It’s not surprising the name Lego comes from the Danish phrase, “leg godt” – which means “play well.” Those little, plastic interlocking bricks have been popular with children all over the world since the company began turning them out by the millions after World War II.
Local Lego aficionados will have a chance to “play well” at the Leader Holiday Shopping Spree, set for Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Quality Inn, 1200 W. Gannon Drive, in Festus. Admission is free and everyone is invited.
Three staff members from the Arnold Branch of the Jefferson County Library will be at the event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an assortment of Lego bricks for hands-on creativity.
“Kids can do free play, or we can give them challenges; it will kind of depend on the age range we have,” said Heather Crisel, senior children’s clerk with the library.
The Arnold Branch, 1701 Missouri State Road, holds regular “Lego Mania” events.
“We try to do it at least once a month, depending on what other programming we have going on,” Crisel said. “Sometimes we have it more than once in a month. It’s kind of an informal thing.”
She said children of all ages are welcome to the library’s free events.
Crisel said imagination is the key to Lego’s timeless appeal.
“There are no rules,” she said. “Your imagination is the only limit. If you can dream it, you can build it.”
She said kids aren’t the only ones who like playing with Lego.
“Parents and grandparents love to come and sit and build with the kids,” she said. “We’ve had family nights where we had two or three generations building together.”
For the Mooney family of Festus, that’s a typical scene.
Kirk and Kim Mooney and their son, 13-year-old Connor, have built a number of large, complex Lego models together over the years.
“It’s good therapy,” Kirk Mooney said. “It’s relaxing; it’s a great way to bond.”
One of the only drawbacks to Lego as a hobby is the expense.
“The big sets run anywhere from $75 up to $300 or $400,” Mooney said. “Even the smaller sets can run you $30 or $40. My wife just bought Connor the Upside Down set from the TV show ‘Stranger Things,’ and that was something like almost $200. But, man, it is really cool.”
The Mooneys have built Batman sets, Disney’s Cinderella Castle and a replica of the Taj Mahal.
“Right now, we’re working on the Death Star from Star Wars,” Mooney said. “It’s absolutely huge.”
Crisel said the library welcomes donations of Lego for its collection.
“We would prefer it to be in the packaging – it lets us show the toy is lead-free – but we could also accept gently used loose bricks,” she said.
For more information, contact the library at 636-296-2204.
Visitors to the Holiday Shopping Spree also will have a chance to buy or order holiday gifts from a variety of local vendors.
There will be toys for all ages, jewelry, nail care products, and natural home and health products. Shoppers may choose a big-ticket gift like a total bath makeover from Bath Fitters, or something in the $5-$10 range, such as gift soaps or candy.
Students with the Jefferson College Culinary Arts Program will provide cooking demonstrations and sell their all-natural, low-calorie, zesty vinaigrettes infused with natural flavors like roasted bell peppers, blackberries, cilantro, lime, onions, cranberries, sun-dried tomatoes and many more.
Meert Tree Farm staff will be on hand with one-of-a-kind live wreaths and decorations, as well as snow “globes” in more than just spherical shapes.
There will be entertainment and some delicious food and drink samples.
Booths are available. For information, call the Leader at 636-931-7560 or send an email to news@leaderpublications.biz.