August 2010 - Preview and play with the hottest new toys and games on the market, meet your favorite toy and game inventors, Star Wars characters, sports mascots, entertainment by Radio Disney, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and more at the Chicago Toy and Game Fair (ChiTAG), Saturday, Nov. 20 and Sunday, Nov. 21 at Chicago's Navy Pier.

Fairgoers will be able to meet legendary and up-and-coming toy and game inventors, including Leslie Scott, inventor of Jenga; Bruce Lund, inventor of TMX Elmo and founder of River Forest-based Lund and Company Invention, Tim Walsh, board game inventor, author and filmmaker; Richard Gill, who made Pictionary and Trivial Pursuit household names; Kim Vandenbroucke, professional inventor and game reviewer and blogger (The Game Aisle), and toy and game inventor and author Peggy Brown.

A Star Wars Breakfast with the legendary 501st Legion: Vader's Fist; a Mascot Madness toy drive, Monopoly Tournaments, chess tournaments in the Renaissance Knights Pavilion, the latest Eurogames from Essen, Germany, a Mommy Blogger Brunch and a free Illinois Accredited Educator Conference for teachers are just a few of the many fair events planned.

Fair hours are 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday. Special one hour preview for media and retailers at 9 am Saturday. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Children under three are admitted free; Scouts in uniform, military, teachers and librarians are also admitted free of charge. Discounted parking coupons available.

"This year's theme is more: ChiTAG, the nation's only public toy and game show, will feature more games and toys, more fun and more entertainment. The Chicago Toy & Game Fair is a magical place for parents and kids, teachers and toy and game enthusiasts," says Executive Director Mary Couzin.

For the fourth year, ChiTAG, along with sponsors, including the Toy Industry Association and Lund and Company Invention, LLC, will also hold the Young Inventor Challenge. Students 18 and under are invited to submit original game and toy inventions by October 31; details are available on the web site at www.chitag.com. Voting for the Young Inventor Challenge winner will take place by popular vote during the fair.

For more information, please visit www.chitag.com.

3rd Annual Toy & Game Inventor Awards Dinner

On November 19, ChiTAG will host the Third Annual Toy and Game Inventor Awards (TAGIE Awards), at the Museum of Science and Industry. Winners of Toy Inventor of the Year, Game Inventor of the Year, Rising Star Inventor of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced. The awards dinner is open to the public; seating is limited. To register to attend, contact Mary Couzin at 847-677-8277.