Announcing Philly Brick Fest: April 23 – 26, 2015

Registration is now open for the next Philly Brick Fest, taking place from April 23rd-26th at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center. The full registration is discounted until December 1st, so get your tickets now.

Here’s the full press release;


Philly
Brick Fest, the 4-day Fan of LEGO Convention returns to the Greater
Philadelphia Expo Center April 23 – 26, 2015 in Oaks, PA.

The 2015 event will boast more than 90,000 square feet of fan built LEGO creations, interactive building challenges and activities, and merchandise from LEGO resellers and customizers. The 4-day convention brings together Fans of LEGO to play games, learn new building techniques, meet new members of the community, and most of all have fun.

Date:
April 23 – 26, 2015

Philly Brick Fest is a LEGO Convention for Fans of LEGO (FOLs). This is a 4-day private event from April 23 – 26, 2015 consisting of games, seminars, building activities, giveaways, and more. Registered attendees also have the ability display their LEGO creations sure to inspire the general public. Registered attendees also have a chance to meet, mingle, and create new friendships with other FOLs.

Brick Fest Live is the portion of the event that is open to the public. During the public sessions, attendees will have a chance to see the amazing FOL creations in addition to the hands-on attractions facilitated by Brick Fest Live.

And check out our video!

5 comments on “Announcing Philly Brick Fest: April 23 – 26, 2015

  1. Magnus

    For the record, this Philly BF has nothing to do with the original BrickFest, which took place for many years in Northern VA and on the West Coast. BrickFest was in many ways the model for many of the major US Lego cons that have followed since, and a lot of AFOLs put a lot of time and effort into making it what it was.

    Honestly, the organizers of the Philly event could have shown some respect to the AFOL fan community and history, and chosen a different name.

    I am surprised and disappointed that TBB coverage of this doesn’t even mention something what is a pretty important issue regarding this event.

  2. Josh

    @Magnus – I’m sorry you feel disappointed we haven’t mentioned this issue. However, I’m not up to date on the issue as it currently stands and I don’t feel it is TBB’s place to take sides in legal issues like this.

    All I know is via the rumor mill. I do not know anyone associated with Philly Brick Fest and I haven’t spoken to Christina Hitchcock in many years. While I personally think it is very under-handed of the PBF organizers to use the Brick Fest name, I don’t know if Christina ever legally protected it. If she did, it should be a simple matter. If she did not, I don’t know that there is anything to be done. I don’t even know if it is something she is interested in anymore.

    I would hate to use TBB to spread ill-feeling about this convention without being aware of all the facts.

    EDIT: I do have to say that I’m not impressed with their website. I filled out what they called a “contact form”, to get their side of the story, and it signed me up for their weekly newsletter instead. That isn’t good business.

  3. ChadCollins

    Hi, I’m Chad Collins, founder of Learn With Bricks LLC, which is the independent producer of our Philly Brick Fest and Brick Fest Live events. I thought it was important to provide more information about Philly Brick Fest, since it seems like something people want to know more about. As most of the community is aware, our Philly Brick Fest & Brick Fest Live events that launched in 2014 are completely separate from the AFOL conventions originally organized by Christina Hitchcock.

    As a relatively new member of the FOL community in 2012, I was introduced to the world of LEGO fan events, and was completely fascinated by them. I was surprised to learn that there were no such events in my hometown, and decided to take the opportunity to create one of our own. We set out to create an event that was inclusive to all members of the LEGO community, both new and old. Admittedly, it was not until after we settled on the name Philly Brick Fest that I learned that the first event held in 2000 was THE event that started it all.

    Clearly the 2000 event and those that followed played a very important part in the history of the FOL community and have a special place in the hearts of those that attended (or wish they could have). In addition to sharing the love for LEGO with one another, this first event was an indication to The LEGO Group, and the rest of the world, that the fan-base was mobilizing. Clearly, with social media what is today, and the abundance of fan events world-wide, LEGO conventions have become their own phenomenon.

    We are thrilled that we can have an event for our local LUGs, independent builders, and LEGO fans on social media (YouTube & Instagram) where we can come be passionate about LEGO. We bring together builders, photographers, YouTubers, writers, schools, and more. Together, we all play well.

    As for the contact form – we will be adding a ‘contact us’ form on the Philly Brick Fest page right away. Subscribing to our mailing list will be optional. In the meantime, feel free to contact us at info@brickfestlive.com.

    Happy Thanksgiving, and Stay Creative!

    Chad

  4. Magnus

    @Josh, it isn’t a legal issue, it isn’t about what they can get away with legally. It is about what they should have done and what they have so far chosen not to do.

    @Chad – you are clearly getting away with this, but that doesn’t make it OK. Just call this event “Learn With Bricks” or “BrickPhilly” or any number of other things.

    Imagine if Brick Journal or TBB disappeared this year, and then in a few years someone new showed up in the Lego scene and wanted to start a Lego magazine or blog, and they decided to call theirs Brick Journal or The Brothers Brick too. Well, people would be like “Hey, you’re new here and maybe you didn’t realize but BrickJournal/TBB is already a thing. A discontinued, but established entity with lots of history in the AFOL community. Can’t you name your magazine/blog something else?”

    And unless they were being pretty unreasonable, they would.

  5. Josh

    @Magnus – I agree. I said that I felt that their behavior was under-handed but that I did not have all the facts about the issue. In addition, it is actually a legal issue. But, again, I don’t have the information about whether Christina can or will pursue the matter. It is her call.

    @Chad – You didn’t really address the issue. Why didn’t you change the name of your event? It seems to me that someone who was starting a new fan event would research previous events. The original Brickfest was incredibly well-known. It’s really a matter of goodwill in and among the community you are trying to attract to your show.

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