Exhibitor's event is 4 days long, starting Aug 1^st 2013 and ending Aug 4^th 2013.

Public hours are only Saturday and Sunday.  Publications (including magazine ads, the BrickFair.com home page, etc) advertise directly to the public, listing only the Sat/Sun hours, so as not to confuse the public visitors.

It's included in your registration.  Every registrant is entitled to show off MOCs.  We cram in or spread out based on MOC turnout.

It is not uncommon for us to display MOCs two- and sometimes three-deep.  We strive to be fair as possible, but please be prepared to share space.

BrickFair VA 2013 is divided up by Themes.  Aim for your theme.  A map is located inside your Program Guide (in your goodie bag when you check-in).

It may be necessary to touch or move others' MOCs when placing your own.  Be gentle.  Treat others' LEGO better than you treat your own.

It's your choice to show them together (in the Mixed area, so you can keep an eye on them) or to place each in its own respective theme.  If showing them together, find a spot to call your own.  Use common sense, don't infringe on other themes or other group's areas.

Chairs are provided behind the MOC tables.  You'll hang out, watch your MOC, show off to the public, and hopefully make friends with your neighbors.

Generally, we take turns.  During public hours someone should be nearby watching.

Once registered, here's the payment information.

Yes, your mom must also register and pay.  There are no free or discounted admissions.  If you're 15-years-old or younger, you must be accompanied by a registered parent or guardian (18+).

Yes, your kids must also register.  There are no free or discounted admissions.

Yes, your daughter must register.  There are no free or discounted admissions.

There is no deadline to register.  You may walk in at the last minute and register on the spot.

The following amenities require pre-registration and pre-payment:

• Printing your name in the Program Guide: Wednesday, Jul 17^th 2013.
• Brick Badge: Friday, Jul 19^th 2013.
• Event Date: Thursday, Aug 1^st 2013.

Only the first 1,000 paid registrants will receive a complete goodie bag.  After 1,000, the goodie bags begin to "shrink" based on supplies.

Registrants must either A) Be 16, or B) Attend with another registrant who is over 18.  All must pay the registration fee.

The Robot Says: Registrants must be 13+ years old.  If you are new to the full 4-day BrickFair event and wish to exhibit, you must be 13+ years old. Old friends from previous events we suggest you use the returnee registration page.

A few features are age-limited.  Bidding in our charity auction is limited to AFOLs aged 18 and up.  Activities held during Adult Swim are limited to AFOLs 21+.  See the schedule.

Other games may be limited to AFOLs aged 13 and up, or 18 and up, depending on the game host.  Each game-host determines their own rules and eligibility.

Registrants are exhibitors.  Yes, bring a LEGO creation to show.  That's the whole fun!

Public visitors are not permitted to bring MOCs.  The public expo is a viewing, not participating, event.

Bring any LEGO-built creation you dreamt up and built yourself.  Build and bring what makes you happy.

BrickFair is divided into Themes but don't pigeon-hole yourself.  Build what you like and we'll make a place for you.

Don't bring official LEGO sets - that won't impress anyone.

A creation not suitable for family viewing may be removed to where only adults can see it (ie: our staff breakroom - and you wouldn't be the first.

Bring it all.

Well, no.  If you come empty-handed, you won't be the only one.  But the glue that holds BrickFair together, is MOCs.

Setting up should take place Thursday afternoon (see the schedule) and all day Friday.  If bringing a large display, you'll want to arrive early to secure a spot.  As more MOCs arrive and tables fill up it becomes increasingly difficult to jostle for larger MOCs.

See the schedule of events.  Note: the full registrants' weekend runs Thursday afternoon through Sunday night.  Set-up hours are considered half the fun!

Activate your account.

The Dulles Expo Center is all concrete floors.

Seriously, register and pay ahead of time.  It will make your weekend and ours so much more enjoyable.

Register your MOCs as soon as possible -- at bare minimum 7 days prior to BrickFair.  Last-minute MOC cards will not be printed.

Brick badges and brick badge parts are not given to anyone paid after the brick badge deadline (Friday, Jul 19^th 2013).  Even when offering to pay for them, requests for engraved badge parts, to BrickFair staff or to engravers, will be denied.

After MOCs are nominated (by Saturday morning) cast your votes for the Brickee Awards (at your account page).

Hell, take Thursday off too.

