Chicago Toy & Game Fair (CHITAG): Chicago’s Original Play Experience for Families Kicks Off the 2019 Holiday Season at Navy Pier by 30Seconds Mom

Blast off your holiday season with the World’s Largest Kid-Powered Rocket by attending the 17th annual Chicago Toy and Game (CHITAG) Fair at Navy Pier! 30Seconds has been attending CHITAG for years, and it's the event we look most forward to as we kick off the holidays. This year, CHITAG will take place on Saturday, November 23, and Sunday, November 24, 2019. The toy fair will host more than 30,000 attendees for a fun, playful weekend where you and your kids can discover the hottest holiday toys and games.
CHITAG is North America’s largest toy and game fair open to the public and will feature more than 125 interactive exhibits, immersive events and activities for all ages, created by leading toy and game brands from around the world. The fair has become a much-anticipated tradition for toy and game lovers of all ages (parents included!) in Chicagoland and around the world, and takes place the weekend before Thanksgiving.
“CHITAG Fair is Chicago’s original play experience,” says CEO and founder Mary Couzin. “This year, we’re taking the experience to new heights, launching the World’s Largest Kid-Powered Rocket, along with sneak peeks of some of the hottest holiday toys!”
Here is just some of what attendees can expect to see and do at the 2019 CHITAG toy fair:
- Help launch the World’s Largest Kid-Powered Rocket (Kite and Rocket Research).
- Check out the new Super Things line of collectible toys and receive free blind bag samples before the toys hit retail stores (Goliath).
- Get crafty and decorate a Fuzzikins to take home (PlayMonster).
- Test your putting skills at the Gator Golf Putting Station (Goliath).
- Take a spin on the My Buddy Wheels balance bikes and new Yvolution scooters (Yvolution).
- Young inventors ages 6 to 18 compete in the Young Inventor Challenge on Saturday, November 23.
- Join Sven’s Frozen Adventure for the Frozen II Scavenger Hunt (JAKKS Pacific).
- Experience the first public showcasing of the adorable new D-O being introduced in Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker (Hasbro).
- Enjoy a performance of WTTW’s The Big Idea Tour’s Traveling Lab on Saturday, November 23.
- Watch contestants from coast to coast compete in the Yo-Yo Championship.
- Adults can stop by the Beer Garden for pints of cold suds and sit down to play some of the industry’s best games for grownups, including the newest from the makers of Exploding Kittens (Let’s Play Games).
- Watch Princess Etch bring your favorite characters to life on her Etch-a-Sketch.
- Enjoy Ben’s Giant Bubble Show and the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.
- Snap a photo with your favorite Star Wars characters from the 501st Legion.
- Meet toy and game inventors from around the world.
- Take advantage of discounts on the hottest holiday toys.
- Special needs families can come early both days for the Sensory Power Hour.
The day before CHITAG, the Toy and Game Innovation Awards (TAGIEs) will host the 12th Annual Gala on Friday, November 22. TAGIEs is an elegant evening event that brings together toy industry leaders from around the world for a night of celebration to honor masters of invention in categories such as Toy Innovator of the Year and Game Innovator of the Year. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit chitag.com/tagies.
These events are supported by key sponsors including Goliath, Mattel, PlayMonster, Hasbro, Spin Master, The Michael Kohner Corporation, Oxford Games, Exploding Kittens, Rummikub, American Specialty Toy Association, Toy Association, Longshore, Big G Creative and ThinkFun.
Here's what you need to know to attend CHITAG:
- CHITAG Fair tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for children, available now at chitag.com/fair.
- Fair hours are November 23, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and November 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- CHITAG is timed each year to occur the same weekend as the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, making the perfect pre-holiday weekend getaway to Chicago.
- The TAGIE Awards Gala is on Friday, November 22, 2019, 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $250. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit chitag.com/tagies.
Get the latest details all CHITAG Week special events, speakers, exhibitors and more at Chitag.com.
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