As LEGO conventions had to be canceled due to the current social distancing rules, Brickworld has held its first virtual event in mid-April via Zoom (see: Participate in Brickworld Virtual Today!). The event was so popular that the Brickworld team decided to hold four new virtual events this year. Below are the dates for the upcoming events, as well as other details.
Brickworld producer Mark Larson said: “Following the amazing, sold-out success of our first virtual exposition in April, Brickworld is pleased to announce four more online LEGO expos for our loyal Midwest fans as well as our larger LEGO family around the US and, yes, the entire Brickworld. Our first foray online brought us eager participants from Canada, Germany, Sweden, Israel, Australia, Spain, Bulgaria, and from the mothership, Denmark. We are excited to welcome more kids, families, and adult fans and their creations to our internet convention to receive feedback and encouragement, including over Halloween weekend, which will substitute for our annual weeklong Chicago convention.”
- Brickworld Virtual Spring – Saturday, May 16, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT
- Brickworld Virtual Fireworks – Saturday, June 27, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT
- Brickworld Virtual Halloween – Sat., October 31, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT
- Brickworld Virtual Holiday – Sat., December 12, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT
Tickets are $9 per show, and $1 from each ticket will be donated to Brickworld’s longtime charity partner Make-A-Wish, along with Riley Children’s Hospital, Creations for Charity, and FIRST LEGO League. A four-show season pass is $27, and, currently, only 2,000 tickets will be offered per show, so early registration is encouraged at Brickworld.com/Brickworld-Virtual.
Using Zoom rooms, the Brickworld Virtual LEGO Expo on Saturday, May 16, 2020, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. CT, will allow participants to show their own creations to others as well as experts, including many LEGO Masters TV show contestants, such as Boone and Mark, Jessica and Sam, Richard and Flynn, Germaine and Mel, Travis and Corey, Jessie and Kara, Aaron, Manny, and – spoiler! – winners Tyler and Amy.
Viewers can also participate in discussions with LEGO Community Manager Jan Beyer, Bricks in the Middle’s Kevin Hinkle, watch other tutorials and presentations, visit vendors to browse and purchase a variety of products, and join different display rooms, including the Great Ball Contraption, a Star Wars room, Guilds of Historica (one room with four different castle realms), a Smurf village, and other fantasy settings.
Brickworld is also posting ongoing how-to demonstration videos so LEGO builders can improve their skills at home. Current postings include Building Round Part One and Building a Truss Bridge. Fans are encouraged to subscribe to the Brickworld YouTube channel to see the latest in alternative builds and other skills.
I know the announcement about the first virtual Brickworld event was published kind of last minute, so this time I wanted to make sure all of our readers have time to register for at least one of the events. If you have been to Brickworld, or other similar conventions, Brickworld Virtual is the next best thing we can have at this time. In addition, Brickworld Virtual is also an excellent introduction to the amazing world of LEGO conventions for those who have never attended before. So, while Brickworld Virtual was born out of tragedy, and is not an equal replacement for real events, I suspect that these virtual cons will get a lot more people to visit real events when they are available again.
So mark the dates, register, and join the magic of Brickworld! Also, if you participated in the April event, feel free to share your experience, and any tips and tricks you may have for those who plan to join the upcoming events. And you might also like to check out the following related posts:
- Participate in Brickworld Virtual Today! (info about the first event)
- Brickworld – Have Fun in the World of LEGO!
- Tips for Attending a LEGO Convention
- List of LEGO Events Around the World ( link to LAN.LEGO.com)
