Play date: Toy and Game Fair returns to Schaumburg
Two years ago, officials with the Chicago Toy and Game Fair left their Navy Pier location for Schaumburg's convention center and they haven't looked back.
"We found this location to be much more profitable for our vendors," says Errol Doris Sr., show director. "People that are attending it here are making it a destination. At Navy Pier, we drew mostly tourists."
The Chicago Toy and Game show runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Those expected to attend the fair -- including families, Scout troops, teachers, retailers, toy inventors and distributors -- will find plenty of things to make them stay, Doris assures.
"It's the show to play, preview and purchase games," says Doris, who says the concentration is on board games and educational games.
When asked how many games would be on hand to play and preview, Doris said simply, "hundreds."
Many of the major toy manufacturers will be there, including Hasbro, Mattel, Big Monster Toy and DiscoverGames.com, to name a few. But the fair also will feature brand new games, including Brandoodles, Chuckle Games, Knucklebones board games and AmuseAmaze, a word race game, as well as the newest games from Europe.
Fair directors also will be launching Loteria Mix, a Chicago-inspired version of the traditional "Loteria" game played throughout Mexico and Latin America.
The Bingo-type game incorporates local landmarks with those from Latin America into its matching cards. The game uses cards with pictures on it, rather than white balls with numbers on it, for players to match on their game cards.
Along with the vendors' booths, patrons can take advantage of the speakers and panels taking place throughout the two-day run.
Foremost among them is the first-ever toy safety panel, taking place at 3 p.m. Saturday.
"It's the first time that toy industry officials will be taking questions from consumers," says Mary Couzin, Chicago Toy and Game Fair executive director.
Expected to join the panel are Carter Keithley, Toy Industry Association president; and Donald Mays, Consumer Reports director of product safety planning, with author and consultant Richard Gottlieb serving as moderator.
Other features at the fair include a Young Inventor Challenge, where children can try their ideas and ask experts to evaluate them; as well as a WorldBee Geography Bee, taking place from 2-4 p.m. Sunday. A $1,500 American Express travel voucher will be awarded to the winner.
"A big focus of the fair is on education," Doris said, "and gathering different ideas on why games are important in education."
Show officials also will present awards, including Best in Show Toy and Best in Show Game, as decided by fair patrons; as well as a Teacher's Choice for Best in Show. Teachers attending the fair also will vie for the Golden Game Award, for teachers using games in the classroom.
If you go
What: Chicago Toy and Game Fair
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Schaumburg's convention center, 1551 Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg
Cost: $10 for adults for one day, $18 for two days; $5 per child for one day or $9 for two days
Register: To participate in events, such as WorldBee, Young Inventor Challenge, and the 9 a.m. Saturday Star Wars Character Breakfast, advance registration is required.
More information: www.chitag.com, gives complete list of panels, forums and special events, as well as more ticket information