In 1949, when Danish toymaker Ole Kirk Christiansen invented his interlocking brick system LEGO®, it’s unlikely he ever imagined just how much of a worldwide cultural touchstone it would become. Ask anyone born after 1950 and they’ll likely have many a fond childhood memory featuring these classic bricks, but over the past couple of decades in particular, the LEGO Group’s reach within the zeitgeist has truly exploded. Computer games, amusement parks, a highly bankable movie franchise, all manner of merch collaborations, blockbuster exhibitions and even reality TV talent shows: LEGO has become so much more than just a plaything.
Every facet of this incredible versatility, including then brand's ability to snag fans of every age from sprogs to seniors, will be on display at the Sydney Showgrounds on July 9-10, as LEGO CON rolls into the Harbour City. Better yet, entry is absolutely free, although attendance must be pre-registered.
A perfect event for families with pre-teen kids, LEGO CON will celebrate the full range of LEGO, including LEGO City, LEGO Friends, LEGO DOTS, LEGO Technic and more. And the good news, especially given the soggy summer Sydney has just endured, is that this two-day event has been conceived to be as weatherproof as possible, so even if the heavens open, nothing can rain on this LEGO parade.
Expect to marvel at some of the most ambitious builds imaginable – including, for the first time in Sydney, the lifesized LEGO Technic™ McLaren Formula 1™ Race Car, which debuted at the Australian Grand Prix. But there will also be a bunch of hands-on activities to take part in too. The unofficial theme of LEGO CON could easily be ‘go big or go home’, as visitors will have the chance to join forces with other brickheads and AFOLs (that’s Adult Fans of LEGO, FYI) on some truly monster constructions. There will also be plenty of new and fan-favourite sets from the LEGO Group’s most popular franchises on hand to make and play with.
There will of course be plenty of opportunities for pure creativity. The Build the Change sessions, for example, invite younger builders to share their hopes and dreams for the future, using LEGO to create bold and brilliant visions of what is yet to come. From spaceships and aliens to cyberpunk cities and future technologies – the only limit is your imagination.
Throughout the two-day event at the Showgrounds, visitors will be able to catch streams of all the displays and expert sessions from the global LEGO CON virtual event. And as the LEGO Group celebrates its 90th birthday in 2022, expect to learn some fascinating facts about the brand’s humble origins, creating treasured wooden toys in Denmark in 1932.
Aside from their astonishing creative potential, perhaps the most remarkable quality of these little bricks is their ability to build communities. LEGO CON will be an event that shines a spotlight on the brand's power to bring people together, to share their creativity, their passion and their inclusive spirit, making it the perfect day out for both fans and newcomers to the world of LEGO alike.
Tickets are free but strictly limited – in fact the first allocation is now exhausted but new tickets will be released on July 1, so be sure not to miss out by reserving your spots for LEGO CON Sydney on the LEGO CON website.