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Community Corner

Chicago Toy & Game Fair (ChiTAG)

Let the fun begin! The 11th Annual Chicago Toy & Game Fair (ChiTAG), the only U.S. fair of its kind open to the public, returns to Navy Pier on Saturday, November 23, 2013 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday, November 24, 2013 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m



Founded in 2003, ChiTAG returns to the world’s top city for toy and game invention as the global toy and game hub for consumers, inventors, trade, and media. In celebration of the power of play and creativity, the two-day extravaganza, taking place at Navy Pier, offers interactive exhibits, contests (such as the official Illinois state yo-yo contest), live stage entertainment (including Mac King the Magician), tournaments, and more. For $10 per adult ticket and $5 per children’s ticket, attendees can preview, play, and purchase the hottest toys and games, rediscover classics, and meet the inventors behind the ingenuity.

 

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.

Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

While girls might play dress-up, the rest of us play chic. On Thursday, November 21, 2013playCHIC hits the catwalk for the second year. An innovative runway show combining fashion and top toys, playCHIC pairs renowned haute couture designers with popular toy and game brands to create playful, one-of-a-kind runway looks. Happening at the River East Art Center, the unforgettable experience will kick off with cocktails at 7 p.m. and a runway show following at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are available for $50 for general admission and $100 for VIP admission; general seating will also sell for $75 at the door.

Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

Following playCHIC, the Toy & Game Inventor Awards (also known as the TAGIE Awards) will take the stage on Friday, November 22, 2013 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier. With an elegant dinner and awards ceremony for industry leaders, the TAGIE Awards commemorate the inventors behind the best playthings. Categories for nomination include Excellence in Toy Design, Excellence in Game Design, Rising Star Designer, Young Inventor of the Year and Excellence in Electronic Toy or Game Design. Voting is open to the public until October 31st at midnight viahttp://www.tagieawards.com/us/. Tickets to the awards ceremony, which is also open to the public, require registration and can be purchased for $250.

 

ABOUT THE CHICAGO TOY & GAME GROUP

The Chicago Toy & Game Group, Inc. is a family of toy industry initiatives designed to encourage and promote the power of play and invention in social, educational, and professional environments. The Chicago Toy & Game Group consists of the Chicago Toy & Game Fair; International Toy & Game Inventor and Industry Conference; International Summit for Professional Inventors; playCHIC Fashion Show; Toy & Game Inventor Awards; National ChiTAG Networking Events; Games for Educators; and DiscoverGames.com. For more information, visit www.ChiTAG.com, join in the conversation on Facebook, or follow the fun on Twitter @ChicagoToyNGame.

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