Creativity Comes Full Circle
This year, we're celebrating Pi Day (3-14) with our 4th annual Alpena Area Brick Build!
The creative process, like a good pie, requires a solid foundation to hold everything together, a core idea like the filling that draws us in, and the final touches where details turn good into great. It's more than following a recipe. It's how you combine those ingredients that make something enjoyable, personal, and shareable.
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Leave the corners to the bricks, because creativity doesn't have any.
Contest Information
Sign Up Deadline
All teams must be signed up by 4:00 pm on March 6, 2026.
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Dropping off Entries
Entries can be dropped off at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary on Thursday, 3/12/26, and Friday, 3/13/26, during regular business hours, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. When you drop off your build, stop by the lobby desk to pick up your registration card. They will show registered contestants where to place their build.
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Not competing? Come and see all the builds on display!
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary at 500 W Fletcher St., Alpena, MI 49707
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Announcement of Winners
Winners will be posted at 2:00 pm
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Entry Pickup
Entries can be picked up after the event on Saturday, 3/14, until 5:00 pm or any time through Tuesday, 3/17/26.
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Rules
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All entries must be registered online by 4:00 p.m., 3/6/2026.
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Use your own LEGO, Duplo, Mega Bloks, or other LEGO-compatible plastic bricks.
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All entries must be original creations. Projects may not be based on LEGO-designed kits or builds found online, in magazines, or from commercially sold sets.
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Creations must be built on a base measuring no larger than 24 inches by 24 inches. Bases may be made from materials such as wood, cardboard, or a flat LEGO base, and may be decorated to complement the design. Finished entries may not exceed four feet in height.
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Each submission must include a one-page build description to help spectators and judges better understand the work. Descriptions should be under 100 words and explain the theme, inspiration, design process, and key features.
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Only one entry per individual or team is permitted.
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Team entries will be placed in the category of the oldest team member. While all team members may receive certificates (if applicable), each team will compete for one prize.
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Completed projects must be delivered to the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, located at 500 West Fletcher Street, Alpena, MI 49707, during regular business hours on the designated drop-off dates.
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Entries must be picked up on the listed retrieval dates. Any projects not collected by the final pickup date will be considered a donation to the Innovators LEGO collection.
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Competitive Divisions
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K-2 Lower Elementary
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3-5 Upper Elementary
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6-12 Jr/Sr High School
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