Skydive Dubai will be transformed into a massive playground this week, filled with 22 tonnes of Lego bricks of all shapes, sizes and colours.
Visitors to the Middle East’s first Lego Stack event will find themselves limited only by their imagination when it comes to building something with these tiny plastic bricks.
Stack is a first-of-its-kind convention for professional Lego builders, adult fans and families. It starts on Wendesday, October 19 and runs until Saturday, October 22 at the venue in Al Sufouh. Certified Lego master builders and amateur model makers from around the globe will display their elaborate creations and lead workshops during the four-day event.
“Stack is all about celebrating the brick,” says Kate Adrien, the marketing manager for Stack Events. “This isn’t a trade show or just an exhibition. What we are looking to achieve with this is a full, immersive experience and a family day out.”
With more than 10.2 million bricks and 200 Lego models housed in two structures at the venue, there is something for everyone at Stack, regardless of age. The 12,800-square-metre area at Skydive Dubai is divided into 35 entertainment zones, set up in a way that allows adults and children to work together and build using a variety of Lego products and sets.
“We have an abundance of content to keep the entire family entertained,” says Adrien. “This isn’t just about coming to play with a few bricks or a Lego set that you can buy at a store. It’s about coming and experiencing Lego in a way that you haven’t before.”
Main attraction
A large map of Dubai will be available where visitors can build their homes, schools and communities, as well as iconic local buildings and landmarks.
Sci-fi enthusiasts, meanwhile, will be in their element in the Star Wars zone, which features a full obstacle course with lasers.
The Disney Princess zone is sure to impress younger girls, who can enter a fairy-tale land that has a magic mirror, glass slippers and other accessories all made out of Lego. An Ice Age-themed zone has saber-toothed tigers, cavemen, mammoths and a tyrannosaurus rex made out of thousands of play bricks.
For children as young as 18 months, a special Duplo area has been set up, with soft-play mats and rocket slides, where they can play with mini Lego penguins and dogs.
For the kids
Lego Stack will also integrate the latest technology to enhance the experience for brick lovers. The Shadow Runner section, for example, will allow participants to race Lego’s mini figures using augmented-reality technology.
“The little ones can race their mini figures and then receive a personalised race video, which they can share on social media,” says Adrien.
Stack also features a Lego Mindstorms section, based on the kits that include software and hardware such as sensors and motors, allowing the creation of customisable robots.
“We will have two Mindstorms experts from the Lego robotics division flying in from Brazil,” Adrien says. “They will be building a warehouse using Lego robotic arms and will also be taking workshops for kids.”
Adult Lego builders will find a like-minded community in the Adult Fans of Lego (Afol) zone where they can network with top international creators.
“There will be 25 Afols flying in from around the world. They range from experts in building houses, train sets and some more complex model sets put out by Lego over the years,” says Adrien.
A mini-Middle East with intricately designed traditional markets and monuments made out of Lego bricks is sure to resonate with the region’s residents.
“We have a lot of regional content zones,” says Adrien. “Like, we have created a souq and inside it everything is made of Lego. So it has the fish market, spice market, rugs and jewellery. ”
The zone will also have a four-metre-tall Burj Khalifa designed by British Lego master builder Edwin Diment and his team.
“Most of our master builders are from the United Kingdom and a lot of our content is coming from there,” says Adrien. “We have been building all this since the start of the year and have four shipments coming in with the models and bricks.”
Event organisers are expecting more than 36,000 people to participate in Stack, which will be open for school-tour groups on the first two mornings.
Master builders will host sessions and share tips and tricks with the students.
Dubai resident and Afol Philippe Gerard will showcase five major models he has built: Sydney Opera House, the Taj Mahal, a carousel with horses, London’s Tower Bridge and the Eiffel Tower.
Stack Dubai is at Skydive Dubai until Saturday, October 22. Visit www.stackitevents.com
aahmed@thenational.ae
