Pinball Festival features free play, flea market, tourneys

Pinball Festival features free play, flea market, tourneys

The 2012 Texas Pinball Festival returns to the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center in Grapevine March 23 – 25, with more than 15,000 square feet of game room fun.

More than 200 vintage and new pinball machines, classic arcade games and slot machines will be for sale and set on free play, so guests can leave their quarters at home.

Famed pinball designer, George Gomez (Monster Bash, Corvette, Revenge from Mars, Lord of the Rings, Stern: Batman, and Transformers) will be the guest speaker on Saturday, March 24.

A variety of adult and kid pinball tournaments throughout the weekend will test player’s pinball skills against other competitors for trophies and cash prizes.

Door prizes for pinball related memorabilia will be awarded hourly throughout the weekend, including a grand prize raffle drawing Sunday awarding a full-sized, coin-operated New Transformers Pinball Machine to benefit the Red Cross.

Check out the outdoor flea market from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 24. The huge outdoor flea market and swap meet features coin-operated collectibles in the front parking lot of the hotel. Flea market admission is free to all guests.

Looking for special parts for your vintage machine? Vendors will also be on hand selling parts, supplies, equipment and memorabilia all weekend.

Don’t miss the presentation by pinball artist George Gomez and Steve Richie on Saturday featuring autograph signings and a question and answer session.

The Texas Pinball Festival is open to the public so bring the whole family!

WHEN, WHERE & HOW MUCH

March 23 – 25, 2012

Friday, March 23:  5 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Saturday, March 24:  10 a.m. – 1 a.m.

Sunday, March 25:  9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center, 1800 Highway 26 East Grapevine, Texas 76051-9641

One Day Admission (Friday / Saturday): $20 Adults, $15 for Children (Ages 5-12)

One Day Admission (Sunday): $10 Adults, $5 for Children (Ages 5-12)

Weekend Pass: $40 Adults, $30 for Children (Ages 5-12)

Contact:  214-471-5777; texaspinball.com

For more information about Grapevine, call the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau at 817-410-3185 or visit GrapevineTexasUSA.com.

Submitted by Leigh Lyons, .

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