Zak Keeler arranges Lego builds at the Bricker Builds booth as they set up for Brick Convention at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Brick Convention is a traveling Lego-fan event with Lego artists and retailers. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A scene from Star Wars: A New Hope by Lego artist Amado Pinlac, who goes by the name AC Pin, at Brick Convention at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Brick Convention is a traveling Lego-fan event with Lego artists and retailers. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Custom Lego Pokxc3xa9 Ball kits on display at the Bricker Builds booth at Brick Convention at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Brick Convention is a traveling Lego-fan event with Lego artists and retailers. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lego mini figures set up at the xe2x80x98Itxe2x80x99s a Block Partyxe2x80x99 booth for Brick Convention at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Brick Convention is a traveling Lego-fan event with Lego artists and retailers. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A Spider-Man head on display at the Bricker Builds booth at Brick Convention at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Brick Convention is a traveling Lego-fan event with Lego artists and retailers. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lego minifigure heads at Brick Convention at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Brick Convention is a traveling Lego-fan event with Lego artists and retailers. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Marleth Pinlac, the wife of Lego artist Amado Pinlac, who goes by the name AC Pin, helps set up his botanical display for Brick Convention at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Brick Convention is a traveling Lego-fan event with Lego artists and retailers. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lego mini figures set up at the xe2x80x98Itxe2x80x99s a Block Partyxe2x80x99 booth for Brick Convention at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Brick Convention is a traveling Lego-fan event with Lego artists and retailers. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lego flowers on display by Lego artist Amado Pinlac, who goes by the name AC Pin, at Brick Convention at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Brick Convention is a traveling Lego-fan event with Lego artists and retailers. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lego artist Amado Pinlac, who goes by the name AC Pin, points out a scene from The Book of Boba Fett where he used coffee to stain stormtrooper helmets to add detail for Brick Convention at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Brick Convention is a traveling Lego-fan event with Lego artists and retailers. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Lego artist Amado Pinlac, who goes by the name AC Pin, sets up his Star Wars Lego creations for Brick Convention at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Brick Convention is a traveling Lego-fan event with Lego artists and retailers. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Explore worlds built one brick at a time this weekend … one Lego brick at a time.
Brick Convention, a Lego fan event, is visiting the OC Fair & Event Center on Saturday and Sunday – its first time in California, said organizer Greyson Riley.
One of the features of the convention that has been held in communities around the country over the last year is the elaborate displays created by Lego builders, many of them local artists.
“They are going to see hours, if not years of work put together,” said Riley, who was himself wowed by a “massive” pirate ship scene one person arrived with on Friday as the displays were being set up. He was told the ship alone weighed more than 80 pounds.
“It is amazing for both the artist and the viewer,” he said of the creativity that will be on display. “There is something here for everyone. You don’t have to be a Lego fan to enjoy the event.”
But if you are a fan of the tiny bricks and the mini figures that bring them to life, he said vendors from around the country are participating this weekend to help people find vintage building kits and missing pieces.
There will also be professional Lego artists appearing and visitors of all ages can tap into their own creativity in designated building zones with large pits of bricks to work with.
If you go
When: There are multiple sessions, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. on Jan. 27 and 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. on Jan. 28
Where: OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa Building, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: $15 admission online and $18 for admission at the door, $12 for parking
