Jul 25^th 2024

Parking

First-timers to BrickFair be aware our parking lot may be packed. Be prepared to park on the street and walk a bit.

Jul 23^rd 2024

Check-In Desk Hours

Exhibitors, please note the Check-In hours on the exhibitor schedule. After Friday evening the Check-In Desk, remaining goodie bags and supplies, are truly packed away. Saturday morning all staff are fully focused on the public.

Please check-in within the scheduled hours.

(Public Schedule)

Jul 16^th 2024

MOC Cards

Exhibitors, the MOC card deadline has passed, but you can still register MOCs - small MOCs.

MOC cards are optional! Many people display without showing their MOC card. Some display without even registering their MOCs (but don't surprise us with large MOCs please).

The card printing volunteer may not have printed cards yet. You can still edit your MOC and perhaps your card will arrive with the updated info.

You can print your MOC cards at home! Just use regular card stock like we do, and cut on the dotted line.

At the show, if you're not happy with your card or didn't receive it, use our on-site Printer Station to reprint your own cards. Cardstock, printer, and cutting board are provided. This station, in Chantilly, tends to be very busy. Often there's a line, FYI.

Jul 15^th 2024

No More Room

Exhibitors, we're officially out of space for MOCs. This week for the first time I've had to email a couple late registrants, apologizing that we don't have room for their large MOCs.

You can still register new MOCs. There's room for small MOCs. There is no more room for large footprint layouts (3'x'3 or larger).

We're going to be packed in. Please be kind to your neighbors.

Jul 14^th 2024

Promo Code 35%

Public visitors, all at-the-door tickets are full price $25/person. Online sales and online discounted tickets end before the show starts. Plan ahead.

Save 35% on tickets now at www.BrickFair.com/tickets/ with promo code BRICK35. Code expires Monday July 22. Use the code at www.BrickFair.com/tickets/.

Follow us on facebook for regular promo code postings. Half-price discounts start 4-6 weeks prior to show.

Jul 13^th 2024

Hands-On Experiences

Public visitors, BrickFair features various hands-on experiences depending how much space we have. Some features are not at every show.

BF/VA will feature Aqua Build, Art Gallery, Floor Mosaic, and Putt-Putt.

In addition to a warehouse of amazing LEGO displays visitors can also spice up the fun with a shot at Bingo, the Guesstimate jar of LEGO parts, a Scavenger Hunt, Bridge Build, a Coin Op or two, and 80+ tables of LEGO shopping.

There will be no bounce houses at this show.

Jul 12^th 2024

Free Shipping to BrickFair

Exhibitors, many of our vendors are Bricklinkers. For you, some vendors offer free shipping to BrickFair and special discounts from 5% to 25% off.

At present 17 vendors are offering free shipping to BrickFair.

List of Bricklinkers offer free shipping to BrickFair.

Have your needed parts waiting for you at the show. Shop now!

Jul 8^th 2024

Promo Brick Swap

Hey exhibitors. The Promo Brick Swap has waned in popularity recently. So we've dropped it from the schedule. But for those diehards looking to trade, the regular host Debbie Winfield says she's around and can be found.

The 2024 promo brick, a 1x2 Duplo brick, will be available for purchase at the Bling Desk.

Jul 7^th 2024

Avatar

Exhibitors, the avatar is a white 2x2 tile with your own image printed on it. Did you know there's a whole world of AFOLs and businesses dedicated to printing words and images onto LEGO pieces? Well there is. And BrickFair pays one of them (EclipseGrafx) to print you 1 custom tile. It will be in your goodie bag when you check-in. But only if you upload an image!

Deadline to upload image is July 15. See all deadlines on your account page.

Jul 5^th 2024

Save $35

Remember kids, I don't want your $35 late registration fee. I want you to register (and pay) by July 13. Get your custom name badge!

Exhibitors and other private convention attendees register to attend.

Jul 1^st 2024

Bathe

BrickFair exhibitors are required to shower. Guys, please bathe more than once or twice during your 5-day convention. We are 1,200 stagnant people crammed into an expo hall. Be considerate to others sitting around you. Shower regularly, even on vacation.

Jun 24^th 2024

No Boat Race

Exhibitors, alas, our primary hotel's pool remains closed since COVID. Our Boat Race is cancelled again. Maybe next year? But Holiday Inn says they're unsure when/if it'll ever re-open.

There is an indoor, in-venue OAT Race to satisfy your hunger for Mindstorms. Check it out.

Jun 20^th 2024

Charity Chess Set

Our friend Ben Spector has created a Charity Chess Set for this show.

Limited Edition. Only 300 sets available!

267 pcs. $20/set. Comes in 4 different color combinations (75 of each set color available).

