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Thank you all for making the first-ever Lakes Area Game Fest an incredibly enjoyable experience! Here's a video recap:

What is Lakes Area Game Fest?

Lakes Area Game Fest is an annual "open gaming" convention for new and experienced gamers, families, and individuals of all ages to learn and play contemporary board & card games.

The event is hosted by the Lakes Area Board Gamers, an open group of board-gaming enthusiasts in Northwest Iowa. Our convention welcomes attendees from across the Midwest (and beyond!) to take part in a full 24 hours of gaming over the course of two days.

Attendees will have access to our Convention Library of more than 200 popular games which can be checked out for free use within the event space. The library will also include a selection of Play to Win games – simply check out and play these games for a chance to win them! Guests are also encouraged to BYOG (Bring Your Own Games) to enjoy with others.

Open gaming is available for the entirety of the convention, but plenty of programming is also featured, including:

• Scheduled gaming
• Scheduled playtesting of local game designs
• Envoy Herald game demos
• Mini tournaments
• Used Game Garage Sale (bring your own games to sell!)
• Local vendor sales
• Giveaways, and more!

This is an opportunity to enjoy the tabletop gaming hobby in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

Where is it?

The Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center is located at 1405 US-71 in Okoboji, IA. Visit the Venue page for more information, including a special guest rate on our block of rooms!

When is it?

Doors open on Saturday, January 5th at 10:00 am, and the gaming area will close for the night at 2:00 am on Sunday, January 6th. We will re-open at 9:00 am on Sunday and close out the convention at 5:00 pm that evening. A grand total of 24 hours of gaming!

Cost?

Early registration discounts are available through Sun, Dec 30, 2018! Online registration is still available through Thursday, Jan 3, at our standard rates:

• Full weekend: $20 early rate | $30 standard / on-site rate
• Saturday only: $15 early rate | $20 standard / on-site rate
• Sunday only: $10 early rate | $15 standard / on-site rate

The event may sell out (and our seating capacity is strictly limited) so please purchase your badge now to secure your spot!

Food?

Arrowwood is home to Minerva's Restaurant and Bar. Minervas menu features a large selection of favorites including hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood, authentic pasta, the freshest salads, and house-made desserts. There are also a number of restaurants nearby—many within walking distance or a short drive. Snacks and sodas are available near the hotel desk, and hotel guests receive complimentary breakfast. The restaurant kitchen will also be preparing special bag lunches and late-night snacks for convention guests, and these will be made available for purchase from the front desk (cash only; prices TBD). No outside food or drinks are allowed in the gaming area, but complimentary water stations will be provided.

Wi-Fi?

The main game hall and other common spaces at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center will feature complimentary Wi-Fi. Network conditions will vary with the number of active users on the network.

Events?

Attendees can sign up for scheduled gaming, scheduled playtesting, and mini-tournaments held throughout the convention. A complete up-to-date schedule can be found on our Event Schedule page, but more events are being added all the time! If you are a designer, publisher, vendor, etc. and you are interested in running an event or hosting a table, please contact us for more information.

Volunteers?

Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering! It takes a lot of hard work by many hands to successfully organize and run a convention. We (and our guests) greatly appreciate the volunteers who offer their time and talents to this cause.

Lodging?

Lakes Area Game Fest is pleased to offer a discounted block of rooms through our convention hotel, Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center. Please visit our Venue page for more information!

Who are the convention staff and organizers?

Our convention is organized, staffed, and financed by the Lakes Area Board Gamers – a group of people from varying professions and seasons of life who all share one common passion: board games and the community that gathers around them. While we are not currently organized as a legal non-profit entity, our desire is not to make money for ourselves. We have invested our own personal funds in order to make this event a reality, and our shared goal is simple: to support our local community and the gaming community abroad, while also creating an enjoyable and memorable experience for all who attend.

More questions?

If you don't find an answer on our website, please feel free to message us. We will get back to you as quickly as possible!