How to display at a LEGO event on any budget

Displaying at LEGO events doesn't need to involve a huge investment. In fact, you can start at any budget.

We've spoken to several builders who display at Brick Festival, one of the UK's largest LEGO event organisers. Every one of them had something new to offer in their builds – and every one of them made it clear that it's passion for LEGO, not the size of the build, that makes for impressive displays.

"People love all sorts of different builds and will engage with your build, as most of them only know how to follow instructions," explained Sabrina Kelly, who builds with her husband Matt and their two children. "They will love it."

Starting small

If you don't have access to stacks of bricks, displaying at LEGO events is certainly still open to you. One builder we spoke to Bricks Are Heavy specialises in custom or painted minifigures and smaller displays and uses these smaller builds to create dynamic displays. His very first build used string to create a zipline, highlighting that you can achieve a lot with just a small amount of LEGO elements.

"I have used glass display domes for some of mine," explained Bricks Are Heavy. "I'm constantly picking stuff up and talking to people about them, so that can be a bit chaotic!"

There's even room for people who work on digital LEGO art to shine, as Bricks Are Heavy uses other formats to show off what he does with his work once they're packed away from the table.

"I have a book and pictures, so I can show people how they look once edited and posted as I build mainly to get pictures," he explained. "My approach is quite different to most, and at first I wasn't sure if I would fit in, but everyone has been really welcoming."

A story is worth a thousand bricks

What's more, if you can tell a compelling story with your LEGO models, that's sure to pull people in just as much as extravagant building techniques.

"[What's] equally important is the interaction with the audience," commented Matt Kelly. "We like to tell stories with our displays, be it a 1970/80s classic town, bringing back the colourful buildings and animal figures from Fabuland, or our 2023 display: Pirate Islands."

Think about what you're creating: is there a fun story you can tell with minifigures? Can you retell a popular tale, or put a little bit of your own life into your build? The more personality your build has, the better!

Help is at hand

At the end of the day, the LEGO community is just that – a community. If you are keen to start building and the only thing holding back your ideas is budget, the Brick Festival team might be able to help through their LEGO Builder Support Program. They are keen to invest in the LEGO community and so are ready to offer builders for displaying at their events a range of vouchers to give greater access to bricks. 

For all the details on the rewards available, head to the Brick Festival website. Plus, check out this chance to win a massive £1,000 in LEGO vouchers, all by simply giving Brick Festival a few quick details about yourself.

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