BrickFair
BrickFair | |
---|---|
Status | Active |
Genre | Lego |
Frequency | Quarterly |
Venue | Dulles Expo Center |
Location(s) | Chantilly, Virginia |
Country | United States |
Inaugurated | August 29, 2008 |
Attendance | 22,500 (2014) |
Organized by | Todd Webb |
Website | www |
BrickFair is a
History and organization
The first BrickFair convention, in 2008, was held as a four-day convention at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel near
A decision was made in late 2017 that the New England convention would no longer occur. Then, in Summer of 2018, it was announced that the NJ convention was no longer going to happen. Instead, one convention per year would visit different cities, starting with Charlotte NC in 2019. As a result, in 2018, only two conventions will take place: Alabama and Virginia.
Charity event
From the initial stages of planning, BrickFair was designed to be linked with a children's charity. The chosen charity is
In 2011, 100 Lego minifigures were donated by Ben Spector to the SladeChild charity, and were offered at the 2011 BrickFair event. In 2012, 275 minifigures were donated by BrickFair to SladeChild, and were offered at the 2012 Virginia BrickFair event. At the 2013 Virginia event, 300 minifigures were handed out to raise money for the charity.
Private convention
The function of the private convention is to provide a venue for adult fans of Lego to display their own Lego creations. The event brings together the online fan community, and helps them to explore and develop their Lego hobby. Activities at the convention include presentations, seminars, round-table discussions, contests, games, door prizes, and many experiences unique to Lego conventions. Each registrant receives a convention packet that includes a personalized name badge made from engraved LEGO bricks, as well as a program of activities, exclusive handouts, and coupons.
Some games and events are held every year due to high appeal and attendance. Speed Build is one of many games usually played at BrickFair conventions. In Speed Build, a team of six players work together to build a large Lego set, using an instruction booklet. Afterwards, the set is broken up into parts, and each participant takes home a part of that set. Lego
Beginning in 2008, a popular program was conducted at the Potomac Mills Lego store that allowed BrickFair registrants to access the store in an after-hours sale from 9:30 p.m. until midnight. The program featured promotions such as 20 percent off purchases of $150 or more and 50 percent off items with damaged boxes. The program lasted until 2010, when it was discontinued for the 2011 event and remains unavailable.
Notable vendors have included BrickArms, a vendor of Lego minifigure weapons based out of Redmond, Washington. BrickArms has attended and exhibited models since 2008.[3]
Public exhibition
The main focus of the public exhibition is to invite Lego fans of all ages and the general public to view hundreds of hobbyist-built creations and meet their creators. In addition, visitors may watch Lego Mindstorms robot battles or Brickfilms (Lego-themed short films), or have their children build at Stay & Play, a large space with Lego bricks for building and playing.[4] Also available to visitors are the vendors, who sell Lego sets, creations, designs, and individual pieces.[5]
Locations and dates
BrickFair NoVa (Chantilly)
Dates | Location | Registrants | Attendance | Theme | Charity Donations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
August 29–31, 2008 | Sheraton Premiere Hotel at Tysons Corner - Vienna, VA | 402[6] | 10,000[6] | Board Games | US$8,717[6] |
August 21–23, 2009 | Sheraton Premiere Hotel at Tysons Corner - Vienna, VA | 636[7] | 7,565[7] | Food & Drink | US$9,619 |
August 5–8, 2010 | Dulles Expo Center (North Hall) - Chantilly, VA | 699[8] | 19,388[8] | Music | US$22,805[9] |
August 4–7, 2011 | Dulles Expo Center (South Hall) - Chantilly, VA | 945 | 16,587 | NASA | Undisclosed |
August 2–5, 2012 | Dulles Expo Center (South Hall) - Chantilly, VA | 1,044 | 20,000 | Fire | Undisclosed |
August 1–4, 2013 | Dulles Expo Center (South Hall) - Chantilly, VA | 859 | 14,000 | Birds | US$11,700 |
July 30–August 3, 2014 | Dulles Expo Center (South Hall) - Chantilly, VA | 853 | 22,500 | Air & Wind | US$26,600 |
July 29–August 2, 2015 | Dulles Expo Center (South Hall) - Chantilly, VA | TBA | TBA | Love | US$22,600 |
August 3–7, 2016 | Dulles Expo Center (South Hall) - Chantilly, VA | TBA | TBA | Myths & Legends | TBA |
August 2–6, 2017 | Dulles Expo Center (South Hall) - Chantilly, VA | 957 | 10,500 | X (Ten) | US$14,000 |
August 1–5, 2018 | Dulles Expo Center (South Hall) - Chantilly, VA | TBD | TBD | Puzzles | TBD |
