The
Dutch Cube Day, as the name suggests, is held in the Netherlands. It would be pretty far for a "kid" like you in Chicago.
It's usually held around October or so so it's quite a few months away still.
I am sure you would be allowed to play with the 17x17x17, even though you can barely consider it playing. The movement is very bad so you'll be tired of it after just one move. Or maybe two
