On Saturday, June 29, 2019, Target hosted a promotional in-store event centered around the release of Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story 4. The event was designed to engage customers with interactive activities, giveaways, and freebies related to the film. According to multiple sources, the event took place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at participating Target locations nationwide. This promotional initiative coincided with the movie's release, aiming to drive foot traffic and offer consumers no-cost samples and entertainment.
The event featured hands-on toy demonstrations, allowing children and families to interact with Toy Story-themed merchandise. In addition to the demos, Target distributed freebies and giveaways to attendees. Some reports specifically mentioned that kids could participate in these giveaways and would be offered freebies during the event window. While the primary focus was on Toy Story 4, the event included interactive Toy Story toys and other themed activities.
Event Logistics and Participation
Participation in the event was open to the public, with no pre-registration required for the general Toy Story 4 activities. The event was held during specific store hours, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Target provided a store locator or event page on their website (Target.com) where customers could verify if their local store was participating. One source noted that Target locations nationwide would host the event, though participation likely varied by store.
While the main Toy Story 4 event did not require registration, a separate but concurrent promotion at Target on the same day involved a pre-registration period. This was for an "Adopt-A-Pup" kids' event hosted by Target in partnership with Our Generation. However, the pre-registration for that specific event had closed prior to June 29. Target announced they would accept "walk-ins" for the "Adopt-A-Pup" event, but the free toys (plush dogs) were available only while supplies lasted, with a limited quantity available.
Freebies and Offers
The freebies associated with the Toy Story 4 event included general giveaways and samples distributed during the in-store demos. Specific details on the exact nature of these freebies are limited in the provided materials, but they were described as items related to the Toy Story franchise. The "Adopt-A-Pup" event offered a specific freebie: a limited-edition 6-inch plush dog. Attendees could choose a plush dog to "adopt" and pose for photos with. Bringing an Our Generation doll was suggested but not required for this specific plush giveaway.
In addition to free items, the event included promotional offers. Participating stores offered a 15 percent discount on select Our Generation dolls and accessories during the "Adopt-A-Pup" event. It is noted that the Toy Story 4 event also featured "plenty of Toy Story 4 gear," implying that merchandise was available for purchase, though specific discounts for Toy Story items were not detailed.
Event Activities
The in-store experience was designed to be interactive. Key activities included:
- Toy Demonstrations: Target hosted hands-on demonstrations of Toy Story toys. One source specifically mentioned "interactive Toy Story toys." Another noted a "live Crayola toy demo in action" powered by Energizer, which may have been a related or overlapping store event occurring around the same timeframe.
- Giveaways: Free items were distributed to children attending the event.
- Snacks: Some reports indicated that snacks were provided as part of the event experience.
- Photo Opportunities: The "Adopt-A-Pup" event encouraged attendees to pose for photos with their adopted plush dogs.
Source Reliability and Verification
The information regarding the Toy Story 4 event is consistent across multiple consumer deal blogs and news outlets. Sources such as Budget Savvy Diva, Freeflys, WRAL, Tinybeans, and USA Today all reported on the event occurring on June 29, 2019, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. These sources generally function as third-party aggregators or news reporters rather than official brand channels. While the consistency across these sources suggests the event details are accurate, the provided materials do not include a direct link to an official Target press release or a verified sign-up page for the Toy Story 4 specific activities.
The "Adopt-A-Pup" event details were reported by USA Today, which cited Target and Our Generation directly. A link to https://events.ogdolls.com was provided in that report for further details, suggesting a verified landing page for that specific promotion.
Target's general store events page (Source 7) lists other events such as "Toy Demo Days" featuring Crayola and Energizer, which occurred in November. This source confirms that Target hosts in-store demos and giveaways, supporting the general premise of the June Toy Story event, but does not provide specific details for the June 29th Toy Story promotion.
Conclusion
The Target Toy Story 4 event on June 29, 2019, was a one-day in-store promotion offering free samples, interactive demos, and entertainment for families. The event ran from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and required no registration for general participation. Freebies included giveaways and samples associated with the Toy Story franchise. A separate "Adopt-A-Pup" event offered a limited-edition plush dog to walk-in attendees while supplies lasted. Consumers were directed to Target's website to find participating locations. As this event occurred in 2019, the offers and activities described are no longer available.