LEGO Brick™ Shipbuilding Day

Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 10:00am-3:00pm

Welcome LEGO fans! Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s 11th annual LEGO Brick™ Shipbuilding Day returns with fun for all ages and skill levels. Build STEM-based historic and naval ship models AND design your own incredible creations in our free-build spaces.

NEW format this year. All entries can be included in “raffle” drawings for prizes. Prizes are drawn “at random.” No judging. See details below.

Saturday, March 7, 2026

10:00am - 3:00pm

Check out our 2025 SmugMug album.

Discover the thrill of building your own imaginary ship -- with masts, wings, wheels or whatever suits you! Bring one from home or build it on-site with our free-build LEGOs to enter into our prize drawings. Learn to build STEM-based LEGO models of historic and naval vessels including our very own Tall Ship of Delaware.


All skills and ages welcome to join the fun! Parents must accompany children under 18 at all times.

  • Free-Build spaces plus Duplo area for toddlers
  • Prize Drawing for Maritime Center-built and Home-built LEGO creations (see details below)
  • Face Painting for a fee (cash is preferred)
  • Gift Shop and Food Trucks
  • NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED!
  • You may use unlimited LEGOs provided by Kalmar Nyckel Foundation at no cost, but please do not take home the LEGOs. We sanitize and re-use them each year.

Location: Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, 1124 East 7th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

STEM Models

Learn to build LEGO replicas of historic and naval ships using STEM-based design plans including Kalmar Nyckel, USS Gettysburg, CSS Virginia, USS Monitor and many more. Shipbuilding kits are organized by skill level so that all ages can participate. Build a ship, then return the kit and move to another station as you wish.

Prize Drawings

Let your imagination run wild as you create your own model ship. Participants can build LEGO ships at the event or make them at home and bring them to the event. All creations can be entered into prize drawings (drawn at random).

  • You do not need to be present to win the raffle drawings.
  • Please pick up your LEGO ship after the contest (on March 7) or Monday-Friday 9am-5pm no later than Wednesday, April 1. Ships that are not picked up by April 1 will be considered donations to the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation's LEGO free play inventory.
  • You may use unlimited LEGO bricks provided by the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation at no cost, but please do not take home the LEGOs. We sanitize and re-use them each year.


Home Built Drawings

  • Build a creation at home and bring it to the event. Enter it into a prize drawing for these age groups:
  1. Child, ages 2-6
  2. Youth, ages 7-12
  3. Teen/Adults 13+
  • Prizes will be drawn at random. Everyone’s creativity is celebrated! No judging.
  • Note: age ranges may shift a bit based on the number of entries received (to give more people a chance of winning).


Maritime Center Built Drawings

  • Build a creation at our event. Enter it into a prize drawing for these age groups:
  1. Child, ages 2-6
  2. Youth, ages 7-12
  3. Teen/Adults 13+
  • Prizes will be drawn at random. Everyone’s creativity is celebrated! No judging.
  • Note: age ranges may shift a bit based on the number of entries received (to give more people a chance of winning).


Maritime Center: MiniFig/People’s Choice Award

  • All Maritime Center-built entries can be included in the MiniFig/People’s Choice Award.
  • All visitors can vote for their favorite entry.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR TITLE SPONSORS

KENNY FAMILY ShopRite Stores

KENNY FAMILY FOUNDATION

and New Castle County


Before You Attend

Please help us keep everyone healthy. Please stay home if you or your family members are sick.