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The Advertiser

'The joy of LEGO': fun for all ages at Newcastle Brickfest

Generations of children have a LEGO story to tell. Kevin Evans, now an adult, is no exception. "Like many kids, my earliest memories are filled with the joy of LEGO sets received for birthdays and Christmases. Back then, the bricks were simpler yet just as magical, connecting seamlessly with today's intricate designs - a testament to LEGO's timeless genius," he tells Weekender from his home in Anna Bay. "As I entered my teenage years, other interests took hold, and my beloved bricks quietly slipped into storage for a long 30-year hiatus. "Then, about 15 years ago, fate (or perhaps a very clever gift-giver) intervened. Our son received a LEGO set for his birthday, and as I sat down to help him build, something clicked back into place. A few months later, he excitedly showed me the magnificent Tower Bridge set. That was it. I had to have it!" LEGO brought the Evans family together. It became a shared family passion. "Wearing her dedicated school fundraiser hat, my wife spearheaded our very first fundraising event in 2011 for our son's primary school. The success was incredible, and soon, other schools and organisations began approaching us, eager for us to bring the brick magic to their communities," Kevin says. "It was this amazing momentum that led us to officially form Rainbow Bricks in 2013, turning a family hobby into a vibrant community group, all built on the enduring love of LEGO." Rainbow Bricks is a Recognised LEGO User Group, which is a formal designation given by The LEGO Group to a community of Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs). This recognition is part of the LEGO Ambassador Network, which is a program designed to foster collaboration between LEGO and the global fan community. Rainbow Bricks was officially recognised by LEGO in January 2014 and is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to bringing together AFOLs and their families. "We have over 130 members and focus on building camaraderie, collaborative experiences and fundraising for our charity partners," Kevin says. "Anyone can display with Rainbow Bricks and share their love for LEGO. To become a member of Rainbow Bricks, you need to have displayed twice at our events before we will invite you to become a member." Rainbow Bricks is primarily an adult community, but its events are family-friendly, and many member families display together. Newcastle Brickfest is Rainbow Bricks' flagship event, held annually at locations across Newcastle, the Central Coast, Hunter Valley and the Mid North Coast. It is considered one of Australia's premier LEGO fan events and is the largest in NSW. This year's event, on July 5 and 6 at Newcastle Racecourse, will feature more than 270 tables of LEGO creations and raise money for John Hunter Children's Hospital Kids Club. "Last year, we managed to donate over $30,000 to the Kids Club, which was used to purchase additional equipment for the hospital," Kevin says. "This year, we're running the event over two full days and have added a Sensory Section for anyone who finds the crowd a bit overwhelming. "You'll see original creations from some of Australia's best builders, including a few LEGO master builders, and builders who have been featured in the LEGO House's displays of Masterpiece Builds in Billund, Denmark." The dedicated Sensory Section will be operational on Sunday, July 6, 9am to 10.30am, offering a calm and welcoming environment for individuals with sensory sensitivities. Brickfest 2025 activities will include: What is it about LEGO that has proven so enduring, I ask? Why do people love it so much? "It encourages imagination for all ages," Kevin replies. "LEGO has a versatile design, meaning bricks from any era interlock, fostering endless creativity. They are high-quality bricks that withstand the years of play. It also aids children's fine motor skills and enhances their problem-solving abilities, and many adults revisit LEGO through fond childhood memories, providing engaging, screen-free fun." Generations of children have a LEGO story to tell. Kevin Evans, now an adult, is no exception. "Like many kids, my earliest memories are filled with the joy of LEGO sets received for birthdays and Christmases. Back then, the bricks were simpler yet just as magical, connecting seamlessly with today's intricate designs - a testament to LEGO's timeless genius," he tells Weekender from his home in Anna Bay. "As I entered my teenage years, other interests took hold, and my beloved bricks quietly slipped into storage for a long 30-year hiatus. "Then, about 15 years ago, fate (or perhaps a very clever gift-giver) intervened. Our son received a LEGO set for his birthday, and as I sat down to help him build, something clicked back into place. A few months later, he excitedly showed me the magnificent Tower Bridge set. That was it. I had to have it!" LEGO brought the Evans family together. It became a shared family passion. "Wearing her dedicated school fundraiser hat, my wife spearheaded our very first fundraising event in 2011 for our son's primary school. The success was incredible, and soon, other schools and organisations began approaching us, eager for us to bring the brick magic to their communities," Kevin says. "It was this amazing