[photo credit: Pasadena Public Library]
The free event, running from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the branch’s auditorium, is the culminating moment of the library’s yearly LEGO contest. Builders who submitted original creations by the submission deadline will present their work and offer brief commentary on what they built and why — then face evaluation by a panel of LEGO enthusiasts judging on three criteria: originality and creativity, presentation and aesthetics, and complexity.
Creators must attend and present in person to be eligible for prizes, according to the library’s Off-the-Shelf newsletter, which means the showcase doubles as a public speaking exercise and a community art show. The audience — families, friends, fellow builders — gets to see and hear about each entry firsthand.
The contest is part of the Pasadena Public Library’s seven-week Summer Reading Program, themed “On the Road to Reading” this year in recognition of the 100th anniversary of U.S. Route 66. The program, which runs through August 1, is sponsored by the Friends of the Pasadena Public Library, according to a city press release.
Jefferson Branch, housed in the former Jefferson Elementary School building at 1500 E. Villa St., serves as the Pasadena library system’s hub for children’s and teen services. With Central Library closed for an earthquake retrofit, the branch has become a primary venue for large-scale youth programming. It is the only Pasadena Public Library location fully dedicated to youth services, according to the city’s library website.
The LEGO showcase has been an annual fixture of the library’s summer calendar. Pasadena City Councilmember Justin L. Jones, who represents District 3 where the Jefferson Branch is located, promoted the 2026 event through his district newsletter.
Design Your LEGO Showcase Day, Saturday, July 11, 2026, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Jefferson Branch Library Auditorium, 1500 E. Villa St., Pasadena. For more, call (626) 744-8046 or visit cityofpasadena.net/library.
