STREETERVILLE — At this year's Chicago Toy and Game Fair, or ChiTAG, kids got the chance to try out all sorts of new, unique toys in the hopes that they might show up under their Christmas tree come December.
The 12th annual fair, which is run by Mary Couzin, kicked off Saturday and continues Sunday. Dozens of established vendors and up-and-coming toy inventors alike set up shop, and wide-eyed kids took full advantage: daredevils drove the Crazy Cart, a go cart made by Razor; young crafters wove multi-colored Rainbow Loom bracelets and future engineers played with remote control skateboards by Hexbug, to name a few.
The fair is the only one of its kind in the United States that's both open to the public and isn't geared toward hobbyists.
DNAinfo Chicago scoped out this year's hottest new toys:
Flutterbye Fairy by Spin Master
Spin Master, which has been around for 20 years, launched Flutterbye Fairies in 2013. Just recently, though, they began offering fairies that light up and one modeled after Tinker Bell. They start at $24.99.
All kids have to do is push the button on the base, watch the fairy float up, and then put their hand underneath the fairy to ensure that she'll float. (The fairy has a sensor on the bottom of her feet.)
"I like how it flies and how you can control it," said Zora Beaty, 11. "I also like the fun colors."
DNAinfo Chicago spotted a bunch of kids at the fair who were mesmerized by the toy's ability to hover above their hands.
Word Winder
Founded by North Park resident David L. Hoyt, the educational game Word Winder comes in either small ($10) or gigantic ($300) sizes.
To play, kids lay down chips to form words on the board to wind a complete path from top to bottom and prevent other players from doing so, according to Jennifer Nelles, who teaches fifth grade at North Park Elementary School.
Hoyt was shopping the game around to schools when he met Nelles, who now has one in her classroom that she pulls out often for her students.
"The more they play, they can find a spelling chunk and make it into a longer word," Nelles said. "It's so kinetic. It definitely motivates them to practice their spelling."
Hoyt is the most syndicated puzzle and word creator in the world. He's well known for creating games like Jumble, Boggle Brain Busters and Word Roundup, to name a few.
Rainbow Loom
Everyone from Jimmy Kimmel to Pope Francis has been spotted wearing Rainbow Loom bracelets, which are made with woven multi-colored rubber bands.
But the man behind the international sensation, Choon Ng, is modest.
"My daughters came up with the idea," said Ng with a smile. "It was not that popular until last year."
The Complete Loom Kit costs $14.99. In it, kids will find one mini rainbow loom, one yellow color hook with a metal tip, a bag of 600 rubber bands and a bag of c-clips. Using these items, people around the world have made bracelets, figurines, art and even a full men's suit. (Jimmy Kimmel wore the "SuitoftheLoom" to benefit cancer research in February.)
The company has nabbed a ton of national awards, including the highly prestigious 2014 Toy of the Year Award.
The Chicago Toy & Game Fair continues Sunday at Navy Pier from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults (13+), $5 for children (3-6) and free for kids under 3.
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