If your kids love building with LEGO bricks — or if your dining room table regularly turns into a construction zone — this is one local event worth planning for now. The LEGO home building contest is coming to the NRV Home Expo for the 5th year, and it’s designed to get families creating together long before the doors even open.
Held March 21–22, 2026, at the Christiansburg Rec Center, this contest invites kids and adults to design and build an original LEGO house and display it during one of the New River Valley’s biggest home-focused events. The contest is proudly sponsored by Carter Bank.
This LEGO contest for kids is open to builders ages 4–17 and focuses on creativity, imagination, and problem-solving — not perfection. Kids will design and build a custom LEGO home from scratch. That means no kits and no instructions — just ideas, bricks, and creativity.
Each youth entry must:
- Be an original LEGO house design (no kits allowed)
- Stay within 12 inches wide by 20 inches long
- Be stable enough to display (no height limit)
- Be designed and built by the child
(Parents may help only to ensure size guidelines are followed.)
To go along with the build, kids will also write a short story (up to 150 words) describing their home. The story template is already available, making this a great project to work on over several afternoons or weekends.
Once completed, LEGO homes will be dropped off at the Christiansburg Rec Center ahead of the expo and displayed throughout the entire NRV Home Expo weekend. Hundreds of attendees and exhibitors will see the builds, making this a fun chance for kids to show off their hard work and creativity.
Judging, Voting, and Prizes
Entries will be judged by a panel based on:
- Overall design and livability
- Construction quality and use of LEGO elements
- Creativity, originality, and attention to detail
In addition to judge awards, attendees and exhibitors will vote throughout the weekend to select a People’s Choice winner.
Awards will be announced on Sunday, March 22 at 2:30 PM, with winners in the following categories:
- Best in Show: Ages 4–6
- Best in Show: Ages 7–10
- Best in Show: Ages 11–16
- People’s Choice
Each winner will receive a $50 gift card, along with plenty of bragging rights.
What Parents Need to Know
- No entry fee
- max 64 total youth entries, first come, first served
- Entry form deadline: Monday, March 16, 2026 (or when spots fill)
- Drop-off times:
- Thursday, March 19 | 12:00–6:30 PM
- Friday, March 20 | 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Pick-up: Sunday, March 22 | 3:00–6:00 PM
- Each entry includes two free weekend passes to the Home Expo
Families are encouraged to use those passes to explore the expo and be present for the award announcements. Additionally, Adults don’t have to sit this one out. An adult LEGO home building division will also be offered, with Best in Show and People’s Choice categories. Adult participation will be limited to 20 total entries, so planning ahead is recommended.
Start Planning Your LEGO Build Now
Registration opens in early 2026, but families can start planning now. This is an easy project to stretch across the winter months and a great way to encourage creativity without screens. Ask your kids what their dream house would include — extra rooms, rooftop spaces, secret hideaways, or even a LEGO pet.
The entry form is coming soon. Bookmark and check for updates:
https://www.nrvhomeexpo.com/lego-home-building-contest
For families looking for family events in the New River Valley that mix creativity, hands-on learning, and community fun, this LEGO home building contest is one to put on your spring calendar now.
