Pokemon to headline Play Zone at Legoland Windsor

Pokemon will headline the Play Zone at Legoland Windsor’s Lego Festival from July 20 to Aug. 31. The festival segment will centre on family activities and interactive demonstrations tied to the franchise’s 30th anniversary.

Organisers will present the Smart Play system at the Play Zone. Smart Play pairs electronic components with physical LEGO sets to create interactive builds. Festival demonstrations will show how sensors, lights and digital features work with Pokemon-themed constructions, and visitors will be able to join live demos and hands-on sessions to test gameplay elements aimed at children and families.

Some LEGO fans have expressed concerns that adding electronics changes the traditional building experience. Organisers presented Smart Play as an option that supplements existing sets rather than replacing conventional building and play.

Pokemon’s 30th anniversary programming includes new trading card releases that will appear early in the Pokemon Trading Card Live app, along with merchandising and other event tie-ins scheduled through the year. The Legoland appearance is one of several public events planned to mark the anniversary.

Pokemon began in 1996 as a video game franchise and expanded to trading cards, television, mobile applications and licensed toys over the following decades. Legoland Windsor’s Lego Festival will bring anniversary-themed products and interactive exhibits to families in the UK during the six-week run.