Latest news with #MegaBloks
Chicago Tribune
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
All aboard! Thomas & Friends return to Illinois Railway Museum for 25th year
On a July morning in Union, Illinois, a familiar whistle drifts across the prairie. Steel wheels clack against century-old rails, and a crowd of excited children — many perched on a parent's shoulders — leans forward as a bright-blue locomotive rounds the bend. Thomas the Tank Engine has returned to the Illinois Railway Museum, just as he has since 2000, and with him comes a flood of memories for the families who have grown up alongside Day Out With Thomas events. When Illinois Railway Museum welcomed its first Day Out With Thomas weekend a quarter-century ago, the idea was powerful: pair a living piece of railway history with the most beloved storybook engine on earth and let children experience both at full scale. Parents who once arrived being pushed in strollers now return hand in hand with their own children, embarking on their own first Thomas train ride. In many households, the faded paper ticket from that inaugural visit still lives in a shoebox beside pressed concert stubs and Little League ribbons — a reminder that stories worth telling often involve passing down shared experiences and reliving cherished memories. The Illinois Railway Museum owes its existence to 10 rail enthusiasts who in 1953 pooled $100 apiece to rescue a single interurban car from the scrapyard. Over the decades, those 10 became thousands of volunteers and donors; the lone streetcar grew into the nation's largest collection of historic railway equipment. Today, 20 structures now stretch across 100 acres, sheltering everything from a 19th-century depot to sleek diesel streamliners. However, preserving the past was never the sole goal. The founders believed railroading should be felt, heard and — most of all — ridden. Day Out With Thomas perfectly fits that mission, turning preservation into participation for guests who may be stepping aboard a train for the very first time. For four days (July 12, 13, 19 and 20), the museum grounds transform into a traveling festival of rail-themed play. A 20-minute ride behind Thomas is the headline attraction, joined this year by Percy's emerald-green coaches for guests who want a second spin. Between departures, families wander Celebration Station, where hopscotch squares share turf with larger-than-life bubbles, and toddlers experiment with Mega Bloks on shaded picnic tables. Sir Topham Hatt poses for photos and high-fives, streetcars rattle past garden-railway dioramas and live musicians invite kids into impromptu conga lines. It is equal parts family festival and living history lesson — except the star wears a smiling smokebox and a sprinkling of confetti to honor Thomas & Friends' milestone 80th anniversary. Ask a museum docent why they still volunteer after 25 years, and the answer often drifts back to Day Out With Thomas. They have watched shy preschoolers gain the confidence to shout 'Hey, Thomas!' as their larger-than-life friend approaches the platform. They have seen grandparents, once locomotive firemen themselves, explain how a steam injector works while a 5-year-old listens wide-eyed. Year after year, the event knits generations together with a simple promise: climb aboard and create adventures together. As the afternoon shadows lengthen on July 20, Thomas will pull into the station for the final time this season in Union. But the tracks at Illinois Railway Museum never truly fall silent, and neither does the friendship at the heart of Thomas & Friends. Next summer the whistle will sound again, echoing across the soybean fields, calling new engineers — and plenty of returning ones — back to a place where history, imagination and a little blue engine meet. Until then, mementos will wait in scrapbooks and nightstands, keeping the story warm for its next telling. For parents who once eagerly awaited to board their first train ride with Thomas themselves, watching their own children look out the carriage window can feel like time folding in on itself. And for those parents who just discovered this gem of an event, they're carving new family memories. The peep of the whistle, the puff of steam, the waves to smiling conductors — all become heirlooms of the heart, stitched into family tradition for decades more. To purchase tickets for the 25th anniversary of Day Out With Thomas, visit this link. Illinois Railway Museum is located at 7000 Olson Road, Union, IL, 60180. Advance purchase online is recommended as train times sell out due to demand.
