Photo:
A Lego display at BrickCon 2018. Credit Pascal/Flickr CC
Attention, Seattle-area Lego fanatics! Find inspiration for your creations at our local Lego convention, BrickCon 2021. BrickCon is back in person and taking place Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 2–3, 2021.
BrickCon is a Lego expo catering to Lego enthusiasts of all ages and featuring eye-popping Lego displays from master builders. On hiatus last year due to the pandemic, BrickCon is back in person at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall — with a few changes on tap. More on those below, as they'll make a difference for families.
Two decades of bricks
Billed as the longest-running fan-based Lego convention, BrickCon is a Lego love fest where master builders and hobbyists show their creations. Exhibitors and visitors exchange ideas and make new friends with other Lego fans. This year's theme is Two BrickCon Decades celebrating the convention's 20 years.
Past BrickCons have featured astonishing builds: detailed battle scenes that range from medieval to intergalactic, elaborate cityscapes and even creations with moveable parts.
Harmony Scofield, of Portland, Ore., shared a Twitter photo of her kids mesmerized by a Lego R2D2 at a BrickCon event several years ago. Scofield said her children, then ages 7 and 4, enjoyed the event, but she cautioned other families that crowds around the displays can prevent kids from seeing them easily.
The event is probably best suited for older elementary-age kids — tweens and up — who have a strong interest in Lego, she said.
Changes for 2021
Among changes for this year's BrickCon, there will not be a hands-on Lego building zone as in years past, due to safety concerns related to the ongoing pandemic. Families should note that this means BrickCon is almost entirely an event for looking and shopping, rather than touching or building.
Previous attendees will notice that ticket prices are considerably higher this year, $25 per person. In 2019, by comparison, tickets cost $11–$17 and kids ages 4 and younger entered free. All ages require a ticket this year, and capacity is capped at one-third of previous years' numbers.
Buy tickets online in advance, for a morning or afternoon session of 2.5 hours.
Attendees ages 5 and older must wear masks at all times, and kids ages 3–4 are strongly encouraged to wear masks as well.
If you go...When: Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 2–3, 2021, morning and afternoon session options each day, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1–3 p.m. Find it: BrickCon takes place at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, 301 Mercer St., Seattle, on the north side of Seattle Center. Tickets: Buy online in advance. Tickets will not be sold at the door, though if tickets remain, visitors can purchase them on a mobile device outside the facility. Timed entry: Tickets are for a specific day with a specific time window. There are morning (10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) and afternoon (1–3 p.m.) sessions available each day. Tips for parents:
More Lego!Where to play with Lego around Seattle and beyond: BrickCon is just one weekend; Lego fandom lasts a lifetime! The Seattle area has many spots for Lego-rrific fun. Note that the play places mostly remain closed, though many of the shops are open: Click here for the full list! Legoland: Ready to partake in the ultimate immersive Lego experience? Read our guide to Legoland California. |
Editor's note: This article was originally published in 2017 and updated for 2021. Nancy Chaney contributed to this report.
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