Feb 16 • Lori Cate
Be sure to include your full name and email to the tags attached to your goodie bag items for the Dia de la Dawn Convention. You can include this year's logo if you want to! Before ordering your items, be sure to get them approved by Lori so we can avoid duplicates. Goodie bag items can be mailed to: Vivian Wilson 923 Seacoast Drive Imperial Beach, CA 91932

Feb 17 • Lori Cate

GOODIE BAG UPDATE
Going forward we are asking for 28 items to be donated for the goodie bags. Thank you!

Feb 26 • Lori Cate
PRIZE TABLE DONATIONS
1) Take photos of your prize table donations before sending
2) Include note in package & in email stating what you've sent & what it's for - prize table, goodie bag, raffle prize, etc.
** Be sure your name & email is on each item
Send items to:
Vivian Wilson
923 Seacoast Drive
Imperial Beach, CA 91932
Email photos to: Lori Pyrch
Photos will be posted in an album on the FB Topper Dawn Conventions group.

Mar 7 • Cathleen McGee Tapscott
Dia•de•la•Dawn  ••  3 NEW Games ~ No Bingo All Attendees Participate - Join Dawn Con 2026

Mar7 • Lori Cate
Limited space still available!
Dia de la Dawn Dawn Doll Convention
Join us for fun as we celebrate the 1970's Topper Dawn Doll!
San Diego, CA
Fri/Sat/Sun Oct. 23-24-25
Theme: Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead
Raffles, contests, prizes, & custom Convention doll!
Click HERE to sign up!

Questions? Email: diadeladawn@gmail.com

​
April 23 • Peggy Coleman
Have you checked out the cool Contests for this year's Convention??? Visit: Contests Dawn Convo 2026

May 11 • Cathleen McGee Tapscott
At the Day of the Dead Convention ••  Take Your Selfies & Group Photos............with the Mysterious.............GREEN LADY

May 12 • Cathleen McGee Tapscott
Day of the Dead SAN DIEGO DAWN CON 26 TIP!
During the Meet and Greet, PETAL on over to this game! Everyone will LEAF with a prize! No BONES about it!

May 12 • Cathleen McGee Tapscott
Craft Contest * Table Competition * What is the Craft? Here is the Kit! * Winning Table Attendees Get Prizes

May 12 • Cathleen McGee Tapscott
San Diego Convention * Meet & Greet Friday * Scratch-Off Game!
If He Is Grinnin', You Are Winnin'! 

May 18 • Cathleen McGee Tapscott
Prizes are Hiding! * A Few Prizes at the Convention * What ARE They? *
And....more and more game prizes will be "revealed"!

May 18 • Lori Cate
To All Convention Attendees: Please be sure to check your emails for the latest update from the Dia de la Dawn Convention 2026. Thank you!

May 25 • Cathleen McGee Tapscott
SALES!  SALES!  SALES!
2 Ways to Get Your Dawn Merch' at the San Diego Convention!
* Dawn Con Room Sales - All week in attendees rooms!
* Table Sales - Friday Night at the Meet 'n Greet

May 26 • Cathleen McGee Tapscott

On site registration!  A few details!  Exact time schedule, TBA. Here are the dates and the locations!
(The Crystal Ballroom is our convo room...I love the conference room name! It is a beautiful room, too!)
CONVENTION REGISTRATION
When? Friday Night October 23
Where? During the Meet 'n Greet, in the Crystal Ballroom, Handlery Hotel San Diego
LATE REGISTRATION
When? Prior to the Convention. Saturday Morning
Where? The Crystal Ballroom Entrance, Handlery Hotel San Diego
 

May 31 • Cathleen McGee Tapscott

Did you Know?   Monarch butterflies are one of many Dia de los Muertos symbols. With their annual return to Mexico during the Day of the Dead festivals, they feature festival themes.
The butterflies' pilgrimages to Mexico symbolize beloved ancestors returning for these autumn festivities. The color orange in monarchs' wings is believed to be the color beloved ancestors see best. With orange wings, these cherished butterflies create pathways home! Finally, the black in their wings and bodies represent the Land od the Dead. The color white, in the wings' spots, reflects the belief in the renewing of our deceased loved ones' spirits.

June 12 • Lori Cate
28 Goodie Bag Items * Check you items with Lori Cate on Messenger (we want to avoid doubles!) * Then mail items to Vivian Wilson 923 Seacoast Drive, Imperial Beach, CA 91932

June 12 • Lori Cate
For those who have sent in their prize table items, thank you so much! Please be sure to send in pictures of your prize table donations to Lori at Diadeladawn@gmail.com * We have received over 250 items but only a few photos have come in. We need to catalog prizes in an album on FB Topper Dawn Convention group.

June 12 • Lori Cate
PRIZE TABLE DONATIONS
Great ideas include Topper/ Checkerboard/Toyorama, clone or commissioned outfits and dolls, 1/12 scale accessories, doll hair, small print fabric. Pretty dolls w/ uncut hair & no blue are ideal. Think what you'd like to receive.

