Pre-loved toys, hand-drawn price tags and some very serious young shopkeepers. The Picnic Rug Toy Sale is back at The Canopy on Sunday 29 November.
The first sale in April filled the grass at The Canopy with picnic rugs, pop-up tents and stalls run by kids. Some went all out with hand-painted bunting and shop signs. Others were busy haggling over toy cars, soft toys and picture books.
The event is hosted by The Hon Anthony Roberts MP, Member for Lane Cove, with Lane Cove Council facilitating the day at The Canopy. It runs from 11am to 3pm and is free to come along.
How it works
Kids set up a stall on a picnic rug and sell the toys they have outgrown. They decorate their own stalls, set prices, handle cash, give change and deal directly with customers. Families who would rather just shop are welcome too.
Stallholders need to register first through the online registration page.
More than a toy sale
Mr Roberts says the idea is about more than clearing out the toy box. In the event brochure he writes that it is a chance to bring families together and give children an opportunity to learn.
“Financial literacy is something we need to be teaching earlier. By allowing children to sell their toys, handle money, work out value and speak to other people, they are learning some very simple but important life skills along the way.”
“For parents, this is also a bit of a spring-cleaning opportunity. In November, just before the school holidays, it is a chance to clear out some cupboards, free up some space and send those toys to a new home where they will actually be used again.”
There is a sustainability side too. Toys get a second life instead of ending up in landfill, and kids learn that something they no longer want might be exactly what another child is after.
Supporting the Lane Cove Toy Library
The sale is held in support of the Lane Cove Toy Library on Burns Bay Road. When the first sale was announced in April, the toy library was working to close a $10,000 funding gap after recent capital works.
The toy library lends more than 2,000 toys, games and puzzles for ages 0 to 18. In October it won the Excellence Award for Collaboration and Connection at the 2026 Australian Toy Library Awards. You can read more about its plans in our story on the Lane Cove Toy Library’s 2026 mission.
Tips for young stallholders
- Bring a picnic rug or small table, and bags for buyers.
- Make price tags before the day. Round numbers make giving change easier.
- Pack a float of coins and small notes.
- Hats, sunscreen and water. The Canopy grass gets plenty of sun.
- Decorate your stall. A good sign goes a long way.
Got a cupboard full of toys nobody plays with anymore? You know what to do.
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