These Chess Sets, along with our private auction and mini-trophy sales, support The SladeChild Foundation. SladeChild is local, Maryland-based, and is a 100% charity. Every dollar raised directly helps children. SladeChild operates on a $100,000 annual budget, of which BrickFair raises over $10,000.

Get yours at the Charity Booth (in the Bingo area) before they're gone.

Jun 20^th 2024

Map Finalized

Exhibitors, the MOC map is final. The table layout is fixed. No more MOCs will be pre-drawn onto the map. There is no more room for collabs or large layouts.

We are packed full of MOCs! Please consider leaving a few MOCs at home and bringing only your newest builds and favorites.

The public map will be posted closer to showtime.

Jun 18^th 2024

Volunteer

Exhibitors, consider hosting a game. We have over 90 events and activities planned, with plenty of host vacancies remaining. Help entertain your fellow AFOLs. Be a bigger part of the fun!

Jun 15^th 2024

Mindstorms: Mind The Gap

Exhibitors, one of this year's 4 MINDSTORMS games is new: Mind The Gap

MINDSTORMS robots are challenged to get from one side of a two-foot wide gap to the other side by any means possible. Jumping, bridge building, and even flying are all allowed, provided your robot uses 100% LEGO parts.

Build your own robot. Compete in front of a crowd. Maybe win a LEGO set :)

Mind The Gap is held during public hours and viewable by the public.

May 28^th 2024

Vignette Swap Cube

Exhibitors, everyone who participates in the Vignette Swap receives a free display cube! Collect your cube upon check-in at the front desk.

Display your own creative vignette. Play the Swap game when scheduled. At the end of the weekend take your new vignette MOC home while someone else enjoys yours! Everyone's a winner.

The cube is also available at the Bling Desk for $5.

May 24^th 2024

Combat Robotics Brick League!

Exhibitors, join Nick Cowen's growing competition of battle bots called Combat Robotics Brick League! See CRBL bots it in action!

LEGO fight in a cage!

Build your own bot, fight other bots, win LEGO and robotics prizes!

Would-be competitors (exhibitors), see the game listing for details about signing up and finding help via discord.

May 23^rd 2024

3LUG: Xenoball Run

Exhibitors, join Nick Kappatos (pictured here), Dan Rubin, and more in a new collaborative display of rally style space racers - think: F-Zero, SW Podracers, Mario Kart, Wacky Racers, etc. All builders welcome to join; the design is accessible to all!

See summary description of track and racers.

Collabs are a great way for a small builder to dream big by joining a larger display.

Apr 3^rd 2024

No Sale Zones

Exhibitors, as a reminder there is no advertising in the MOC areas of the show. The only sales promotion zones within the show are paid vendor tables and the brief (and private) yard sale. Outside of that the entire show is a no-sale-zone. LUGs/LTCs may hang banners promoting their LUG; these are for promoting fun, not selling.

See the FAQs. No dollar sign$ on signage. No URLs/links/QR codes to any site for selling, only links permitted for LUGs/LTCs and other fun LEGO community opportunities. Stacks of any papers/cards/coupons are prohibited outside the vendor area. The MOC areas are an ad-free zone! If you have something to sell from your seat that AFOLs know you have, because you advertised privately before coming to the show, you're welcome to sell items from under your MOC table to other AFOLs. But you may not leave products on display on tables. And you may not sell to the public! This show is FUN and all things costing $$$ are relegated to the vendor area. This is for everyone's enjoyment. These rules apply all week including all 3 private days and both public days.

If you want to host a (last-minute) game or group chat or something fun, you may post signage at the check-in desk to garner attention from incoming AFOLs. You may not post at the check-in desk for selling.

Thank you,
Todd

Apr 2^nd 2024

Registering MOCs

Exhibitors, we are asking repeat exhibitors to be selective with the MOCs you bring to BF/NoVa'24. We were extremely tight on space last year and we crammed ourselves into our limited space (130,000 square feet). This year we're asking YOU to filter your MOCs to help everyone fit more comfortably.

If you're displaying in a LUG or COLLAB be sure to select that LUG or COLLAB when registering your MOC. LUG and COLLAB MOCs do not get registered to themes. If you're not in a LUG or COLLAB then select a theme.

When you copy MOCs from a previous show and the old LUG/COLLAB doesn't exist in the new show, your copied MOC will appear tinted pink where the theme/collab should be. Suggestions: 1) Wait until your LUG/COLLAB is in the system before copying MOCs. 2) Use the MASS EDIT button on your MOCs page (ACCOUNT > MY MOCs) to quickly and easily update all your MOCs.

Size matters! We use your MOC registration to reserve space. The map is drawn down to the inch! Be specific when recording your MOC size. Do not round off or guess.

Thank you :)

Mar 30^th 2024

Still UFOs

The annual theme this year and in Chantilly this August is still UFOs! Look for UFOs and UFO themed displays throughout the show.