June 12 • Lori Cate
TO ALL REGISTRANTS
Have you...
* Had your goodie bag items approved by Lori Cate?
* Mailed goodie bag items to Vivian?
* Chosen your prize table donations?
* Created your labels for prize table items? (Include logo, name & email)
* Considered donating to the raffle table? Group donations welcome!

June 14 • Lori Cate

RAFFLE PRIZE TABLE DONATION

Consider a group donation for the Raffle Prize Table  * Go in on an item with a couple friends! There’s so much to choose from! Need help finding the right doll or item…just ask us! We are full of suggestions!

June 16 • Cathleen McGee Tapscott

Did you Know?   Papel Picado is used prominently in Dia de los Muertos celebrations. "Pecked paper," in English, is displayed as banners lined on cords.  The banners are make of tissue paper & the 'pecks' are Mexican art designs. They are presented in multiple colors. The tissue, pecks, & colors all have Day of the Dead meanings!

Tissue represents the frailty of life. The tiny holes guide loved ones' spirits through the tissue bunting as they visit the celebrations.

Each color used is symbolic:

Black = Realm of the Dead

Green = Life

White = Hope

Red = The Blood of Life

Blue = Water & Movement

Purple = Grief

Orange = Guides Spirits

Pink = Joy

Yellow = Dia de los Muertos' Season-Autumn

If you see papel picado moving near you? Perhaps a loved one is visiting you!
 

June 16 • Lori Cate

Did you Know?   During Dias de Los Muertos, bright orange marigolds (cempasúchil) are everywhere. Their vibrant color and strong fragrance are believed to act as a beacon, guiding wandering souls back to their living families.

 

Did you Know?   Dancing is a big part of the holiday Dia de Los Muertos

Like many Mexican celebrations, Day of the Dead includes music and dance. Mariachi and banda music plays, and dances like La Danza de los Viejitos (the dance of the old men) are part of the festivities. Another popular dance is La Danza de los Tecuanes (the dance of the jaguars).

June 18 • Lori Cate
Limited space still available! ... Dia de la Dawn Dawn Doll Convention
Join us for fun as we celebrate the 1970's Topper Dawn Doll!
San Diego, CA
Fri/Sat/Sun Oct. 23-24-25
Theme: Dia de los Muertos Day of the Dead
Raffles, contests, prizes, & custom Convention doll!
Click HERE to sign up!

Questions? Email: diadeladawn@gmail.com
 

June 18 • Cathleen McGee Tapscott
Did you Know?   Why is the Dia de los Muertos woman, La Catrina, depicted as both a spooky skeleton and also as a beautiful lady?
"La Catrina," in English, means "Elegant Lady Skeleton." She was created to mock upper class people sporting their costly fashions. She is a symbol that no matter our status, we all eventually are skeletons. We all become equal.

The newer prettier Catrina evolved from the original Catrina. They both wear elegant gowns. They have different skull faces, however.  While the original Catrina keeps her boney skull face plain, the current Catrina adopted the Sugar Skull's friendlier features with flowers, filigree, and crosses added.  Traditional and modern Catrinas are prominently displayed during Day of the Dead parades, festivals and artwork. Both versions are meaningful for the celebrations!

Have you seen the male Catrina version? Animal versions? They have recently been appearing for the festivals.

June 18 • Lori Cate
WORKSHOPS
If you have an idea for a 30 minute workshop that you would volunteer to share & teach during convention, please let us know. We would love to offer this during our Dia de la Dawn Doll Convention in October. Please email your idea to: diadeladawn@gmail.com

June 24 • Cathleen McGee Tapscott
Did you Know?   Day of the Dead, or "Dia de los Muertos", is a visual explosion of color, yes, but this festival intrigues other senses, as well!

Listen to the "papel picado" banners, pecked paper in English, rustling in the breezes. Gentle spirits of our departed friends and family float through them! These pretty tissue flags with their Mexican folk art patterns are strung above the festivities.

Smell the flowers? The fragrance of the Dia de los Muertos' featured flower, the marigold, wafts from "offrendas" (alters) and throughout the many decorations. Actually, the venues are filled with a big variety of live flowers. Autumnal colored flowers only, please!

Sniff the air again! You may smell the fresh bread and alter incense. "Pan de Muerto" (bread of the dead) is traditionally served to guests and added to offrendas. Copal incense is burned on alters to guide loved ones' spirits to us. The smoke floats to the heavens and is a scented pathway to guide them!

Tiny "calavera de azucars" are being served! Also known as sugar skulls, they are indeed sugar (with a tiny bit of meringue powder). Super sweet and brightly decorated, they are offered to us as playful portrayals of the skeletons seen everywhere during the Day of the Dead festivals!

