BrickCon (formerly known as NorthWest BrickCon) is a LEGO convention and exhibition in North America. It is held annually for adult fans of LEGO and hobbyists in Seattle, Washington. BrickCon runs about four days, generally Thursday through Sunday, and was held the first weekend in October, but has moved to the weekend after Labor Day. The event brings together the fan community that has evolved as a result of the Internet and helps them explore and develop their LEGO hobby.[1] BrickCon is not affiliated to the LEGO company. BrickCon is made up of two parts: the private convention and the public exhibition.
The private convention's main focus is to provide a venue for adult fans of LEGO to come together as a community and bring and display their own LEGO constructions. Activities at the convention include presentations, seminars, round-table discussions, contests, games, door prizes and many experiences unique to a LEGO Fan Convention. The full attendee receives a convention packet containing personalized bricks, a name badge, a program of activities, handouts and coupons.[2]
Public exhibition
The public exhibition's main focus is to invite LEGO fans of all ages of the general public to view hundreds of hobbyist-built creations and meet their creators. Visitors may watch the Mindstorms robot battles or Brickfilm (a LEGO-themed film), browse and shop at various LEGO vendors, or have their kids build something in the building zone. Various themes on display can include castles, space ships, trains, Great Ball contraptions (GBC), pop culture and many other.[1]
2002 – The first NWBrickCon - Be There, Be Square Location: Center House at Seattle Center Attendees: 48 Public Guests: 3,000 – 5,000 Layout: "Back Room" (800 sq.ft.) "Lobby" (1,000 sq.ft.) "Main Floor" (200 sq.ft.) Notes: There were no "Attendees", but there were 48 adult builders displaying. This was an all-exhibit event.
2003 – The first NWBrickCon with attendees and guests - Be There, Be Square Location: Snoqualmie Room at Seattle Center Attendees: 47 Guests: 2,000+ Layout: All in one room (3,000 sq.ft.) Notes: This event was the first to have paid Attendees, paying Guests, Presentations, Brick Bazaar, and a Special Guest (Brad Justus from Lego Group).
2004 – NWBrickCon is held on Halloween weekend - Halloween! Location: (Dan Parker's Studio), The Commons, Federal Way Attendees: ~45 Guests: ~2,000 Layout: "Exhibition Hall" (1,600 sq.ft.) "Bazaar + General Meeting" (1,200 sq.ft.) "Racing" (900 sq.ft.) Notes: This was a fallback situation as initial plans fell through. Due to the arrangements, there was no charge for Public Guests nor could the Bazaar open to the Public.
2005 – NWBrickCon returns to the Center on the first weekend of October - Ghostly! Location: Rainier Room of the Northwest Rooms at Seattle Center (6,000 sq.ft.). Attendees: 65 Guests: 2,000+ Layout: "Exhibition Hall" (4,500 sq.ft.) "Bazaar + General Meeting" (2,500 sq.ft.)
2006 – NWBrickCon moves to a larger facility and keeps the first weekend of October - Heroes! Location: The Seattle Center Pavilion A + B at Seattle Center (13,000 sq.ft.) Attendees: 85 Guests: 3,500 Layout: "Exhibition Hall + Kid Build" (8,000 sq.ft.) "Bazaar + General Meeting" (5,000 sq.ft.) Notes: The event began to show definite signs of growth.
2007 – BrickCon swells to overflow the Pavilion - Pirates! Location: The Seattle Center Pavilion A + B at Seattle Center (13,000 sq.ft.) Attendees: ~145 Guests: ~3,700 Layout: "Exhibition Hall + General Meeting" (8,000 sq.ft.) "Bazaar + Kid Build" (5,000 sq.ft.)
2008 – BrickCon moves again to a larger facility - Be Part of the Adventure! Location: The Exhibition Hall (half) at Seattle Center (20,000 sq.ft.) Attendees: ~235 Guests: ~6,900[3]
2009 – Continued growth- Imagination in Motion! Location: The (whole) Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center (34,000 sq.ft.) Attendees: ~375 Guests: ~9,300[3][dead link][4]
2010 – Added the Rainier Room for all convention activities (34,000 + 6,000 sq.ft.) - Tales of the Brick! Location: The Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center[5] Attendees: ~475 Guests: ~11,000
2011 - Used all of the Northwest Rooms for convention activities (34,000 + 17,000 sq.ft.) - Building a[6] Community! Location: The Exhibition Hall and Northwest Rooms at Seattle Center Attendees: 535 Guests: 11,000
2012 - 10th Anniversary BrickCon Location: The Exhibition Hall and Northwest Rooms at Seattle Center Attendees: 470 Guests: 12,000+
2013 - 12th BrickCon - Pigs v s. Cows! Location: The Exhibition Hall and Northwest Rooms at Seattle Center Attendees: 445 Guests: 12,000+
2014 - 13th BrickCon - Invasion! Location: The Exhibition Hall and Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center. The first event at the Cornish, which used the theater, stage, lobby Founders Room, and "black box" (the separated rehearsal space). Total area 34,000 sq ft + 9,000 sq ft. Attendees: 435 Guests: 13,100+
2015 - 14th BrickCon - MOCking History! Date: October 1–4, 2015 Location: The Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center. The Cornish was previously engaged and the convention operated entirely within the Ex Hall. Attendees: 470 Guests: 13,600
2016 - 15th BrickCon - Madness[7] This year, the convention added a Friends and Family Night to its Friday schedule. Date: September 29 - October 2, 2016 Location: The Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center and (returning to) Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center. Attendees: 450 Guests: 10,600
2017 - 16th BrickCon - Brick To Old School[7] Date: October 5–8, 2017 Location: The Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center and Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center. The first ever sold-out event. Attendees: 470 Guests: 13,600
2018 - 17th BrickCon - Hidden Worlds[7] Date: October 4–7, 2018 Location: The Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center and Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center Attendees: 475 Guests: 13,600
2019 - 18th BrickCon - Just BUILD It! Date: October 3–6, 2019 Location: The Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center and Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center Attendees: 443 Guests: 12,200
2020 - 19th BrickCon - Hindsight Date: October 1–4, 2020 Location: Due to COVID-19, this event was virtual only. More than one person could attend per ticket. Attendee: 521 Guests: 1,139
2021 - 20th BrickCon - TBD: Two Brickcon Decades Date: October 1–3, 2021 Location: The Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center, Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center and virtual. Attendee: 317 total (216 in-person, 101 virtual) Guests: 3,342
2022 - 21st BrickCon - 21, Time for fun Date: Sept 29 - Oct 2, 2022 Location: The Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center, Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center and virtual. Attendee and Guests numbers not released.
2023 22nd BrickCon - Journeys Date: Sept 7 - 10, 2023 Location: Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue Attendee: 541 total (489 in-person, 52 virtual) Guests 12,592 BrickCon moves to Bellevue after 16 years of being at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. Event sold out both public days.
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