LEGO Train Show Chugs Into Oak Lawn

Some of the amazing LEGO worlds created by the Northern Illinois LEGO Train Club at the 2014 train show hosted by the Oak Lawn Public Library. | Courtesy OLPL.

From castles and skyscrapers to superheroes and spaceships, the Oak Lawn Public Library is bringing back one of its most popular exhibits when its hosts the LEGO Train Display on from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 9; and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 10.

The LEGO Train Display features an amazing array of running trains, pop culture references and original creations. Adults and children alike will enjoy this free show. No registration is required.

The library last hosted the LEGO Train Display in 2014 when more than 2,000 adults and children visited the two-day event. The display is created by the Northern Illinois LEGO Train Club, which was formed in 2002. Participating in seven to eight shows each year around the Chicago area, each club member has their own display space and the opportunity to focus on a genre of their choice.

“Even to this day, we’ll have people come in and think it’s going to be a couple ping pong tables with a couple LEGO sets with a little train going around it; and it’s not,” said Jamie LeBlanc, president of the Northern Illinois LEGO Train Club.

In 2014, adults and children of all ages were entertained by an intricate display that spanned 4,080 square feet and featured a Medieval Village and Castle with tournament grounds, a European-inspired Village Hall, a farmette with a windmill, railroads, skyscrapers and much more. Trains connected the layout, which included replicas of gas and fire stations, an opera house, a bike shop, and various fast food staples such as Starbucks, White Castle and Culver’s.

“We all have sections we take off, and you can see a lot of differences in architectural styles,” LeBlanc said of the 20-member club. Each show requires more than seven hours of set-up time. “The fun part is really seeing what everyone else has created and what techniques they’ve used. We almost inspire each other.”

The group’s love of LEGOs and the opportunity to be creative is what keeps them participating in shows.

“You build something and that next show you can put it out and get immediate feedback or adulation,” LeBlanc said. “And that’s pretty cool.”

The Oak Lawn Public Library is located at 9427 S. Raymond Ave. For more information about the LEGOs train display and other programs, call 708-422-4990 or visit the library’s website.