Convention Overview
Quick Summary
Description
Bricks by the Bay is a convention for LEGO hobbyists, artists, fans, and enthusiasts. If you have been to other conventions such as BrickCon, BrickFair, BrickWorld, etc. you are already familiar with the basic format. We gather in a large hotel ballroom to display our models and participate in a variety of games, presentations, and activities. There is a public show on the last day where everyone can come and see all the exhibits.
On Friday & Saturday we have various events (break-out sessions) such as presentations, roundtable discussions, games, etc. from 9am to 6pm, a break for dinner, and an evening program with prizes, speeches, etc. followed by more games and contests.
On Sunday, we will be open to the public from 10am-4pm for them to see our exhibits and visit the vendors, then close the convention and go home.
This year is bigger than ever! We have over 400 registered attendees, and will be filling the entire 22,500 square foot Grand Ballroom with exhibits and vendors, and using space from the adjacent Convention Center (upstairs) for our breakout sessions and evening ceremonies.
Schedule:
- Friday (7am-midnight) convention (evening: opening ceremony)
- Saturday (7am-midnight) convention (evening: awards ceremony)
- Sunday (7am-8pm) convention (public hours 10am-4pm, closing ceremony, then teardown)
Signing Up:
- Go to the hotel site and reserve your room
- Go to our convention registration form and register for the con
Participation Options:
- If you’re bringing anything to display, we are using a wiki workspace to plan space for each theme. Request a wiki account and add what you are bringing to the appropriate wiki page(s). (Click the Edit tab at the top of the page you want to edit to get started)
- If you want to volunteer to help behind the scenes, subscribe to our planning mailing list.
- If you wish to be a vendor, first register for the convention, and then fill out out Vendor Registration form (everyone working your booth must be a registered attendee).
Event details
The Bricks by the Bay convention is a 3-day event running from Friday through Sunday. Convention attendees have the opportunity to meet people in the flesh whom they’ve only seen online, or see models in person that they have seen pictures of online. There are a number of talks, discussions, games, contests, and other activities throughout Friday and Saturday for attendees, as well as a large exhibit hall where they can display their LEGO models for one another and for the public day on Sunday.
Registration for the convention includes a number of goodies:
- Engraved LEGO brick badge with your name, city, etc. *
- Special room rate at the hotel with free Wi-Fi in your room and lobby
- A printed program, listing schedule of events and information about events
- Goodies donated by our sponsors **
- Opportunities to win door prizes and contests
- Display space in the exhibit hall for your models
- Discounts at the local LEGO stores ***
- Access to all convention activities throughout the three days
- Access to buy from vendors on Friday and Saturday as well as during public hours on Sunday
* Late registrants may receive badges with their names printed using a label maker, if there isn’t time to get them engraved.
** Subject to sponsors’ generosity.
*** Discount details TBD and subject to LEGO’s determination.
So if you are a serious LEGO hobbyist or artist, please register for the full convention. There is no age limit, but those under 18 are required to have an adult also registered, and those under 16 must be accompanied by that adult at all times. While the focus of LEGO conventions is on Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs) we don’t want to prevent precocious teens or kids from participating as long as it is done responsibly.
If your interest is in seeing the exhibits on display and buying from the vendors, you may want to just come for the public day on Sunday, however. If you are coming for the sake of your kids, it’s up to you whether you want to invest in a 3-day weekend of full LEGO immersion, or just come for a few hours and see what people have built.