The Toy Sale Hiding Behind Mattel's Headquarters: Up to 70% Off Barbie, Hot Wheels and More (2026)
The Mattel Holiday Tent Sale in El Segundo is back for 2026, with up to 70% off Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price and other Mattel favorites under a big white tent behind the company's headquarters. The tent is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through December, and new toys are added every week.
It's one of the South Bay's best-kept holiday shopping secrets, and it's a real money saver if you have a long list of kids to shop for, a classroom gift exchange coming up or a toy drive to fill. Here's everything to know before you go, from what's on the tables to where to park.
Key Takeaways
What: Mattel's seasonal Holiday Tent Sale, with savings of up to 70% off and new items added weekly.
Where: 1955 E. Grand Ave., El Segundo, on the Mattel headquarters campus.
When: Thursdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., now through December 2026.
Brands: Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price and more.
Parking: Free customer parking in the Holiday Tent lot off Grand Ave. or in front of the Mattel Toy Store on Continental Blvd.
Good to know: The year-round Mattel Toy Store next door is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, but the tent is only open Thursday to Saturday.
What Is the Mattel Holiday Tent Sale?
Mattel, the toy company behind Barbie and Hot Wheels, has called El Segundo home since 1991. Its headquarters campus includes the year-round Mattel Toy Store, which sells toys with weekly specials, and every holiday season a giant tent goes up behind it, filled with marked-down toys.
This year the Holiday Tent opened on Saturday, October 17, and it runs through December. Think of it as Mattel's holiday clearance event: the tables are stocked with surplus and past-season toys, so prices drop well below what you'd usually pay in stores.
Parent Tip: Most shoppers pass right by this sale without knowing it exists. If you're already in the South Bay for the beach or a trip to LAX, it's an easy stop to knock out a big chunk of your gift list in one visit.
What Toys Can You Find at the Mattel Tent Sale?
The tent is packed with Mattel's biggest brands. Barbie dolls and playsets, Hot Wheels cars and tracks, and Fisher-Price baby and toddler toys are the headliners. Shoppers this season have also spotted Matchbox, Polly Pocket, Masters of the Universe and American Girl items, and the Mattel Toy Store carries brands like Thomas & Friends, UNO and MEGA.
Keep your expectations realistic: since the tent mostly sells surplus stock, you won't always find this year's newest, most-wanted releases. What you will find is a huge mix of quality toys at deep discounts, and because Mattel adds new items every week, the selection changes from one visit to the next.
That makes the tent perfect for stocking stuffers, birthday party gifts to keep on hand, grandparents shopping for a crowd and families filling toy drive donations.
Parent Tip: Before you go, write down each child's age and two or three favorite characters. With so many tables to browse, a quick list keeps you focused and helps you skip toys with age labels that don't fit.
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Mattel Holiday Tent Sale Hours, Dates, and Parking
The tent sits on Mattel's headquarters campus off Grand Avenue in El Segundo, a short drive from the 405 and LAX. Follow the signs to the tent behind the Toy Store.
1955 E. Grand Ave., El Segundo, CA 90245
Thursdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., through December 2026
Mattel says the sale runs "through December" but hasn't posted an exact closing day, and listings online show different final dates. Some say Saturday, December 19, so if you're planning a late-December trip, call the Mattel Toy Store at 310-252-3384 first. Thanksgiving Day falls on a Thursday this year, so call ahead that week, too.
Parking is free. Customers can park in the Holiday Tent lot, which you enter from Grand Avenue, or in front of the Toy Store on Continental Boulevard. Mattel asks shoppers not to park in the Mattel parking structure.
Parent Tip: The year-round Mattel Toy Store at 333 Continental Blvd. is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you can only go on a Tuesday or Wednesday, the store is open but the tent isn't, so plan your tent trip for Thursday, Friday or Saturday.
Our Tips for Shopping the Mattel Tent Sale
Go early in the season. The closer we get to Christmas, the busier the tent gets and the more picked-over the tables become. A weekday visit in November is the sweet spot.
Go early in the day. Thursday and Friday mornings right at 10 a.m. tend to be calmer than Saturday afternoons.
Come back more than once. New items are added weekly, so a second trip in December can turn up toys that weren't there before.
Bring sturdy bags. Big boxes like dollhouses and track sets add up fast, so reusable shopping bags or a folding wagon make the walk to the car much easier.
Shopping for a toy drive? Mattel offers a separate Holiday Charity Catalog and order form for groups on its Mattel Toy Store page.
Parent Tip: If you're bringing the kids, set the plan before you walk in: each child gets to pick one small toy for themselves, and everything else is a secret Santa mission. It keeps the gift shopping a surprise and makes the trip fun for them too.
Takeaway
The Mattel Holiday Tent Sale is one of the easiest ways for LA families to stretch the holiday budget, with up to 70% off Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price and more in El Segundo. Go on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., shop early in the season, and call ahead before a late-December visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Mattel Holiday Tent Sale open?
The Mattel Holiday Tent Sale in El Segundo is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It opened October 17, 2026, and runs through December. Mattel hasn't posted an exact last day, so call the Mattel Toy Store at 310-252-3384 before a late-December visit.
Where is the Mattel tent sale in El Segundo?
The tent is at 1955 E. Grand Ave., El Segundo, CA 90245, on the Mattel headquarters campus behind the year-round Mattel Toy Store at 333 Continental Blvd. Follow the signs to the tent. It's a short drive from the 405 Freeway and LAX.
How much can you save at the Mattel tent sale?
Mattel advertises savings of up to 70% off at the Holiday Tent. Discounts vary by item, and the tent mostly sells surplus and past-season toys, so you may not find the newest releases. New items are added every week through December, so selection changes often.
Is there parking at the Mattel Holiday Tent Sale?
Yes, customer parking is free. Park in the Holiday Tent lot, entered from Grand Avenue, or in front of the Mattel Toy Store on Continental Boulevard. Mattel asks shoppers not to use the Mattel parking structure, so look for the signs to the tent lot when you arrive.
Do you need a membership to shop at the Mattel Toy Store?
No. The Mattel Toy Store in El Segundo describes itself as membership-based, but you don't need a membership to shop there or at the Holiday Tent. The store is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, while the tent is only open Thursdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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