Most people treat BrickFair as a vacation destination, not a weekend diversion.  Most take time off work to be there.  Seminars are scheduled throughout the day Friday and some on Thursday.

Many games have limited seating.  Sign-up to play online.

As soon as you check-in, make yourself comfortable, open your goodie bag, and read the Program Guide.  It's where we try to stick all the important information.

Only registered MOCs get MOC cards.  Only registered MOCs are eligible for Brickee awards.  Register MOCs from your account page.

Registering MOCs is optional.  MOC cards provide info about your creation to the public.  And MOC cards are another memento of the weekend.  But some don't bother registering MOCs.

If you registered your MOCs on time, MOC cards are in your goodie bag waiting for you when you check-in.

Brickee voting is done online and uses photos you upload.  People tend to vote for MOC with photos.

Once registered, inspect your name badge online!  It is engraved just as you spelled it, including CAPitalization and misspellings.

Once paid, your name badge may be engraved at any time.  Once engraved, your badge (and on-screen name) cannot be modified.

Your MOC cards allow more text than might appear on the actual card.  Click the [MOC Card] link to inspect your MOC card.  This is how your MOC card will actually appear when printed!

BrickFair has a no-stroller policy for the public.  This does not apply to you, the exhibitors.

You'll have room behind your MOC tables to park your stroller.

Registrants are exhibitors.  You should build something (your own original creation) to show off.

"A lot of the social scene revolves around talking about what you've built, how you've built it, and what you're going to build.  Without something you've created, you can't have those discussions."  Jonathan Bender, LEGO: A Love Story

We have volunteer positions for traffic-control, cashiers, door guards, etc.  You can plop into a position for just an hour and then leave.

You may find yourself on a group trek to our local LEGO store (in McLean, 16 miles and 22 minutes away).  Plus there's vendors within BrickFair selling all sorts of fun stuff.  You'll spend more than you plan.

See the travel info page.

"Standards" is the new catch-phrase in the LEGO community.  Individuals build units following a standard's guidelines.  When these AFOLs arrive at BrickFair, all their MOCs come together smoothly in one elegant display.

Expect to see these, and possibly others:

• Great Ball Contraption.  Wildly popular for AFOLs and public.  Use automation to transport balls around the table.  The standard.
• Micropolis.  New in 2009 from TwinLUG, build entire cities with just a few LEGO pieces.  The standard.
• ApocaLEGO.  LEGO towns in post-WWIII settings.  Young, hip and cool.  The standard (discussion of an old contest).  And some photos.
• Classic Castle City.  Allows various people to work together regardless of MOC size and complexity.  The standard.

No she's not.  If your wife wishes to attend a seminar, she must register.  There are no free or discounted admissions.

Well now that's just cheating.  The simple act of walking into the expo is partaking in the event.  And participation requires registration.  There are no free or discounted admissions.

The LEGO Group.  Refering to the company as TLG eliminates confusion when using just "LEGO" in a sentence.

Pick-A-Brick.  A fairly recent addition to LEGO stores whereby customers may purchase bulk quantities of just one piece.  Lately TLG is bringing PAB to the festivals too.

Once your LEGO brick badge is engraved, refund is reduced by $6.  Aside from that, registration is refundable up to 30 days prior to the event.  After Jul 11^th 2013 no refund is offered.

To request a refund, contact us.  Your brick badge may be engraved at any time after registration is paid.   The $2 PayPal fee is not refundable.

Yes.  Ship your MOC to BrickFair's mailing address.

Package must arrive by Thursday, Jul 25^th; on Friday, Jul 26^th Todd moves to BrickFair, and does not return home.  Write the recipient's name on the outside of the box.  We won't open it; we'll simply deliver it to the person.

Only registrants get a goodie bag.  It will include: a Program Guide, your Name Badge, and some LEGO pieces.

A quote from our Program Guide:

It's your party.  You are welcome to come and go as you wish.

But the rest of us find that odd.  Most people treat BrickFair as a vacation destination.  It's a 4-day party.

No.  The only business advertising permitted within BrickFair are at vendor tables.  All other spaces are ad-free zones.  No exceptions.  We are all here for fun, and nobody likes spam.

Permitted signage includes: LUGs and LTCs and a small card for personal sites such as BrickShelf, YouTube and Flickr.  No "stacks" of anything.  Excessive signage and signs directing to selling sites may be immediately removed by BF staff.