Event: BrickFest 2007

BrickFest^® Returns to Portland
Article by Todd Kubo
Photography by Dan Sabath 

For 2007, BrickFest headed west and landed back in Portland, Oregon; the site of the BrickFest PDX in 2004. Once again the LEGO fan faithful gathered at the Portland Convention Center to show off their latest creations and discuss things all brick.

Over 200 LEGO fans displayed some of their current works. Coming across the country were quite a few builders and clubs, as well as members of the LEGO fan community from Europe. A large contingent from The LEGO Group made the trek from Enfield, Connecticut and also from Europe to be in attendance. Not even the passing afternoon downpour on Saturday was able to dampen the spirits of all who attended.

The models were impressive, as expected. Some of best builders and clubs from all across the country spent hours preparing and finishing off their elaborate displays, gearing up for Sunday’s public exhibition hours. And what a collection of work there was to be seen! From Space to Town, Bionicle to Technic, Mindstorms, Castle, and so on – it was all here. You could spend hours looking at the creations finding more and more to appreciate with every new display you took in.

A beautifully made train station and skyscraper graced the far end of the hall. The town layout was well represented with ten city blocks replete with the typical tongue-in-cheek humor all have grown to expect from the town builders. Space and Castle themes once again outdid themselves with some impressive displays. The “Classic Space Fly-In” was a highlight of the space display. Every set and theme from Classic Space, beginning with the first Classic sets in 1978, through the last Insectoids sets of 1999 were on display.

Castle themes occupied equally impressive table space. Fighting armored dragons, processions, elaborate castles, a pristine white church and more were here. Raiding Vikings started on one end of the display then moved into the Castles and then moved into yet another period theme – Pirates! Galleons and pirate port, a battle of 3-masted ships on the high seas, small vignettes and more were on display. It was eye candy for LEGO fans everywhere.

As you moved to the far wall of the exhibition space, Technic cranes rose above tables. Covering the spaces below were scores of related creations such as Mindstorms, NXT ‘bots and The Great Ball Contraption, to vehicles of all sorts, the displays held almost everything.

Then on to the Bionicle section and one had no choice but to marvel at the intricately built creations to be seen here. If you even had the question about what to do with a certain part or, “I never thought I could use that LEGO piece that way?” You saw it here.

The sessions themselves were just as interesting and entertaining. Discussions on the new NXT system – how to use it, development updates and feedback provided some great interest and was highly informative. The LEGO fans that took part in the designing for the newest LEGO Factory 10183 LEGO Hobby Train held a great forum on their participation and the development effort that went into creating another great fan based set.

Quality and color came up again. However, the forums were open and spirited – with fans having the opportunity to provide some feedback directly to people from LEGO who were in attendance. AFOLs left feeling that they had been heard, and that feedback like this would only help their favorite hobby.

The fun events also gathered good-sized crowds. The Dirty Brickster (where you can steal a gift or open one of your own) was fun for all. Noise from frantically shaken polybags was the only thing to be heard during the Speed/Build-in-the-Bag challenge of the Tiny Turbos set 8813. The NXT Sumo robotic challenge had “oohs” and “ahhs” rising from the crowd around the contest table, followed by raucous applause as Mindstorms creators pitted their ‘bots against one another. A fan favorite was the Wacky Racers – building a MOC to race down a ten foot long ramp – the goal not necessarily being to make it to the finish line in one piece. It was as much fun to watch as it was to participate. 

The public hours came on Sunday and tons of children and adults waited to take in all the displays. The comments overheard were things like, “that’s so cool!” and “hey – did you see this?” These were echoed at every section and every new theme table you went to.

The enthusiasm and appreciation for all things LEGO was clearly evident everywhere.

It was yet another successful BrickFest. The AFOLs outdid themselves once more with their amazing creations and putting on dazzling displays. It makes you wonder what you’ll see next time these LEGO builders gather. The best answer to that came from a boy as he and his family left the hall, “hey mom, I need to go home and get out my LEGO.”

Back to top | Issue 8 | BrickJournal Home