momentum that led us to officially form Rainbow Bricks in 2013, turning a family hobby into a vibrant community group, all built on the enduring love of LEGO." Rainbow Bricks is a Recognised LEGO User Group, which is a formal designation given by The LEGO Group to a community of Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs). This recognition is part of the LEGO Ambassador Network, which is a program designed to foster collaboration between LEGO and the global fan community. Rainbow Bricks was officially recognised by LEGO in January 2014 and is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to bringing together AFOLs and their families. "We have over 130 members and focus on building camaraderie, collaborative experiences and fundraising for our charity partners," Kevin says. "Anyone can display with Rainbow Bricks and share their love for LEGO. To become a member of Rainbow Bricks, you need to have displayed twice at our events before we will invite you to become a member." Rainbow Bricks is primarily an adult community, but its events are family-friendly, and many member families display together. Newcastle Brickfest is Rainbow Bricks' flagship event, held annually at locations across Newcastle, the Central Coast, Hunter Valley and the Mid North Coast. It is considered one of Australia's premier LEGO fan events and is the largest in NSW. This year's event, on July 5 and 6 at Newcastle Racecourse, will feature more than 270 tables of LEGO creations and raise money for John Hunter Children's Hospital Kids Club. "Last year, we managed to donate over $30,000 to the Kids Club, which was used to purchase additional equipment for the hospital," Kevin says. "This year, we're running the event over two full days and have added a Sensory Section for anyone who finds the crowd a bit overwhelming. "You'll see original creations from some of Australia's best builders, including a few LEGO master builders, and builders who have been featured in the LEGO House's displays of Masterpiece Builds in Billund, Denmark." The dedicated Sensory Section will be operational on Sunday, July 6, 9am to 10.30am, offering a calm and welcoming environment for individuals with sensory sensitivities. Brickfest 2025 activities will include: What is it about LEGO that has proven so enduring, I ask? Why do people love it so much? "It encourages imagination for all ages," Kevin replies. "LEGO has a versatile design, meaning bricks from any era interlock, fostering endless creativity. They are high-quality bricks that withstand the years of play. It also aids children's fine motor skills and enhances their problem-solving abilities, and many adults revisit LEGO through fond childhood memories, providing engaging, screen-free fun." Generations of children have a LEGO story to tell. Kevin Evans, now an adult, is no exception. "Like many kids, my earliest memories are filled with the joy of LEGO sets received for birthdays and Christmases. Back then, the bricks were simpler yet just as magical, connecting seamlessly with today's intricate designs - a testament to LEGO's timeless genius," he tells Weekender from his home in Anna Bay. "As I entered my teenage years, other interests took hold, and my beloved bricks quietly slipped into storage for a long 30-year hiatus. "Then, about 15 years ago, fate (or perhaps a very clever gift-giver) intervened. Our son received a LEGO set for his birthday, and as I sat down to help him build, something clicked back into place. A few months later, he excitedly showed me the magnificent Tower Bridge set. That was it. I had to have it!" LEGO brought the Evans family together. It became a shared family passion. "Wearing her dedicated school fundraiser hat, my wife spearheaded our very first fundraising event in 2011 for our son's primary school. The success was incredible, and soon, other schools and organisations began approaching us, eager for us to bring the brick magic to their communities," Kevin says. "It was this amazing momentum that led us to officially form Rainbow Bricks in 2013, turning a family hobby into a vibrant community group, all built on the enduring love of LEGO." Rainbow Bricks is a Recognised LEGO User Group, which is a formal designation given by The LEGO Group to a community of Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs). This recognition is part of the LEGO Ambassador Network, which is a program designed to foster collaboration between LEGO and the global fan community. Rainbow Bricks was officially recognised by LEGO in January 2014 and is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to bringing together AFOLs and their families. "We have over 130 members and focus on building camaraderie, collaborative experiences and fundraising for our charity partners," Kevin says. "Anyone can display with Rainbow Bricks and share their love for LEGO. To become a member of Rainbow Bricks, you need to have displayed twice at our events before we will invite you to become a member." Rainbow Bricks is primarily an adult community, but its events are family-friendly, and many member families display together. Newcastle Brickfest is Rainbow Bricks' flagship event, held annually at locations across Newcastle, the Central Coast, Hunter Valley and the Mid North Coast. It is considered one of Australia's premier LEGO fan events and is the largest in NSW. This