2021 Event Update

Hello, friends!

Many of you have reached out asking about the status of the 2021 convention. We have delayed making an official announcement as long as we could with the hope that the event could still happen. However, as COVID continues to greatly impact the social landscape, we have made the very difficult decision to postpone the 2021 Lakes Area Game Fest convention until 2022. This is a painful decision, to be sure—but we feel that it’s for the best. We are very excited to see everyone in 2022!

Happy & healthy gaming,

-the LAGF crew

Thank you for another amazing year!

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What is Lakes Area Game Fest?

Lakes Area Game Fest is an annual board gaming convention for new and experienced gamers, families, and individuals of all ages to learn and play modern board 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 the local area and across the Midwest to take part in a full 24 hours of gaming over the course of two days.

Charitable contributions

We are firmly committed to helping those in need within our communities, and we're very pleased to share that 25% of all event proceeds are donated to local charities. When you support our event, you're helping us support great local causes as well. Together, as a gaming community, we're all doing some good… Way to go, team!

What to expect

Attendees 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 also includes a selection of Play to Win games – simply check out and play these games for a chance to win them at the end of the convention! 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
• Mini-tournaments
• Playtesting (local game designers)
• Local/regional exhibitors
• Used Game Garage Sale (sell/trade your games)
• Giveaways, raffle prize drawings, and more!

This is an opportunity to enjoy the tabletop gaming hobby in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We hope you'll join us!

Where

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

• Sat, Jan 4, 2020, 10:00 AM - 2:00 AM
• Sun, Jan 5, 2020, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Doors open Saturday, January 4th at 10:00 AM, and the gaming area will close for the night at 2:00 AM the following morning. We will re-open at 9:00 AM Sunday, January 5th, and close out the convention at 5:00 PM that evening – for a grand total of 24 hours of gaming! Badges are available for Saturday, Sunday, or the full 2-day weekend.

Cost

Early registration discounts will be available through Sunday, December 1, 2019. Online registration will remain available through Thursday, January 2, at our standard rates as noted below.

• Full weekend: $25 early rate | $35 standard / on-site rate
• Saturday only: $20 early rate | $25 standard / on-site rate
• Sunday only: $15 early rate | $20 standard / on-site rate

Please note: Although badges will be available to purchase at the door, the event may sell out. Since our capacity is strictly limited, we strongly encourage you to get your badge now to secure your spot!

Lodging

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

Food

Arrowwood is home to Minerva's Restaurant and Bar. The Minerva's 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 a complimentary breakfast. The restaurant kitchen will also be preparing special late-night meals and snacks for convention guests, and these items will be made available for purchase from the front desk once the kitchen has closed (cash only; more info here).

Please note: No outside food or drinks are permitted in the gaming area, but complimentary water stations will be provided, and kitchen staff will regularly take Minerva's meal orders to be delivered to the Gaming Hall.

Merch

This year we are offering awesome convention T-shirts! Pre-order deadline is Dec 12, 2019, to guarantee size & availability at the convention. Late orders will be taken online and at the convention with shipping or pickup available at a later date. Pre-ordered shirts will be waiting with your badge at check-in! Visit our Merch page for more information. Remember, a portion of each purchase goes to help those in need.

Wi-Fi

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

Volunteers

Please apply here 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.

Who are the 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. Our desire is not to create profit, but to foster community. We invest a significant amount of our own personal time and money each year to make this event a reality, and our shared goal is simple: to support our local community through charitable giving; to support the gaming community abroad with a great regional convention; and to provide a truly memorable experience for all who attend.

Who are the sponsors/contributors?

So glad you asked! We have many wonderful Sponsors and contributors and they are recognized on the Exhibitors & Sponsors page. Let us be clear: We could not put on such a great event or offer the wonderful things we do without these people and businesses. Please support them, and thank them for supporting us!

More questions?

If you have questions that aren't answered on our website, please feel free to message us. We will get back to you as quickly as possible! You can also connect with us via these channels:

• Follow our Facebook Page
• Join our Facebook Discussion Group
• Join our Board Game Geek Guild
• Follow us on Twitter or Instagram