Record-breaking Lite Brite installation coming to St. Paul

Photo by Crystl

For St. Paul, holding the title for the "World's Largest Gathering of Zombies" just wasn't enough. Next week, local artist Ta-coumba T. Aiken will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the "Largest Picture Made of Lite-Brite" at the Union Depot in St. Paul.

For folks who didn't grow up in the '80s: Lite Brite was a black peg board placed over a box with a light bulb. The box would be plugged in, and kids would then stick colored pegs into slots to create glowing designs. Eventually, the pegs would get lost in the shag carpet and proceed to cut peoples' feet while rough-housing or vacuuming. The toy is still sold today, apparently, though it's not as popular or trendy as it once was (this was a time before the internet and iPads, after all).

To create the magnificent mural, there will be a lot of pegs. Over 520,000, in fact. The record-breaking attempt is part of a kick-off party for a statewide idea competition prompting Minnesotans to share thoughts on what they would do if they had $1 million to make Saint Paul great. The event and contest is hosted by Saint Paul Foundation and Minnesota Idea Open. Want to help with the Lite Brite mural? You can sign up (and enter the contest) at MNIdeaOpen.org/foreversaintpaul.

IF YOU GO:

Lite Brite installation and contest kick-off party
3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, February 16
Union Depot