July 30 • Lori Cate
Reminder!  PRIZE TABLE DONATIONS are due by September 22!
Send pix to Lori Pyrch at diadeladawn@gmail.com

- then -

mail to: Vivian Wilson 923 Seacoast Drive Imperial Beach, CA 91932

July 30 • Lori Cate
RAFFLE PRIZE DONATION

Join in with a couple friends to donate a special doll as a Raffle Prize!
Offerings from The Mall on FB, private commissions, eBay, Etsy, Vinted and other platforms offer an array to choose from!
Help make this year's Dawn convention extra special!

August 2 • Jennifer Rothfus
Convention attendees: Want to have even more fun?
We're looking for table hosts for the 2026 Dia De La Dawn Convention in San Diego. Each host will lead a table of eight (including themselves). You invite five or six friends and (if possible) welcome at least one newcomer. Don't worry if you can't fill every seat—l'll take care of the rest.
Responsibilities: Collect table items at the Convention (prizes, convention dolls, etc.) and distribute them at your table.
Interested? Send me a private message via Messenger.

The first eight people to respond will be assigned.
Thank you!

August 2 • Lori Cate
Convention Cocktail Time!
Come up with a signature drink for Dia de la Dawn Convention 2026.
A winner will be chosen and have bragging rights. Alcohol is not required.
Send recipe and name of drink along with your name to: DiadelaDawn@gmail.com

August 4 • Lori Cate
THE OFRENDA
We are asking each attendee to bring a photo of a departed loved one to place on/ near the large Ofrenda we will have on display at the Dawn Convention to honor these individuals as we welcome their visiting spirits & celebrate their lives.
4"x6" or smaller suggested.

August 14 • Lori Cate
GOODIE BAG ITEMS
Due in 10 Days!
 

August 14 • Lori Cate
GUESTS AT MEALS
We are extending an invitation for guests of attendees to join us for the meals offered during convention.
This includes appetizers & one drink at Friday night 10/23 Meet 'n Greet
and
all 3 meals Saturday 10/24.
The cost is $150 per attendee guest.
* Let us know by October 1st
Please send guest name to Lori at diadeladawn@gmail.com
Please use PayPal for payments ** Family & Friends Only ** diadeladawn@gmail.com

August 15 • Lori Cate
GOODIE BAG DONATIONS
We have received 23 goodie bag submissions from attendees out of nearly 60.
Please reach out if you need ideas - diadeladawn@gmail.com.
We need time to organize every aspect of the convention so getting these items to us is appreciated.

August 17 • Lori Cate
We are starting an interested list to see if we can get enough people for a second trolley tour!
Old Town Trolley Tour - Friday. Oct 23rd
Join us for a fun 2-hour Old Town Trolley tour of San Diego!
• Departs Handlery Hotel I0AM
• Back by 12 noon $50 per person (PayPal)
Reservations due by Oct 15th
You don't have to be a Dawn convention attendee to ride. October weather is usually perfect - just bring a light jacket for the open trolley! Reserve your spot soon: diadeladawn@gmail.com.

August 18 • Lori Cate
PRIZE TABLE DONATIONS
Check out the 'Albums' section at the top of the Topper Dawn Conventions group page on FB for more prize table donation ideas from past years!

August 22 • Lori Cate
Be sure to look at our website for the Dia De Los Muertos Dawn Doll Convention 2026.
It launched back in March and is full of information about what to expect. contests, swaps, prizes, raffles, and due dates.

August 22 • Lori Cate
TABLE GIFT EXCHANGE
One tradition that is celebrated at the Dawn Conventions is exchanging small gifts with your tablemates.
Hostesses talk it over with your table & decide if you'd like to do this small gift exchange. Each table sets the dollar limit & can go along with the theme of the convention or not! All items exchanged are usually identical & can be purchased or made. This activity just adds to the festiveness of getting together to celebrate the Topper Dawn Doll!

August 24 • Lori Cate
Goodie Bag Items are due today.
Thank you to those who have sent theirs in. If you still need to send yours, please do so asap. Thank you!

August 24 • Lori Cate
CUSTOM DOLL SWAP
Customize a Topper Dawn or Pippa doll enhanced with new face/makeup, hairstyle & in individually crafted attire & accessories. (Please don't use a clone or checkerboard doll!)
It should be FULLY customized hair, face paint. and outfit) by you or another designer. Make sure it has shoes - accessories are optional.
Keep the doll unwrapped / visible in a box, but please label it as "Custom Doll Swap" and ensure your name is included inside the package.
Note: Custom doll does not need to follow theme.
Due Date: September 22
Send to: Vivian Wilson 923 Seacoast Drive Imperial Beach, CA 91932

August 24 • Lori Cate
CUSTOM FASHION SWAP
Choose a special outfit suitable for Dawn, Pippa, or other 6.5' dolls wrapped with your name on the outside.
The contribution can be a one-of-a-kind outfit that you created or acquired, or a very distinctive clone outfit in great condition.
We encourage selections that you'd be delighted to see on your own dolls.
Feel free to add jewelry or accessories.
Note: The outfit does not have to adhere to any particular theme.
Due Date: September 22
Send to: Vivian Wilson 923 Seacoast Drive Imperial Beach, CA 91932