UK set for bumper season of LEGO events
Posted by Huw,
With the virus in retreat in the UK and all remaining restrictions set to be lifted in England this week, we can at last look forward to a season of LEGO events.
Here's what's coming up in the next few months:
- 26-27th February: Bricktastic, Manchester. We've mentioned this several times already but will probably have to stop doing so soon because it's likely to sell out before the end of next week. If you've not yet bought tickets, do so now!
- 5-6th March: Reading Brick Show. This is returning to Rivermead Leisure Centre in Reading. It will bring together fantastic LEGO models made by the most talented builders in the UK and lots of fun activities for visitors of all ages. Advance discounted tickets are available ReadingBrickShow.com or can be purchased on the day for £10 per person.
- 12-13th March: Brickish Weekend at the National Space Centre, Leicester. The NSC is joining forces with Fairy Bricks and the Brickish Association to host a celebration of all things LEGO. Now in its eleventh year, the weekend will see the whole building filled with huge LEGO creations, rare kits, planes, trains and automobiles, as well as LEGO shops, games and play areas. Tickets are available from the NSC website.
- 19th March: Plymouth Brick Festival. The event, organised by Bristol-based GertLug, is raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital and more information can be found here.
I will be at the first three events with my GBCs and I hope to see many of you there!
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26 comments on this article
Wow, that's a lot of events in the middle of a pandemic. Good for you guys that it's retreating there. I hope everyone has fun.
Not exactly UK, this is England only. The rest of us still have restrictions in place.
Sounds insane to me as well that a retreating wave means peoole go all out. Especially since Omicron is wreaking havoc everywhere else. It's just a recipe to invite the virus back in, Lego or not. It really sounds like people are giving up on it...
That mascot seems to be based on the Chima set 70123 Lion Legend beast... but it looks so weird with those changes.
Also, have fun, England! And ehm... let's hope it will be done responsibly, what with the constant upswells due to variants nowadays.
Wow that's awesome!
@Phoenixio said:
"Sounds insane to me as well that a retreating wave means peoole go all out. Especially since Omicron is wreaking havoc everywhere else. It's just a recipe to invite the virus back in, Lego or not. It really sounds like people are giving up on it..."
I completely agree. In my opinion the ‘waves’ are almost completely manmade (of course the new variants popping in and out are practically uncontrollable) with the stop starting of restrictions. One day with restrictions and low COVID cases and deaths, and the next with no restrictions and high pressure on the NHS. I can’t believe that people haven’t seen the pattern.
As I have said before, one can continue to isolate oneself from society for a undeterminable length of time, living in a constant state of fear, or get on and enjoy life again normally now it's possible to do so.
@Randomness said:
"Wow, that's a lot of events in the middle of a pandemic."
How long are we still going to be "in the middle"? The end is here, covid is mild and endemic. Social and political restrictions had almost no effect on the previous wave. It is time to move forward past the fear and anger.
Those who wish can continue to be cautious. However, the majority doesn't need to keep normal activities on hold any longer.
Hope everyone who is able to attend has a wonderful time at these events.
At some point we have to say that we just need to get on with our lives. The damage done to the mental health of our kids and other people from going into and out of lockdowns is incalculable, not to mention the effect on education. The Omicron variant is mild enough now to be treated in a similar way to flu - we'd do far more damage by continuing to lock ourselves away.
Regarding the shows, I'll be displaying at all three and I can't wait!
Only time will tell how it plays to the current pandemic. It seems it swells in one place and quells in another and vice versa, so y'all do you. I'm gonna keep my distance (especially since I live across the pond).
As for our local shows, they keep getting postponed or cancelled because it keeps going up and up every few months.
We live in a society that should be looking after the most vulnerable and needy. Large events like this encourage the spread of a virus that many people simply aren't able to live with. Getting on and enjoying life isn't possible. Don't forget the millions that can't afford to ignore it and just 'get on with life'
@Robibani said:
"We live in a society that should be looking after the most vulnerable and needy. Large events like this encourage the spread of a virus that many people simply aren't able to live with. Getting on and enjoying life isn't possible. Don't forget the millions that can't afford to ignore it and just 'get on with life'"
If it kills me, it kills me. I don’t care anymore. The pandemic broke out in college, and I really do feel like I’ve missed a lot of possible great life moments because of it. I’m tired of ZOOM. I’m tired of everything being virtual. It’s just not the same as the real deal.
