For the past two years we’ve attended the annual Chicago Toy & Game Fair hosted at Navy Pier with the girls. It’s one of the most unique experiences and something we look forward to every year. Where else can you meet in person the inventor of your favorite childhood game – Operation???
Yes that’s John Spinello the inventor of the original version of the game Operation who was assigned the project of designing a toy while studying industrial design at the University of Illinois in 1962. His Godfather was a top model-maker at Marvin Glass Associates which bought the rights to the game for $500.
L playing at the Bananagrams Booth
The Chicago Toy & Game Fair (ChiTAG), the only U.S. fair of its kind open to the public, collects the best and brightest of the toy and game industries for a weekend of playfully memorable festivities. Families have the opportunity to play, preview and purchase the hottest toys and games, rediscover classics and meet the inventors.
The two-day consumer expo, located at Navy Pier, offers interactive exhibits, contests (such as the official Illinois state yo-yo contest, 4th Annual Top Trumps Tournament), live stage entertainment (including Mac King the Magician), tournaments, and more.
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Prior to the start of the fair, the Chicago Toy & Game Group encourages fans to play on with exclusive events leading up to the signature weekend.
November 21st: playCHIC, a game-centric fashion show, returns for the second year, showcasing outfits inspired by toys at River East Art Center.
November 21-22nd: The International Toy and Game Developer Conference, or T&G Con, is an industry conference for toy and game professionals. featuring keynote speakers and open pitching platforms for new and inspiring inventors.
November 22nd: invite-only inventors’ summit, i-SPi,will host “top-secret” meetings between inventors and game publishers.
November 23rd: Saturday’s sixth annual Squashed was licensed after the contest and will be on sale at this year’s fair.
Additional spin-off events hosted during “Chicago Toy and Game Week” include aSettlers of Catan Worldwide Championship pre-qualifier for U.S. entrants into the international face-off in 2014.
November 24th: Organizers will try to set the world record for “most participants in a clapping game” at the World’s Largest Play Date.
More than 20 countries will be represented at the TAGIE Awards Nov. 22, and the hard-to-snag sit-downs with game publishers at i-SPi bring designers from around the world to Chicago.
Disclosure: Sassy Moms in the City is working with Chicago Toy & Game Group as a brand ambassador. All our sassy opinions are honest and our own.
