Any parent or sibling who’s ever wandered barefoot through a darkened house late at night knows the dangers of the stray LEGO brick and the excruciating pain it can deliver to the central nervous system. With that scenario in mind, make plans to wear sturdy, puncture-proof shoes when you head out this month to St. Joseph’s 6th Annual Build Your Way Around Town events currently getting underway, and maybe you’ll be safe from the stray brick syndrome.
There is a bonanza of LEGO fun coming to St. Joe during the more than month-long series of events which actually started yesterday, March 1st and will run up to April 8th. Sponsored by United Federal Credit Union, the event will entertain all ages with amazing displays, a professional Big City Build, games, workshops and prize drawings at six different sites. Admission and parking are free at all of the events.
The show kicked off last night with the Builders’ Bash at the Silver Beach Carousel, located at 333 Broad Street. That was the Grand Opening Event for the Carousel’s Amazing LEGO Display.
Here’s what else is on the docket for this grand series of displays and events:
- March 1-April 8: Amazing LEGO Display, Silver Beach Carousel. Marvel at 100+ pre-built exhibits created by area youth. Visit SilverBeachCarousel.com for hours and more information.
- March 2-4: Big City Build, 11am to 7pm, Friday and Saturday and 12-5pm on Sunday, Shadowland Ballroom, 333 Broad Street. Professional builder Jason Spear and the Western Michigan LEGO Train Club will create a magnificent cityscape with multiple trains and replicas of buildings from Benton Harbor, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph. Viewers can ask Club members for building tips as well as make their own LEGO creations from a large supply of the colorful bricks.
- March 5, 12, 19 & 26: Monday Prize Drawings, St. Joseph Today Welcome Center, 301 State Street. Children can turn in entry forms each time they visit a participating site. LEGO and DUPLO prize packages, donated by United Federal Credit Union, will be awarded in random drawings on each Monday. Winners do not need to be present.
- March 10: LEGO Bingo, 1-4pm, Curious Kids’ Museum, 415 Lake Boulevard. Children from 2 to 10 years old can play for prizes every half hour. For free admission, enter the museum through the brown door on the south side of the building.
- March 17: Skyscraper Building Competition and Stop-Motion Animation Workshops, Krasl Art Center, 707 Lake Boulevard. The Skyscraper Building is geared for children 5 to 7 years old and will offer Session 1 from 12-1:30pm and Session 2 from 2:30-4pm. Teams of participants will use LEGO’s Architecture Studio design toolkit to build tall and strong skyscrapers.
During the Stop-Motion Animation Workshops, young animators will collaborate to bring LEGOS to life in short videos that can be viewed on the Krasl Art Center YouTube page. Children 8 to 12 years old can choose between Session 1 from 12-1:30pm or Session 2 from 2:30-4pm.
Admission to both events is free. However, pre-registration is required at http://public.krasl.org/public/Youth.faces.
- March 22: LEGO Carnivale, 6-8pm, The Heritage Museum and Cultural Center (in partnership with Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library), 601 Main Street. This fun-packed evening includes free build stations, LEGO games, cupcake walk, relay races and bucket toss. There will be demonstrations by the Cybear Joes which is a St. Joseph Public Schools robotics team, plus viewings of the Krasl Stop-Motion Animation Workshop videos. Snacks and drinks will also be served.
Admission is free. However, because of limited space, pre-registration is appreciated. Please call the Library at 269-983-7167 to RSVP.
Updates, directions and more information are available by clicking the link below or on facebook.com/BuildYourWayAroundTown. Here’s a link:
