Festivals - Five Points Festival 2025 : A Designer Toy Takeover in Beacon, NY with the Iconic Zach Oat at Its Core

By Mulder, 03 june 2025

The Five Points Festival has always been a sacred pilgrimage for fans of designer toys, alternative art, and offbeat culture, but in 2025, it's not just moving — it's transforming. Leaving behind the gritty glow of New York City for the artsy, indie vibe of Beacon, NY, this year’s edition promises something refreshingly new and profoundly resonant. Set for June 7th and 8th at The Yard on Hanna Lane, the event isn’t merely changing locations — it’s forging a fusion of counterculture forces by teaming up with the underground favorite Toy Pizza Expo. This merger crafts a weekend that’s less about convention center queues and more about authentic artistic communion. From designer toys to street art, burlesque to kaiju cinema, this is the kind of immersive event where fandom and artistry melt together under one vivid banner — and right in the center of it all stands Zach Oat.

For longtime fans of the designer toy scene, Zach Oat is more than just a familiar name — he’s a creative force. Former editor of ToyFare Magazine, co-founder of the beloved Twisted ToyFare Theatre, and now a visual storyteller through photography, Zach Oat’s presence at Five Points Festival 2025 is not just welcome; it’s pivotal. He’ll be on-site at the Toy Pizza section, signing copies of his latest book, Wild Toys, a photographic love letter to the toy scene that helped shape a generation of collectors. The book blends nostalgia, wit, and technical prowess, and Oat’s involvement signals that Five Points 2025 isn’t just showcasing creators — it’s honoring its legacy. His appearance adds gravitas to the show’s already robust programming, drawing in both veterans of the scene and curious newcomers eager to meet a legend who helped define toy journalism in its golden age.

Beyond Zach Oat’s spotlight, the festival is expanding its scope in a way that only Beacon could accommodate. The city, nestled an hour north of NYC, has quietly become a hub for creative rebellion. It already houses the Toy Pizza Experience, and this joint venture with Five Points feels less like a guest visit and more like a homecoming. The Yard will buzz with vibrant life — toy vendors like the Four Horsemen, Onell Design, and Plunderlings will set up shop alongside dozens of independents, all bringing forward rare, custom, and bleeding-edge creations. This is where the limited-run, blink-and-you-miss-it grails come out to play, and serious collectors know that skipping this weekend could mean missing out on the next cult classic figure.

But Five Points Festival has always been more than a market — it’s a cultural happening. On Saturday and Sunday, from morning into late evening, visitors can jump between zones that feel like universes unto themselves. Want a dose of nostalgia-drenched adrenaline? The Beacon Theater will screen Godzilla (1954), Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964), and David Lynch’s trippy Dune (1982), curating a film lineup that echoes the themes of power, mutation, and myth that permeate the toy world. Feeling a bit more daring? The Tattoo Zone will be buzzing with artists who don’t just ink skin — they etch stories. And for those looking for sound and spectacle, the main stage brings a kinetic edge with acts like Zed Star Seven and a burlesque showcase that promises the kind of raw creativity that festivals like this thrive on.

What truly distinguishes this year's edition, however, is the palpable sense of community. Discounted tickets for students show that Five Points isn’t about exclusivity — it’s about inclusivity, about nurturing the next wave of artists and fans. The Moon, Serpent, and Bone Oddities & Curiosities Market adds another layer, embracing the darker, stranger corners of collectible culture. Whether it’s bone jewelry, handcrafted candles, or esoteric trinkets, this market complements the overall ethos of celebrating the unconventional and the handmade.

The festival is still accepting artist and vendor applications, which means there’s still room to be part of this growing tapestry. The invitation is open, the stage is set, and for those who live and breathe in the space between art and play, Five Points Festival 2025 might just be the weekend that redefines what a “toy convention” can be. And with Zach Oat in the heart of the action, surrounded by fans, fellow creators, and the toys that built him, it’s a reminder that these plastic figures are more than collectibles — they’re cultural touchstones.

Visit fivepointsfest.com for full programming and ticketing details — and if you're anywhere near the East Coast, mark your calendar. This one’s not just an event. It’s a moment.

(Source : press release)