Attention, Minecraft fans and those who love them! There's a Minecraft convention-slash-festival in Seattle this weekend, called Minefaire. It's taking place at the CenturyLink Field Event Center Saturday–Sunday, May 18–19, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. each day. (Sidebar: If it seems like there's a convention for nearly everything these days, note the My Little Pony convention is also in town this weekend.)
So for the legions of young Minecraft fans in our midst, and the fact that playing this Swedish video game is arguably better for kids than other screen time, heading to this fair with the fam on a rainy weekend seems like a good bet, right?
Well, let's mine a little (heh). First off, a regular Saturday or Sunday one-day admission costs $52.99 per person. Entry for Saturday or Sunday afternoon only (1 p.m. or later) costs $31.49 per person. More expensive entries are also available, granting early admission or other perks, for $73.99–$91.99 per person, per day. Full-day Saturday admission for a family of four, with fees, comes to $234.92.
If you're still reading this article, you might be thinking for that price this fair better send my Minecraft-loving kid into the stratosphere of thrillsville. Right?
Here's what we've found you can do at Minefaire. Take a read to help make your decision.
The main draw of Minefaire, judging by space allocation on its website, is YouTuber appearances. If your kid has favorite YouTube personalities who play Minecraft, see if they're included in the line-up. When I showed the list to my 10-year-old son, who I would call a more casual Minecraft player, he'd heard of only one out of the two-dozen established YouTubers and "rising stars". Fans of Minecraft-playing YouTube personalities may relish the chance to see them in person. Check the schedule (scroll down) to see timing of appearances.
Other attractions at Minefaire include gaming stations, where kids can play Minecraft on computers. Virtual reality experiences are billed, though there isn't much detail on the site. Reviews by Minefaire attendees in other cities indicate that VR experiences cost extra, but a PR person representing the Seattle fair assured us that all experiences, including VR, are included in the price of admission.
Participatory activities, such as Minecraft bingo and Minecraft trivia, take place on the Game Stage. There are also workshops, such as "Explore and Build an Ancient Roman City," and "Pixel Art Made Easy." A Minecraft costume contest, photo booth and Lego Minecraft area also feature among the fair's activities.
Minecraft merchandise for sale and vendor booths are also part of the experience. Minefaire promises a wide variety of Minecraft merchandise, including exclusive items not available anywhere else.