year's event, on July 5 and 6 at Newcastle Racecourse, will feature more than 270 tables of LEGO creations and raise money for John Hunter Children's Hospital Kids Club. "Last year, we managed to donate over $30,000 to the Kids Club, which was used to purchase additional equipment for the hospital," Kevin says. "This year, we're running the event over two full days and have added a Sensory Section for anyone who finds the crowd a bit overwhelming. "You'll see original creations from some of Australia's best builders, including a few LEGO master builders, and builders who have been featured in the LEGO House's displays of Masterpiece Builds in Billund, Denmark." The dedicated Sensory Section will be operational on Sunday, July 6, 9am to 10.30am, offering a calm and welcoming environment for individuals with sensory sensitivities. Brickfest 2025 activities will include: What is it about LEGO that has proven so enduring, I ask? Why do people love it so much? "It encourages imagination for all ages," Kevin replies. "LEGO has a versatile design, meaning bricks from any era interlock, fostering endless creativity. They are high-quality bricks that withstand the years of play. It also aids children's fine motor skills and enhances their problem-solving abilities, and many adults revisit LEGO through fond childhood memories, providing engaging, screen-free fun." Generations of children have a LEGO story to tell. Kevin Evans, now an adult, is no exception. "Like many kids, my earliest memories are filled with the joy of LEGO sets received for birthdays and Christmases. Back then, the bricks were simpler yet just as magical, connecting seamlessly with today's intricate designs - a testament to LEGO's timeless genius," he tells Weekender from his home in Anna Bay. "As I entered my teenage years, other interests took hold, and my beloved bricks quietly slipped into storage for a long 30-year hiatus. "Then, about 15 years ago, fate (or perhaps a very clever gift-giver) intervened. Our son received a LEGO set for his birthday, and as I sat down to help him build, something clicked back into place. A few months later, he excitedly showed me the magnificent Tower Bridge set. That was it. I had to have it!" LEGO brought the Evans family together. It became a shared family passion. "Wearing her dedicated school fundraiser hat, my wife spearheaded our very first fundraising event in 2011 for our son's primary school. The success was incredible, and soon, other schools and organisations began approaching us, eager for us to bring the brick magic to their communities," Kevin says. "It was this amazing momentum that led us to officially form Rainbow Bricks in 2013, turning a family hobby into a vibrant community group, all built on the enduring love of LEGO." Rainbow Bricks is a Recognised LEGO User Group, which is a formal designation given by The LEGO Group to a community of Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs). This recognition is part of the LEGO Ambassador Network, which is a program designed to foster collaboration between LEGO and the global fan community. Rainbow Bricks was officially recognised by LEGO in January 2014 and is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to bringing together AFOLs and their families. "We have over 130 members and focus on building camaraderie, collaborative experiences and fundraising for our charity partners," Kevin says. "Anyone can display with Rainbow Bricks and share their love for LEGO. To become a member of Rainbow Bricks, you need to have displayed twice at our events before we will invite you to become a member." Rainbow Bricks is primarily an adult community, but its events are family-friendly, and many member families display together. Newcastle Brickfest is Rainbow Bricks' flagship event, held annually at locations across Newcastle, the Central Coast, Hunter Valley and the Mid North Coast. It is considered one of Australia's premier LEGO fan events and is the largest in NSW. This year's event, on July 5 and 6 at Newcastle Racecourse, will feature more than 270 tables of LEGO creations and raise money for John Hunter Children's Hospital Kids Club. "Last year, we managed to donate over $30,000 to the Kids Club, which was used to purchase additional equipment for the hospital," Kevin says. "This year, we're running the event over two full days and have added a Sensory Section for anyone who finds the crowd a bit overwhelming. "You'll see original creations from some of Australia's best builders, including a few LEGO master builders, and builders who have been featured in the LEGO House's displays of Masterpiece Builds in Billund, Denmark." The dedicated Sensory Section will be operational on Sunday, July 6, 9am to 10.30am, offering a calm and welcoming environment for individuals with sensory sensitivities. Brickfest 2025 activities will include: What is it about LEGO that has proven so enduring, I ask? Why do people love it so much? "It encourages imagination for all ages," Kevin replies. "LEGO has a versatile design, meaning bricks from any era interlock, fostering endless creativity. They are high-quality bricks that withstand the years of play. It also aids children's fine motor skills and enhances their problem-solving abilities, and many adults revisit LEGO through fond childhood memories, providing engaging, screen-free fun."