BrickFair LEGO Fan Festival, August 4

Where do I buy tickets?

Is there an age limit?

All ages will enjoy the public expo of LEGO models!

Can I bring something I built?

The expo is primarily a viewing, not participating, event. If you'd like to show off your own LEGO creations, please see the exhibitor info.

What's an "AFOL?"

Pronounced "ay-fole," AFOL is an Adult Fan Of LEGO. BrickFair is run by AFOLs, for AFOLs.

What's a "MOC?"

Pronounced "mock," a MOC is My Own Creation. Anything we build which isn't an official LEGO company design, regardless of size or success, is a MOC. The key BrickFair feature is enjoying each others' MOCs.

Can I buy LEGO there?

Absolutely! Vendors will be there selling all sorts of LEGO stuff!

Does BrickFair travel to other cities?

BrickFair comes but twice per year, in Northern Virginia in August and Alabama in January.

These other reputable events are similar, but are unique and run by different AFOLs. We cannot answer questions about them. BrickFair VA is the largest LEGO Fan Festival in America. But if money or time is an issue, we recommend visiting the event closest to you.

Strollers.

Strollers are not permitted in the expo.

Yes cameras.

Photography is encouraged! Take pictures of anything and everything!

How many people attend BrickFair?

AFOLs: hundreds. Public visitors: thousands.

Despite insanely long lines, we have found the longest wait to be 25 minutes, and our lines are always moving swiftly. Therefore we do not recommend lining up early. Arriving early seems to be ineffective.

How long is the show?

The expo is a free-roaming event. Enjoy the show at your own pace. We suggest allowing 90 minutes minimum to see everything. Doors close at 4:00pm. The expo is vacated at 4:30pm.

How long is the line?

The line grows long but moves fast. Maximum wait is approximately 25 minutes.

We do not recommend lining up early; this does not save visitors any time.

Are credit cards accepted?

Some vendors (not all) accept credit cards. But cash is strongly encouraged.

What else is for sale at BrickFair?

You'll need money for the entrance fee, and possibly LEGO vendors and food.

Parking is free.

Wear comfortable shoes.

BrickFair VA 2012 is hosted at the Dulles Expo Center with all concrete floors.

Is food nearby?

The Dulles Expo Center has an on-site cafeteria. And every fast food joint imaginable lies within 500 yards of the building.

Can I bring food?

Sorry, food may not be brought into BrickFair.

A cup of cheerios for your baby is one thing, but bringing in McDonalds for your 4 kids is another.

Is BrickFair wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all 100,000 square feet of BrickFair VA 2012 is on one floor, and our 18-foot-wide aisles are easily navigable (depending on the courtesy of the crowd).

What hotel?

See our exhibitors' travel page for hotel info.

Can BrickFair come to our little event?

Short answer: BrickFair does not participate in events other than our annual festivals.

Read the long answer:

Three local organizations, comprised of AFOLs, might be worth contacting. These are:

WamaLTC (Washington Metropolitan Area LEGO Train Club),
WAMALUG (Washington Metropolitan Area LEGO Users Group), and
BaltoLUG (Baltimore LEGO Users Group).

WamaLTC (wamaltc.org) is your best bet. Note, however, WamaLTC members are busy with recurring annual shows of their own. So it may be difficult to get your event added to their schedule. WAMALUG (wamalug.com), the other DC-based option, is mainly and adult social builders group which rarely displays publicly. The BaltoLUG group can be found at baltolug.net.

If you submit a request to any of these groups, give as much advance notice as possible. Club members commit to requests based on their availability. Ample planning time helps. Be sure to include dates and specific times, location, expected number of attendees, and as many details as possible about logistics and space available for displaying. Ease of set-up is an important factor. For example, 2nd-floor events are more difficult. Also, members prefer wide latitude to the types of creations they may display. Requests for specific themed shows can be difficult to fulfill.

Typical shows use 30" deep tables. Members sit behind the display tables while observers pass in front. This allows constant oversight of the LEGO creations and gives displayers the chance to chat with passers-by.

AFOLs will be interested in security of their creations. No one wants to return the next day to find their carefully crafted (and often expensive) models damaged or missing.

The duration of your event and expected number of attendees may influence responses to your request. Set-ups and tear-downs are time consuming. AFOLs do not want to spend hours loading their cars for an event lasting only two hours. It is a very nice touch to offer an honorarium, lunch and/or snacks to the exhibitors.

These clubs generally prefer to join large-area festivals where their works may be viewed by many fans. How-to workshops benefiting a few dozen are not preferred. But it never hurts to ask if one or two individual members might be interested in coming to chat with your small group. There are other organizations in the area that conduct LEGO parties, for a fee. These can be found on the web.

If you think your event fits the above criteria, we encourage you to contact these clubs directly.

I hope this helps to guide you,
Todd

PS: You also may try contacting First LEGO League and US First to see if they offer youth programs appropriate for your group.

PPS: If your event is elsewhere in the world, google for "Your State Name" and "LEGO User Group."

Can I donate LEGO to you?

BrickFair partners with a local children's charity. We gladly accept genuine LEGO brand parts for our charity. Donated parts will be used/sold at BrickFair in some way to raise money for our children's charity. Please contact us to donate.

Can you recommend a kids' LEGO club?

We at BrickFair focus on adults (exhibitors). And many of us belong to LEGO User Groups (which are mostly for adults), so we don't have much knowledge on kids' groups.

There are some kids' clubs around. For starters, google "First LEGO League." It's a LEGO robotics club focused around schools and PTAs.

Do you have hi-res photos?

Here's some of our favorite hi-res photos we've collected. You are welcome to use them.

BrickFair

DC LEGO Fan Festival

FAQs for Public Visitors

Money Matters

About the Kiddies

Noobs and Newbies

Terminology

And The Rest...

Hours:
August 4 - 5, 2012 11:00am - 4:00pm