses (including me)
Heidi tells us all about the plans for the 2025 Sasha Doll Festival in Columbus, Ohio
Petrana presents special gifts to all who helped at the festival
Petrana with Dawn when she gave Dawn her gift
Petrana and Janet
Petrana and Marti
Petrana presenting Sheila with her gift
Petrana presenting roses to Dawn
Petrana gave Janet some roses too
Final announcements and thanks from Petrana
Dmd with her new Gregor and his vast collection of clothes and toys