USA Today
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'I need this': Fans react as Lego and Pokémon announce new partnership starting in 2026
'I need this': Fans react as Lego and Pokémon announce new partnership starting in 2026 Fans were quick to react on social media, with many expressing excitement about the collaboration. Show Caption Hide Caption Lego planning on replacing oil in bricks Lego announced that after testing more than 600 materials, the best way to green up their bricks is a more expensive approach. Get ready to not only catch 'em all, but build 'em all next year. Lego and Pokémon announced on Tuesday that they have entered a multi-year partnership to bring "Lego Pokémon" to life in 2026. The announcement doesn't share details about the partnership, whether folks can expect Pokémon building sets; a Lego Pokémon video game; or limited edition playing cards, but fans have already begun to speculate. Instead, a short teaser video featuring a Pikachu tail made of Lego bricks bounces across the screen. "I need this, I need this," TikTok user Eric Bricks said in a video on Tuesday. "I can already see this theme selling like hot cakes. We know how crazy Pokémon fans are." With the news hot off the presses, here's what we know so far about the Lego and Pokémon partnership. What does the Lego Pokémon partnership include? As of Tuesday, Lego and Pokémon's announcement remains quite vague for what their "multi-year partnership" includes. Fans are encouraged to check in on the Lego Pokémon website for updates at When will Lego Pokémon be released? Lego Pokémon will be released in 2026, the companies shared. Have Lego and Pokémon worked together before? No, Lego has not made Pokémon building sets before. Up until now, popular Pokémon buildable sets have almost exclusively been created and sold by Mattel under the company's Mega Bloks brand. What are builders, trainers saying? Lego and Pokémon fans alike have taken to social media to share their excitement for the collaboration. "I have lost count of the amount of times people have asked me what my dream Lego theme would be and I always answer the same way: 'Pokémon. Give me Pokémon.' And it's finally happening," TikTok user Block Party UK said in a video sharing the news. TikTok user cjBricklz, a Lego ambassador, said he hopes the brands release each of the first generation Pokémon (think Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle) as brick-build characters. "I think those would be some amazing 18+ sets and I would spend hundreds on those," cjBricklz said in his video. The Pokémon collaboration isn't the first time Lego has dipped its toes in the video game waters. Over the years, Lego has released Super Mario Bros., The Legend the Zelda, Minecraft and Animal Crossing sets. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
USA Today
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'I need this': Fans react as Lego and Pokémon announce new partnership starting in 2026
Get ready to not only catch 'em all, but build 'em all next year. Lego and Pokémon announced on Tuesday that they have entered a multi-year partnership to bring "Lego Pokémon" to life in 2026. The announcement doesn't share details about the partnership, whether folks can expect Pokémon building sets; a Lego Pokémon video game; or limited edition playing cards, but fans have already begun to speculate. Instead, a short teaser video featuring a Pikachu tail made of Lego bricks bounces across the screen. "I need this, I need this," TikTok user Eric Bricks said in a video on Tuesday. "I can already see this theme selling like hot cakes. We know how crazy Pokémon fans are." With the news hot off the presses, here's what we know so far about the Lego and Pokémon partnership. What does the Lego Pokémon partnership include? As of Tuesday, Lego and Pokémon's announcement remains quite vague for what their "multi-year partnership" includes. Fans are encouraged to check in on the Lego Pokémon website for updates at Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. When will Lego Pokémon be released? Lego Pokémon will be released in 2026, the companies shared. Have Lego and Pokémon worked together before? No, Lego has not made Pokémon building sets before. Up until now, popular Pokémon buildable sets have almost exclusively been created and sold by Mattel under the company's Mega Bloks brand. What are builders, trainers saying? Lego and Pokémon fans alike have taken to social media to share their excitement for the collaboration. "I have lost count of the amount of times people have asked me what my dream Lego theme would be and I always answer the same way: 'Pokémon. Give me Pokémon.' And it's finally happening," TikTok user Block Party UK said in a video sharing the news. TikTok user cjBricklz, a Lego ambassador, said he hopes the brands release each of the first generation Pokémon (think Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle) as brick-build characters. "I think those would be some amazing 18+ sets and I would spend hundreds on those," cjBricklz said in his video. The Pokémon collaboration isn't the first time Lego has dipped its toes in the video game waters. Over the years, Lego has released Super Mario Bros., The Legend the Zelda, Minecraft and Animal Crossing sets. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'I need this': Fans react as Lego and Pokémon announce new partnership starting in 2026
USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. Get ready to not only catch 'em all, but build 'em all next year. Lego and Pokémon announced on Tuesday that they have entered a multi-year partnership to bring "Lego Pokémon" to life in 2026. The announcement doesn't share details about the partnership, whether folks can expect Pokémon building sets; a Lego Pokémon video game; or limited edition playing cards, but fans have already begun to speculate. Instead, a short teaser video featuring a Pikachu tail made of Lego bricks bounces across the screen. "I need this, I need this," TikTok user Eric Bricks said in a video on Tuesday. "I can already see this theme selling like hot cakes. We know how crazy Pokémon fans are." With the news hot off the presses, here's what we know so far about the Lego and Pokémon partnership. As of Tuesday, Lego and Pokémon's announcement remains quite vague for what their "multi-year partnership" includes. Fans are encouraged to check in on the Lego Pokémon website for updates at Lego Pokémon will be released in 2026, the companies shared. No, Lego has not made Pokémon building sets before. Up until now, popular Pokémon buildable sets have almost exclusively been created and sold by Mattel under the company's Mega Bloks brand. Lego and Pokémon fans alike have taken to social media to share their excitement for the collaboration. "I have lost count of the amount of times people have asked me what my dream Lego theme would be and I always answer the same way: 'Pokémon. Give me Pokémon.' And it's finally happening," TikTok user Block Party UK said in a video sharing the news. TikTok user cjBricklz, a Lego ambassador, said he hopes the brands release each of the first generation Pokémon (think Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle) as brick-build characters. "I think those would be some amazing 18+ sets and I would spend hundreds on those," cjBricklz said in his video. The Pokémon collaboration isn't the first time Lego has dipped its toes in the video game waters. Over the years, Lego has released Super Mario Bros., The Legend the Zelda, Minecraft and Animal Crossing sets. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lego, Pokémon enter partnership with new products coming in 2026
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fans Celebrate Surprise Lego Pokémon Tease: 'Free From Mega Bloks Hell'
Lego has teased its latest video game mashup and this time it's with Pokémon. There's no release date beyond '2026,' no pricing info or other details at the moment, and it doesn't really matter because whatever this is will probably sell out while it's still in the pre-order phase. Are you ready to give some rando on eBay $200 for a Lego Pikachu come Christmas of next year? A page on the Lego website simply states, 'Lego Pokémon Coming Soon,' and 'Electrify your imagination in 2026 and get ready to build something we've never built with Lego bricks before!' The timing is appropriate given that next year marks the 30th anniversary of the video game franchise. Here's the short teaser video shared by The Pokémon company: While a book-sized Pikachu model that's roughly 1,000 pieces and $100 would make the most sense for something like this, I'd love to see Lego go all out and give the iconic electric mouse the 7,500 brick, $850 Millennium Falcon treatment. It's what Ash Ketchum would have wanted. Where does this leave The Pokémon Company's existing plastic brick partners like Mega Bloks? Seemingly in the dust, and some fans couldn't be more excited. They greeted the news of the Lego Pokémon collaboration by metaphorically dancing on the Mattel competitor's grave: Mega Bloks has released a bunch of Pokémon sets and they They look nice enough and aren't too overpriced, though buying any Mega Blok product always gives extreme 'store brand Fruit Loops' vibes. And existing Lego fans with extensive collections will want sets in which every little circle on each little piece has that world-famous logo emblazoned on it. What's potentially bad for Mega Bloks could be great news for scalpers who will now have genuine toy world Rolexes to hawk instead of knockoffs, but we still won't know for some time how that all shakes out. Even if we get more information on the Lego Pokémon sets in 2025, they aren't set to launch until next year. The company needs to make room for the other big, branded mashups on its release calendar, including a Lego Game Boy coming this October. In the meantime, a Lego Mario Kart model is shipping in May. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
