Event Information
"I most enjoyed meeting companies and people that invented my favorite childhood games." - Heather from Cicero, IL (Click Here for more Attendee Quotes about what They Most Enjoyed at the Fair)
***Stay Tuned for 2013 Event Updates***
2012 Events for All Ages!
Preview & Play! Interactive Toys & Games
Toy and Game Inventors and manufacturers are coming from all over the world just to meet and play with you! We have board games, building blocks, remote controls, ride-on vehicles, dolls and plush, and life-size games where you can be a game piece on a giant game board. At ChiTAG you can discover and playtest new toys and games, and help choose what the next hot toy will be for the holidays!
Bring your shopping list to do some early shopping before Thanksgiving. 90% of our exhibitors will be selling directly from their booth. Most exhibitors take credit as well as cash. ATM's available at Navy Pier. Shopping bags will be distributed at the Fair entrance.
Get into the Holiday Spirit and donate a toy/game for some deserving kids! Uniformed Chicago Firefighters will be in the Holiday Heroes Toy Donation Booth to greet you and take your donations. Our Inventors and Exhibitors have great gift ideas in all different price ranges to make it easy for you to purchase an item to donate. Kids visiting the booth receive a complimentary red Firefighter hat. Ignite The Spirit's 2013 calendar featuring 12 of Chicago's finest bachelor Firefighters, will be available for purchase.
ALL WEEKEND
- Giant-sized games such as Bananagrams, Perplexus, Doggie Doo, Word on the Street, Pajaggle and more
- Settlers of Catan North American Catan Championship
- Inventor Signings Come meet the famed inventors of your favorite toys & games, and get their autographs!
- Speed Stacks sport stacking demonstrations and tournaments
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17th - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
10:00am - 2:00pm The 6th Annual YOUNG INVENTOR CHALLENGE sponsored by PlaSmart - We bring together imagin
ation, play and inventive thinking with our sixth annual Young Inventor Challenge. Kids ages 6 to 18 will be exhibiting their very own toy or game inventions right here at the Fair! Best in Show winners in both the Senior and Junior categories receive a fabulous prize package that is the envy of the adult professional inventors. There is also a popular vote winner so help make a child's dream come true and come vote for your favorite kid's toy or game invention. Click here for more details and to register.
10:00am - 4:30pm Official Illinois State Yo-Yo Contest on ChiTAG Stage - A dynamic performance competition (featuring ladder climbs) that will be judged by former Illinois and World Champions as well as a quarter-finalist from the hit TV show "America's Got Talent." Hands-on tips for all skill leveels; online and day-of registration available. This immensely entertaining contest will feature multiple divisions in both the Sport and Pro categories. Contest entry is open to all ages! Visit the contest website for more details. Sponsored by Cat 'n Mouse Toy Store.
12:00pm - 1:00pm Star Wars Character Lunch - Meet and eat with the legendary Star Wars™ 501st Legion: Vader's Fist. Gifts from Hasbro and Top Trumps! $30 for kids under 12; $36 for adults. Registration is open!
10:00am - 5:00pm Chicago Open Chess Tournament - Room 327 at Navy Pier
Sponsored by the Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation. Open to kids and adults. Click here for more details and to register.
3:00pm - 3:30pm Top Trumps Guinness Book of World Records Attempt with the Girl Scouts - Calling all Girls Scouts! Come out and play Top Trumps Moshi Monsters as we aim to set the Guinness World Record for “The Most People Playing a Card Game At the Same Time in the Same City” with the Girls Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. All Girls Scouts who participate will receive an exclusive Top Trumps Moshi Monsters Participation patch. Free Fair admission to the Fair for the Scouts. Discount passes available for families. To register your troop and secure your spot today go to the Girl Scouts Registration Page and enter code 88889.
Events for Adults - 2012
Saturday/Sunday Settlers of Catan National Qualifier - Mayfair Games will once again be hosting a North American Catan Championship (NACC) qualifier at ChiTag. Settlers of Catan is an immensely popular game of building and trading, with millions of players worldwide, including numerous corporate executives. If you don't know how to play, you can ask for a demonstration in their booth! Registration open now, and closes Friday, November 16th at Noon.
Events for Professionals - 2012
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17
8:00am - 10:00am Women in Toys Networking Breakfast Event - This event is for all professionals in the toy and game industry. Come meet your peers, share ideas and learn from some of the most experienced people in the industry. This year's speakers are: Kati Heljakka, Researcher and Toy/Game Designer; Anna Van Slee, co-Founder of otherdoor entertainment; Reyne Rice, Trend Specialist and Media Consultant at Toy Trends; and Patty Errera and Sandy Dugo, co-Founders of College Savings Dolls. For more details, and information about the speaker topics: Click Here to Register.
11:00am - 5:00pm Play with Purpose Conference (in association with Games for Educators) - Sharp-As-A-Tack is hosting our State of Illinois accredited program (CPDU credit awarded) to assist educators on the fine art of incorporating play in the classroom. The Games in Education conference is an inspiring day of workshops to help teachers develop their students' cognitive abilities and inject energy into the learning process through applying games as part of their curriculum. Free giveaways and a chance to win an iPad! Registration open until November 8th.
