Bricks by the Lake Draws Crowds for Annual Lego-Building Competition

by Caroline Ayres, Staff Writer

Kids build at Reston Community Center during Bricks by the Lake. Photo by Isadora Guerreiro.

Despite the cold weather on Jan. 25, RCC Lake Anne saw a large turnout for Bricks by the Lake, an annual Lego-building event that has grown steadily since its 2020 inception. Originally planned as a one-time event, public enthusiasm led to its establishment as a yearly tradition that serves as both a creative competition and a community gathering space.

The event’s centerpiece is a Lego-building competition, with kits provided by Bricks and Minifigs, a local business with a storefront in Herndon. Participants were also allowed to bring their own bricks, provided they were unassembled. This year’s theme–nature–drew more than 20 teams, that spent four hours—between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.—constructing their designs before judging. Awards were presented not only to the overall winner, but also in categories such as Best Use of Parts.

Photo by Isadora Guerreiro

In addition to the competition, the Reston Museum hosted a free-build station where children could create their own Lego structures outside the contest setting.

The event also featured large-scale Lego displays by the Charm City Lego Users Group, a Baltimore-based organization officially recognized by Lego. Master builds included multi-colored skulls, towering structures nearly reaching the community center’s ceiling, and a globe made entirely of Lego bricks.

Lisa Watts of the Reston Museum highlighted the event’s broader community impact. “People tend to hibernate in the winter,” she said. “Events like this will hopefully encourage more people to come out.”