While technology companies gear up to launch their newest electronic gadgets for the holiday season, more than 300 competitors and their fans took to the Langey Events Centre on Oct. 26 to show that creativity and a few colourful bricks are still enough to capture imaginations.
LEGO enthusiasts — from young children to the young at heart — battled it out for a share of $3,000 in prizes at the second bi-annual Brick Games, a charity event launched last spring in Burnaby under the name Vancouver LEGO Games.
“A lot of people built it as a kid, and it’s amazing how many adult fans there are,” said event organizer Darian Kovacs, who estimates attendance has jumped to more than 1,600 since the April 2013 inaugural event.
Competitors in the live build competition spent the day combing through bins of LEGO blocks to bring their creations to life, while major event supporters Toy Traders were on hand to tempt attendees with the latest in block building sets. The event also featured a relaxation spa station sponsored by Ultimate Mobile Spa and kids activities from Sportball Lower Mainland and Victoria and the Vancouver Tumble Bus.
Serious LEGO building is no easy feat. James Abrahams was on hand at the event to showcase a fully-functional model LEGO railway and miniature city from the Vancouver Lego Club and the local Lego Users Group. He said building the city alone took more than 210 hours to complete.
Proceeds from ticket prices, merchandise sales and a live auction go to the Love Global Foundation and the LEGO Foundation, which works to support global creativity growth and education and play.
“I just love that we can have fun raising money and get people together to really celebrate creativity,” said Kovacs, who builds LEGO at home – when his son will let him.
Kovacs said he was blown away by the local entries, which included colourful LEGO renditions of landmarks like Fort Langley and the annual Cranberry Festival.
