Brickvention is Australia's premier LEGO fan event and is typically held each January. As a founding and former member of the organizing team behind the event, it holds a special place in my heart. It started in 2006 after the Australian AFOL community on LUGNET requested a regular event in their own country—quite the task at the time. With humble beginnings of fewer than 50 AFOLs in attendance, Brickvention has since become a popular event for Australian AFOLs and regularly attracts local and international visitors.

But this year is different. After 14 years of memorable in-person events, Brickvention is going virtual, morphing into an online event to accommodate the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. Next weekend, Brickvention 2021 will be available to all with no cost to attend, inviting a local and international audience to come visit the LEGO community in Australia. I know the kind of work that goes into planning these events and, despite the change and the challenges that this involves, the organizing team is excited about the opportunity to share their love for LEGO and the local talent of Australian builders to a waiting world.

Here are some further details about the event, and I hope you visit us for Brickvention no matter where in the world you may be.

Accessed via their online portal, Brickvention 2021 promises a weekend of short interviews, videos with special guests from around the world, live streams, interactive events and challenges, a microgame, an online MOC display and a National Build Competition. The various components of the event will be found on YouTube, Instagram, Zoom, and the Melbourne LEGO User Group (MUGs) Facebook group. In amongst it all, there will be some special events, a Brickvention social, and the chance to win some cool prizes.

Brickvention 2021 will be held on the weekend of January 16-17th and is free to attend. If you are attending the event, please remember all times are listed in AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time). Further details can be found at www.Brickvention.online and the Brickvention Facebook page. If you are unable to attend in person, the YouTube videos and MOC pictures will be available to view after the event has concluded.

See you next weekend!