And before anyone goes and calls me a selfish jerk for wanting to get back out there, I have gone through the whole Covid experience. I was scared of getting it. I wore my mask when needed, I got both my shots, and I got my booster. I kept my distance whenever I could. Despite all this, I also got infected. I did get over it, but after that didn’t feel so afraid anymore.
I’m done worrying about it. I’ve had my share of being afraid, and I’m sick of being told to be afraid. Think of me as selfish if you want, but this whole ordeal made me realize that life is too short. I don’t want to spend my days doing things at a computer all the time.
@MLF said:
" @Randomness said:
"Wow, that's a lot of events in the middle of a pandemic."
How long are we still going to be "in the middle"? The end is here, covid is mild and endemic. Social and political restrictions had almost no effect on the previous wave. It is time to move forward past the fear and anger.
Those who wish can continue to be cautious. However, the majority doesn't need to keep normal activities on hold any longer.
Hope everyone who is able to attend has a wonderful time at these events."
It’s not endemic yet.
Just booked up my ticket for Bricktastic. Looking forward to what will be my first ever Lego show! @Huw, I'll drop by the GBCs and say "Hi"!
Have fun but stay safe everyone!
@DoonsterBuildsLego said:
"Just booked up my ticket for Bricktastic. Looking forward to what will be my first ever Lego show! @Huw, I'll drop by the GBCs and say "Hi"!"
Awesome, you'll love it!
@Huw said:
"As I have said before, one can continue to isolate oneself from society for a undeterminable length of time, living in a constant state of fear, or get on and enjoy life again normally now it's possible to do so."
Ugh. I'm so disappointed. This is the kind of attitude that means this thing will never end. I have an unvaccinated child and so we're not going anywhere because it's not yet safe for him...and when Omicron numbers started to spike, we pulled him out of daycare.
People need to get over themselves and think of others. Get vaccinated, wear masks in public, and don't do anything non-essential. This isn't over and pretending it is and going about life like we did in 2019 is only going to make things worse.
30th April - 1st May is Discovery Brick Show by Brick Alley in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
@PDelahanty said:
" @Huw said:
"As I have said before, one can continue to isolate oneself from society for a undeterminable length of time, living in a constant state of fear, or get on and enjoy life again normally now it's possible to do so."
Ugh. I'm so disappointed. This is the kind of attitude that means this thing will never end. I have an unvaccinated child and so we're not going anywhere because it's not yet safe for him...and when Omicron numbers started to spike, we pulled him out of daycare.
People need to get over themselves and think of others. Get vaccinated, wear masks in public, and don't do anything non-essential. This isn't over and pretending it is and going about life like we did in 2019 is only going to make things worse."
I could not agree more
Does anyone know when the next BrickLive show will be, loved the 2014 and 16 shows held in London's Excel and Birmingham NEC.
Let's just agree to disagree otherwise I'll start deleting comments.
Click on the 'download calendar' link at {redacted} to see next Animal Paradise exhibition in {redacted} plus other tours currently in the US, Germany and Singapore.
@ambr said:
"Click on the 'download calendar' link at {redacted} to see next Animal Paradise exhibition in {redacted}, plus other tours currently in the US, Germany and Singapore."
We don't publicise events by that company. The models are now made with clone bricks.
@Minifig290 said:
"Does anyone know when the next BrickLive show will be, loved the 2014 and 16 shows held in London's Excel and Birmingham NEC."
Unfortunately there won't be any more exactly like it because the event was sold to another company which runs them purely for profit, so does not involve AFOLs.
Bricktastic will be very similar, though, but with more emphasis on quality displays and activities rather than countless different coloured brick pits and non-LEGO related stuff.
I’m happy this event is happening. I hope you all have fun! Or maybe it would be better to quarantine until there are no infectious diseases left. Either way, have fun!
@Slobrojoe said:
I completely agree. In my opinion the ‘waves’ are almost completely manmade (of course the new variants popping in and out are practically uncontrollable) with the stop starting of restrictions. One day with restrictions and low COVID cases and deaths, and the next with no restrictions and high pressure on the NHS. I can’t believe that people haven’t seen the pattern.]]
I'm glad to see other people who know the truth ;)
if I was in the UK I would love to go to some of those events, sadly I'm not in the UK.