July 31–August 4, 2019 | Dulles Expo Center (South Hall) - Chantilly, VA | TBD | TBD | The Moon & Beyond | TBD |
Cancelled Due to Covid Pandemic | Dulles Expo Center (South Hall) - Chantilly, VA | TBD | TBD | N/A | TBD |
July 28–August 1, 2021 | Dulles Expo Center (South Hall) - Chantilly, VA | TBD | TBD | Dinosaurs | TBD |
August 3–August 7, 2022 | Dulles Expo Center (South Hall) - Chantilly, VA | TBD | TBD | Construction | TBD |
August 2–August 6, 2023 | Dulles Expo Center (South Hall) - Chantilly, VA | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
BrickFair Alabama
Dates | Location | Registrants | Attendance | Theme | Charity Donations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 12–15, 2012 | Birmingham Convention Center (East Hall) - Birmingham, AL | 200 | 6,800 | Fire | Undisclosed |
January 17–20, 2013 | Birmingham Convention Center (East Hall 3) - Birmingham, AL | 164 | 8,000 | Birds | Undisclosed |
January 9–12, 2014 | Birmingham Convention Center (East Hall 2 & 3) - Birmingham, AL | 166 | 5,800 | Air & Wind | Undisclosed |
January 15–18, 2015 | Birmingham Convention Center - Birmingham, AL | 201 | 9,400 | Love | Undisclosed |
January 14–17, 2016 | Birmingham Convention Center - Birmingham, AL | 238 | 7,136 | Myths & Legends | Undisclosed |
January 12–15, 2017 | Birmingham Convention Center - Birmingham, AL | 219 | 5,039 | X (Ten) | Undisclosed |
February 1–4, 2018 | Birmingham Convention Center - Birmingham, AL | TBD | TBD | Puzzles | TBD |
January 17–20, 2019 | Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex - Birmingham, AL | TBD | TBD | The Moon & Beyond | TBD |
January 16–19, 2020 | Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex - Birmingham, AL | TBD | TBD | Dinosaurs | TBD |
January 15–16, 2022 | Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex - Birmingham, AL | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
BrickFair North Carolina
Dates | Location | Registrants | Attendance | Theme | Charity Donations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 21–24, 2019 | Park Expo NC - Charlotte, NC | TBA | TBA | The Moon & Beyond | Undisclosed |
BrickFair New England
Dates | Location | Registrants | Attendance | Theme | Charity Donations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
May 9–12, 2013 | Expo Center of New Hampshire - Manchester, NH | 159 | 2,250 | Birds | Undisclosed |
May 8–11, 2014 | Expo Center of New Hampshire - Manchester, NH | 132 | 4,000 | Air & Wind | Undisclosed |
April 30–May 3, 2015 | Expo Center of New Hampshire - Manchester, NH | 133[10] | TBA | Love | Undisclosed |
May 19–22, 2016 | Royal Plaza Trade Center - Marlboro MA | 174 | 4,400 | Myths & Legends | Undisclosed |
May 9–12, 2017 | Royal Plaza Trade Center - Marlboro MA | 197 | 3,000 | X (Ten) | Undisclosed |
BrickFair New Jersey
Dates | Location | Registrants | Attendance | Theme | Charity Donations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 30–November 2, 2014 | Garden State Expo Center - Somerset, NJ | TBA | TBA | Air & Wind | Undisclosed |
October 29–November 1, 2015 | Garden State Expo Center - Somerset, NJ | TBA | TBA | Love | Undisclosed |
October 27–30, 2016 | Garden State Expo Center - Somerset, NJ | TBA | TBA | Myths & Legends | Undisclosed |
September 21–24, 2017 | New Jersey Expo Center - Edison, NJ | TBD | TBD | X (Ten) | TBD |
October 31–November 3, 2019 | Meadowlands Expo Center - Secaucus, NJ | TBD | TBD | The Moon & Beyond | TBD |
September 23–36, 2021 | Meadowlands Expo Center - Secaucus, NJ | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
See also
References
- ^ a b "BrickFair Charity page". BrickFair. Archived from the original on October 22, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ^ "The SladeChild Foundation Charitable Trust". SladeChild Foundation Charitable Trust. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ^ "BrickArms at BrickFair 2008". Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
- ^ Cooper, Rachel (July 7, 2012). "BrickFair LEGO Festival 2012". About.com Guide. Archived from the original on February 27, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ Underwood, Madison (January 11, 2012). "Kids and kids at heart look forward to Brickfair Alabama". weld for Birmingham. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Tour of BrickFair 2008". Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
- ^ a b "BrickFair public FAQ". Archived from the original on 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
- ^ a b "BrickFair public FAQ". Archived from the original on 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
- ^ "BrickFair Charity page". Archived from the original on 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
- ^ "BrickFair LEGO Fan Expo". www.brickfair.com.