BrickFest

BrickFest
Statusevery year
GenreLEGO
VenueVarious
Location(s)Washington, D.C.
CountryUSA
Inaugurated2000
Most recent2009
Attendance4,000 in 2009
Organized byChristina Hitchcock - Steve Barlie[1]
Websitewww.brickfest.com

BrickFest was the first convention for adult fans of LEGO (AFOLs) in the United States. The focus was to have fans bring their creations, often referred to as MOCs (My Own Creations), to display and share with fellow enthusiasts.

Like other conventions, it offered workshops, presentations, special events and challenges.

BrickFest was typically held on a weekend in mid-August in the Washington, D.C. area annually from 2000 through 2006. The 2007 and 2009 BrickFests were held in Portland, Oregon at the Oregon Convention Center. BrickFest 2011 and BrickFest as a whole was cancelled by the organizers, with staffing issues cited.[2]

Private convention

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The main focus of the private convention was to provide a venue for adult fans of LEGO to bring and display their own LEGO creations. Activities at the convention included presentations, seminars, round-table discussions and contests. The full attendee received a Convention Packet containing a personalized brick name badge and a program of activities.

Public exhibition

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The Public Exhibition had a focus of inviting LEGO fans of all ages of the general public to view hundreds of hobbyist-built creations and meet their creators.

Locations and dates

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Dates Location Organizer Registrants Attendance Notes
June 9–11, 2000[3] George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia Christina Hitchcock ~60 First BrickFest event
July 13–15, 2001[4] George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia Christina Hitchcock ~150
July 19–21, 2002[5] George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia Christina Hitchcock ~180
August 8–10, 2003[6] George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia Christina Hitchcock ~220 ~1,000
February 12–14, 2004 Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon Steve Barile ~200 ~1,200 Named BrickFestPDX, first BrickFest to be held outside Virginia
August 13–15, 2004[7] George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia Christina Hitchcock ~250 ~2,000
August 12–14, 2005[8] George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia Christina Hitchcock ~350[9] ~3,000 Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen (owner of the LEGO Group and grandson of the founder) attended, Jake McKee and Mark Hansen announced the release of LEGO Digital Designer
August 25–27, 2006[10] Sheraton Premiere at Tyson's Corner, Vienna, Virginia Joe Meno ~420 ~3,500 First BrickFest since the launching of Lego Mindstorms NXT, and many of the MUP and MDP members were there to talk about it. Allan Bedford, author of The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide, was also there, signing copies of his book.
March 30-April 1, 2007[11] Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon[11] Steve Barile & Christina Hitchcock 213 ~2,800 This was originally slated as BrickFest PDX 2007, but relabeled as simply BrickFest 2007 when the August convention was cancelled.
March 28–30, 2009 Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon Steve Barile & Christina Hitchcock ~4,000 Approximately 240 people pre registered to attend.

References

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  1. ^ "BrickFest 2009 Staff Bios". BrickFest.com. East Peak LLC. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
  2. ^ "BrickFest". Archived from the original on 2011-02-08. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
  3. ^ "BrickFest 2000". Archived from the original on 2001-02-06. Retrieved 2005-10-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ "BrickFest 2001". Archived from the original on 2001-05-17. Retrieved 2005-10-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "BrickFest 2002". Archived from the original on 2002-03-27. Retrieved 2005-10-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ "BrickFest 2003". Archived from the original on 2003-06-04. Retrieved 2012-07-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ^ "BrickFest 2004". Archived from the original on 2004-06-22. Retrieved 2012-07-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ "BrickFest 2005". Archived from the original on 2005-08-31. Retrieved 2012-07-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ "BrickFest 2006". Archived from the original on 2006-02-12. Retrieved 2012-07-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ "BrickFest 2006a". Archived from the original on 2006-09-26. Retrieved 2012-07-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ a b "BrickFest 2007". Archived from the original on 2006-11-14. Retrieved 2012-07-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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