9th Annual Young Inventor Challenge Registration Now Open

It’s almost time for the 13th annual Chicago Toy & Game Fair (ChiTAG) – the largest toy and game fair in the entire country that’s open to the public, returning to Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Avenue, Chicago) the weekend before Thanksgiving (Saturday, November 21, 2015 and Sunday, November 22, 2015) to give families a hands-on experience of the hottest toys and games of the holiday season. ChiTAG offers the whole family a weekend jam-packed with fun-filled discovery, interactive events, playful contests and awe-inspiring exhibitions.

One very cool part of ChiTAG is the Young Inventor Challenge. Now in its 9th year, this event offers creative kids from Chicago- who are between the ages of 6 and 18 - the rare opportunity to present their own original toy and game inventions to a panel of industry professionals. It’s totally free for any budding young entrepreneur to enter! Registration for this year’s challenge is now open and runs through Sunday, November 1, 2015 at http://www.chitagfair.com/young-inventor-challenge/.

Young Inventor Challenge entries will be evaluated based on innovation, creativity, appeal and presentation. First place and runner up awards will be given out in junior, senior and “People’s Choice” award categories. Young inventors have the chance to win amazing toy prizes, courtesy of Spin Master, including Meccanoid, Legendary Yoda and Zoomer Kitty, and a dinner with leading toy industry representatives from the Spin Master team. Winners will be announced during a special ceremony at 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 21, 2015.

“We are proud to carry on this meaningful initiative with ChiTAG, where the primary focus is to inspire a child’s imagination,” said Krista DiBerardino, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Spin Master. “The Young Inventor Challenge not only provides an incredible platform for kids to showcase their vision but also fuels their passion for creating innovative toys and games, which is at the heart of what we do at Spin Master.”

“We are very fortunate to have industry partners like Spin Master who are willing to help our young inventors discover the possibilities of play,” said Julie Blake, Director of the Young Inventor Challenge. “Every year, I am so inspired by the kids’ creativity. We have seen some truly innovative ideas from our young inventors, and I can’t wait to see what they will come up with this year.”

To learn more and register for the Young Inventor Challenge, visit http://www.chitagfair.com/young-inventor-challenge/. Registration is open until November 1, 2015. There is no fee to enter, and it is easy to participate. Participants and their immediate families will also be given complimentary tickets to the ChiTAG Fair for the entire weekend!