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USA Today

A global festival for children: LEGOLAND is celebrating the power of playtime

A global festival for children: LEGOLAND is celebrating the power of playtime Show Caption Hide Caption Legoland New York uses almost 100,000 bricks to build massive creation It took more than 95,000 Lego bricks to build this taste of Legoland New York. USA TODAY LEGOLAND is launching a new festival in May celebrating play, creativity, and imagination. The festival will feature five interactive zones, 49 new LEGO models, and a "Play Pact" initiative. The festival begins on May 3rd and runs for six weekends, culminating on International Day of Play on June 11th. Playtime at home is usually limited to just a few hours, but this May, LEGOLAND is launching a brand-new global festival celebrating all things play, creativity and imagination. The LEGO Festival event is "one huge rally cry to the power of play" for families and is meant to be a child's first festival, according to a news release. It is being held in partnership with LEGO Group and Merlin Entertainments' LEGOLAND Resorts at seven LEGOLAND Resorts across five countries. Playtime is about more than just having fun; it has been found to be critical for a child's development of social-emotional wellbeing along with cognitive and self-regulation skills, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. "As a first festival for Merlin Entertainments, we wanted to be sure LEGO Festival is a place for fun and memorable experiences for the entire family, where imaginations can run wild and creativity knows no limits," said Fiona Eastwood, CEO of Merlin Entertainments, in the release. "LEGO Festival will embody what LEGOLAND is all about - play as a way of life." For the festival, the resorts will transform into five interactive zones that encourage play and imagination in different ways – music, creativity, dance, gaming and chilling out. LEGOLAND will also introduce 49 new big build LEGO models designed to inspire play. Inclusivity at LEGOLAND: LEGOLAND parks are becoming more autism-friendly. Here's how and what guests can expect. "At the LEGO Group, we believe that play is essential for every child's development and happiness," said David Buxbaum, Senior Vice President, LEGO Brand Parks & Experiences at the LEGO Group. "This is an invitation to families around the world to come together and experience the transformative power of play in a fun and engaging environment. We can't wait to see children and families create lasting memories at LEGOLAND Resorts around the world.' What is LEGO Festival? It's supposed to be "the most epic reminder to keep playtime a priority," according to the release. Guests will start their journey with a unique photo opportunity, and children will be given a special festival lanyard to explore all five immersive zones. At the end of the day, they'll make a "Play Pact" to "always keep playing." For every pact, Merlin Entertainments and the LEGO Group promise to help underserved children and their families enjoy playtime at LEGOLAND Resorts as well. When is LEGO Festival? The festival begins on May 3 and runs for six weekends until culminating at International Day of Play – a day adopted by the United Nations in 2024 to recognize the benefits of play – on June 11. Where is LEGO Festival? The festival will take place at: LEGOLAND Billund LEGOLAND California LEGOLAND Deutschland LEGOLAND Florida LEGOLAND Korea LEGOLAND New York LEGOLAND Windsor How much is LEGO Festival? The cost to attend LEGO Festival is included with regular admission into the resorts.