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Free Drop-in Gaming Day at Idea Forge Studios

Event Description

Get your Gaming on!

Saturday, January 24, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Idea Forge Studios at Project Imo | Downtown Willimantic, CT
FREE & Open to the Public | All Experience Levels Welcome

Looking for something fun, social, and totally free to do this winter? Join us at Idea Forge Studios for an Open Gaming Day, a relaxed, drop-in tabletop gaming event where community, creativity, and friendly competition collide.

Whether you’re a seasoned tabletop veteran, a curious first-timer, or just looking for a cozy place to roll dice and meet new people, this is your invitation to play.

🧠 What to Expect

Our board game and RPG library will be open all day, featuring a wide range of games—from fast, laugh-out-loud party games to deep strategy and epic fantasy battles. Play for 20 minutes or stay for hours—it’s completely up to you.

🎯 Featured Games & Experiences

  • Battletech Alpha Strike – fast-paced tabletop mech warfare (perfect for newcomers and veterans alike)

  • Goats & Goblins

  • Forges of Ravenshire

  • We’re Doomed! (with the Meritocracy expansion)

  • Battles of Westeros

  • BattleLore

  • Ugg-Tech

  • Firefly: The Board Game with Blue Sun and Pirates & Bounty Hunters expansions

  • RuneWars

🃏 Classic Community Favorites

  • Wingspan

  • Ticket to Ride

  • Catan

  • Carcassonne

  • Unmatched

  • Exploding Kittens

  • Plus a rotating mix of strategy games, card games, and RPG-friendly systems

Not sure what to play? No problem. Friendly facilitators and experienced players will help you find a game, learn the rules, and jump right in.

🏛️ Why Idea Forge Studios?

Idea Forge Studios is Project Imo’s community-powered creative and learning space in downtown Willimantic. Alongside our makerspaces, studios, and workshops, gaming has become one of our most joyful and welcoming ways to bring people together.

Our open gaming days are:

  • ✅ Inclusive & welcoming

  • 🎓 Beginner-friendly

  • 🤝 Community-driven

  • 🆓 Always free

You don’t need to bring anything—just curiosity, imagination, and maybe a competitive streak 😉

👨‍👩‍👧 Who Should Attend?

  • Teens, adults, and families

  • Board game lovers and RPG fans

  • Battletech players and curious mech pilots

  • Newcomers looking to learn tabletop games

  • Frog Con fans and local nerds of all stripes

  • Anyone who wants a fun, screen-free way to spend a Saturday

This is a drop-in event, so come when you can and stay as long as you like between 11am and 6pm.

🎟️ Free Tickets (Optional but Helpful!)

Admission is 100% free, but registering for a free ticket helps us plan tables, facilitators, and snacks. Prefer to live on the edge? Walk-ins are always welcome.

👉 Register for your free ticket—or just drop in and play!

Come roll dice, command mechs, build kingdoms, and meet fellow gamers at Idea Forge Studios. We’ll save you a seat at the table. 🎲🔥

🎮 Open Access to Games, Terrain, and Game Design at Idea Forge Studios

One of the things that makes gaming at Idea Forge Studios special is access. Our community gaming library goes far beyond boxed games on a shelf—we provide players with shared resources designed to make tabletop gaming more immersive, creative, and accessible to everyone.

During open gaming days, participants have access to our expanding board game and RPG library, along with tabletop terrain, maps, miniatures, tokens, dice, and gameplay aids that enhance both casual and competitive play. Whether you’re commanding BattleMechs, exploring fantasy realms, or teaching a new player their first strategy game, our shared resources help lower barriers and elevate the experience.

Idea Forge Studios is also home to game design and prototyping labs, where community members explore the creative side of gaming. Players can experiment with custom scenarios, homebrew rules, 3D-printed components, terrain design, and original game concepts, blending play with hands-on making.

For those who want ongoing access beyond free events, Idea Forge Studios offers affordable individual memberships for $20/month, providing regular access to gaming resources, creative labs, and open studio time. We also welcome group and club membership partnerships for gaming groups, Battletech units, RPG tables, and community organizations looking for a consistent, welcoming home base.

Our goal is simple: make tabletop gaming accessible, welcoming, and creatively empowering—whether you’re here to play once, play weekly, or build something entirely new.

Check out our Idea Forge page for more information: https://projectimo.org/idea-forge-creators-space/

January 24, 2026
11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Free

Tickets

The numbers below include tickets for this event already in your cart. Clicking "Get Tickets" will allow you to edit any existing attendee information as well as change ticket quantities.
Free Admission
$0.00
35 available
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Total: $0.00

Venue

Base Camp & Idea Forge Studios

54 North Street
Willimantic, CT 06226 United States

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Organized By

Project Imo

(860) 786-5799

teamimo@projectimo.org

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Know Before You Go!

Nope! A digital copy on your phone is perfectly fine. Just have it ready at check-in for a quick scan. We would gladly accept 

Project Imo and the Idea Forge Creators Space strive to offer high-quality events and workshops for our community. To ensure fair access and responsible planning, we’ve established the following refund policy:

Ticket Purchases

  • All ticket sales are final unless otherwise stated on the event listing.

  • Refunds may be issued if a written request is received at least 7 days before the event date.

  • Refunds requested within 7 days of the event are not guaranteed and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

  • A processing fee may be deducted to cover platform costs (e.g., PayPal fees).

How Refunds Are Processed

  • Refunds will be issued to the original payment method (usually via PayPal).

  • For in-person registrations paid by cash or check, refunds will be issued by check within 14 business days.

  • Requests must be sent to [insert email] and include:

    • Your full name

    • The event name

    • Proof of purchase

If We Cancel or Reschedule
If an event is canceled or rescheduled by Project Imo, you will receive:

  • A full refund, or

  • The option to transfer your registration to a future event (upon request)

Parking is available at right outside the entrance of our main location.

Street parking may be limited on Main street, so always recommend arriving early or carpooling when possible.

We offer a few light refreshments, including a Keurig station, a water dispenser, and occasional snacks.

However, we do not provide full meals. For most events, you’re welcome to eat beforehand or bring your own food, unless otherwise noted in the event description. If outside food isn’t allowed for a specific program, we’ll be sure to mention it clearly.

Please bring your ticket (digital or printed), a valid ID, and any personal items you may need.

Some events may require specific materials, these will be noted clearly in the event description if needed. If you’re ever unsure, feel free to reach out before attending!

Unless otherwise stated, all events/workshops are intended for adults ages 18 and up.

If an event is family-friendly or open to younger participants, that information will be clearly noted in the event description.

Yes and we encourage it!

You can add multiple tickets at checkout and enter details for each attendee. We highly recommend inviting your friends, coworkers, or creative crew to join you. Events are more fun when shared, and it makes for a great group outing or even a unique gift experience.

Yes, just email us at TeamImo@Projectimo.org with the full name and email of the new attendee at least 48 hours before the event.  Best option would to also copy that person on the email you send.

Use the contact form below or email us directly at TeamImo@projectimo.org. We’re happy to help!

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