From November 6^th-10^th, 2024, events celebrate innovation for the trade and a fun-filled weekend of activities open to the public, including the Chicago Toy & Game Fair.

CHICAGO (October 31^st, 2024) ― People of Play (POP) is officially revealing the full event line-up for the 22^nd annual POP Week, set to kick off next Wednesday, November 6^th, in Rosemont, Illinois! POP Week events bring together consumers, families, inventors, manufacturers, retailers, educators, hobbyists, social media influencers and the media to play, celebrate, discover, support and promote the creation of toys and games.

POP Week kicks off November 6^th and continues through November 10^th with a variety of industry events, including:

Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conferences (November 6^th-9^th): The Chicago Toy & Game Group Innovation Conference is the largest and longest running inventor pitch, networking and education event in the world. Over 80 Product Acquisition Execs from over 50 companies representing almost 20 countries are looking for new toy and game ideas. Kickoff networking event on the evening of the 6^th at Dave and Busters. Thursday morning conference leads with a panel of movers and shakers:

• Sharon Price John, Chairperson, Toy Association Board of Directors, President & CEO, Build-A-Bear Workshop,
• Geoffrey Greenberg, Vice Chairperson, Toy Association Board of Directors, Co-CEO, Just Play​
• ​Anne Carrihill, Toy Association Board of Directors, Director, GM, Category Leader, Toys & Entertainment at Amazon
• Greg Ahearn, CEO and President of the Toy Association – Moderator

This year’s conference emcee is Azhelle Wade, the Toy Coach, and is sponsored by Mattel, Longshore, Moose Games, The Michael Kohner Corporation, Moose Games, Nextoy, TMAX and TradeShowBooth.com.

TAGIE Awards Gala (November 8^th): The 17^th annual Toy and Game Innovation Excellence Awards (TAGIEs) Gala is a global celebratory and entertaining evening at Joe’s LIVE Concert venue. The TAGIEs bring together toy industry leaders from around the world for a night of celebration to pay homage to masters of innovation in numerous categories. The evening will also honor Mary Danby and Dan Romanelli as the Lifetime Achievement recipients and Alan Dorfman as the Industry Game Changer.

Karri Bean, Senior Licensing Manager, at Disney Consumer Products, Experiences and Consumer Products is the host of the evening. Barry and Jason Games and Entertainment are the co-producers with everyone’s favorite Chicago Blue’s band Skip Towne and the Greyhounds on stage.

Disney is presenting sponsor. Other sponsors include Mattel, The Michael Kohner Corporation, Hasbro, Oxford Games, Spin Master and Nextoy.

Chicago Toy & Game Fair (November 9^th & 10^th): The 22nd annual Chicago Toy and Game Fair (CHITAG) is a fun hands-on event for the entire family to celebrate play, right before the holidays! Families can create and shop for their holiday wish lists with the hottest toys and games, test out new products, meet toy & game inventors, and more.

Fair Highlights include:

• The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and NW Indiana cut the ribbon to open the Fair with Rosemont’s Mayor Stephens!
• Star Wars Character Lunch (Sunday, November 10^th only)
• Inventor Dan Klitsner will sign your Bop-It. Plus, play his new game Sling it!
• Meet Robert Fuhrer, inventor of Crocodile Dentist and Gator Golf, on our Gator Golf course
• Duncan Yo-Yos pro champions and Illinois State Yo-Yo Contest
• See the Toy of the Year (TOTY) Finalists & Vote for Your Favorite
• Meet Andreas Hoenigschmid, inventor of Shashibo, and play Shashibo Battle Shapes!
• Compete in the Giant Jenga, Klask, Eat Your Words, and Flip7 tournaments
• Experience Magicians, jugglers and even a stiltwalker!
• Check out the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile
• Go inside our Holiday House and play with North Pole giant blocks
• Grant Lyon hosts Pickleball Blast, Donut Challenge and OK Genius
• See the next generation of inventors in the Young Inventor Challenge®
• Build your own car for the Scouts America 40’ Pinewood Derby track
• Think Big, Build Big; Math and Art - a hands-on STEM Exhibit

Play in Education (PIE) Conference (November 9^th): The Chicago Toy & Game Group has been sharing the importance of play in education for over 20 years. Moderator for this year is world renown speaker Joyce Hemphill, Keynote is M.E.S.H. Executive Board Member Jamie Gallagher and six more PIE experts round out the certified event by State of IL for educator continuing education credits. Sponsors include M.E.S.H. Helps and The Playmakers.

Young Inventor Challenge (November 9^th): The 19^th annual Young Inventor Challenge® is a unique, global competition designed to inspire and encourage creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills in children. This wondrous event has offered innovative kids the potential to have their winning inventions published. More than a dozen winners from previous years have seen their concepts manufactured and sold on store shelves.

One Junior and one Senior invention will be awarded in six different categories. The judges are toy and game industry execs who also give feedback to the young inventors!

The Young Inventor Challenge sponsors include Mattel, The Op/USAopoly, Jill and Tom Barad, Crazy Aaron’s, Goliath, Fun in Motion, Hasbro, ASTRA, Creative Fold and Amazon.

Star Wars Character Lunch (November 10^th): A CHITAG fan favorite returns this year! We’ve partnered with many affiliated Star Wars Clubs such as Star Wars: Galactic Academy: Death Star School of Illinois, 501st: Midwest Garrison & Rebel Legion: Nar Shaddaa Base, Dark Empire, Saber Guild, Droid Builders and Mandalorian Mercs.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for all events. For information on all events, visit the CHITAG website.

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People of Play

People of Play (POP), a division of The Toy Association, leads the global toy and game industry in promoting innovation, creativity, and connectivity. A one-stop source of community for industry professionals, aspiring inventors, and people of all ages who love to play, People of Play hosts a play platform packed with resources and connection points as well as a wide range of events including the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair, the Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Awards, the Young Inventor Challenge, the Toy & Game Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference, Thought Leaders Summit, Toy Takedown and more.

FREEMAN PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR PEOPLE OF PLAY:
Amy Friedland (afriedland@freemanpr.com)

Emily Potrzuski (epotrzuski@freemanpr.com)

Susan O’Sullivan (susanos@freemanpr.com)