October brought a strong seasonal shift for NOVA-LUG, with fall-themed displays, community events, and creative challenges taking center stage. As the group leaned into Halloween and upcoming holiday builds, the meeting combined festive energy with continued planning for long-term projects and collaborations.

Display Updates and Seasonal Installations

With rotating displays now in full swing, October highlighted the group’s adaptability and creativity:

  • Brickmania Display Cycle: The townhouse layout is now active for October through December, featuring rotating seasonal decorations—starting with Halloween and Trick-or-Treat themes, and evolving into parade and holiday scenes in the coming months. Monster Trucks are queued up next for early 2026.

  • Potomac Mills Cubby: The display remains active, with Brent offering to swap in an Annapolis-themed diorama or transition to a holiday build as the season progresses.

  • Richard Byrd Library (October 2025): Members coordinated getting builds to Charlie for installation.

  • Upcoming Events:

    • Claude Moore “Truck or Treat” (October 18): Alison continues to lead coordination for this popular community event.

    • LDC Adult Night (October 24): An evening event offering another opportunity to showcase LEGO creations to a broader audience.

    • Pohick Library Event (February 7): Early planning is underway, with a unique schedule that includes both the event and the regular monthly meeting.

Club Business and Community Updates

October continued several important administrative efforts:

  • 2025 Club T-Shirts: Distributed at the meeting—always a highlight for members.

  • 2026 Membership Dues: Still open, with reminders for members to renew.

  • Key Teams for 2026: Brent encouraged members to confirm or expand their involvement across club teams.

BrickUniverse Annapolis Highlights

The group celebrated strong results from BrickUniverse Annapolis, with multiple members recognized for their builds:

  • Congratulations to the Chestermans, Tanner, James, Anthony, and the “Blossom Bunch” for their wins and outstanding contributions.

These achievements continue to highlight NOVA-LUG’s growing presence in the broader LEGO community.

Collaboration Updates

Several ongoing collaborative projects continue to evolve:

  • “Wicked” Collaboration: The three-team structure remains active:

    • Microscale Map (Brent)

    • Shiz University (Chelsea C.)

    • Emerald City (Joshua H.) Progress continues as teams refine their sections and coordinate overall design.

  • NPS Mosaic and Habitats: Work is ongoing to refine standards and resources. A frame file has been received and is currently being optimized for both effectiveness and cost efficiency.

Monthly MOC Challenge

October’s challenge builds directly on September’s creative foundation:

  • October Challenge: Thanksgiving Parade! Members are encouraged to modify their townhouse builds with parade-themed decorations or create standalone parade floats. This flexible format allows for both continuity and new participation.

  • September Challenge Voting: Members voted on the Townhouse Trick-or-Treat builds, which brought a wide range of festive and imaginative Halloween scenes to life.

A Season of Creativity

October’s meeting captured the spirit of the season—creative, collaborative, and community-focused. With Halloween events, parade builds, and holiday displays on the horizon, NOVA-LUG continues to showcase how LEGO can bring people together through shared creativity and storytelling.