The first ever LEGO Star Wars Days event at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago in Schaumburg on Saturday, August 21 and Sunday, August 22, 2010 was an enormous hit, drawing around 2000 visitors on the Saturday date alone. LEGO Star Wars fans young and old (costumed and not) enjoyed themed fun and scheduled activities on both levels of this local Chicago attraction.

LEGO Star Wars Days at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago

To celebrate LEGO Star Wars Days, LEGOLAND Discovery Center made fun alterations to some of their attractions. The MINILAND exhibit, which usually showcases only miniature versions of recognizable Chicago landmarks, was overrun by 500 battle droid minifigures and clone trooper minifigures who waged war against each other through the streets of Chicago, up and down the sides of the Willis Tower, over the roof of Navy Pier, and across the sides of the John Hancock Tower. Sprinkled throughout the scene were ten Star Wars characters that sharp-eyed visitors had to spot to get a chance to enter a drawing to win a prize.

Upstairs at the Master Model Builders Workshop, visitors could make mini model LEGO Millennium Falcons, while guests riding the Technicycle ride were treated to music from the Star Wars saga and children playing with the LEGO tables were invited to build such challenging objects as the Sith.

Two major special activities planned for this event were the Yoda big build and the costume contests. Visitors could assist with the build by constructing bricks that would then be used to build the eight-foot-tall LEGO Yoda. Younger guests could enter Star Wars costume contests to win General Grievous Starfighter Model sets (and smaller LEGO sets for second and third prize). The children who entered (from baby Princess Leia to a horde of clone troopers) demonstrated imagination and a love for Star Wars, particularly the Clone Wars, through their costume choices.

Guests could also enjoy photo opportunities not just with life-sized LEGO models of Darth Vader and R2-D2, but also with costumed versions of such Star Wars characters as Darth Vader, a stormtrooper, a Jawa, a TIE pilot, an X-wing pilot, and Captain Rex. Visitors enjoyed watching these iconic figures join in the fun by riding rides and constructing LEGO models right alongside guests.

Chicagoans who missed the fun this time around can look forward to the next set of LEGO Star Wars Days at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago, which are scheduled to be held on Saturday, January 29 and Sunday, January 30, 2011.

See below for a slideshow photo tour of this event.

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