With a deep freeze that has installed itself over most of Alberta and plans to settle in for a nice visit, what can you do around town? Well, if you’re Canadian, a first instinct may be to go hang out on a sheet of ice, of course! Lougheed House and the Beltline Neighbourhoods Association (BNA) are once again partnering to host the 3rd Annual Beltline Bonspiel. This day-long outdoor festival is a fantastic, family-friendly and free event.
Peter Oliver, the BNA’s President is pleased that this winter party is “quickly becoming a mainstay winter festival for Calgary. ”
Showcasing both local artists and businesses, the event has something for all ages. The event stage will not only be announcing the plays and the awards, but will feature a number of local musicians and DJs including DJ BLKFT, Mother Mary, DJ C-SIK, I am the Mountain, Frase, Catfish the Wizard, Myke Atkinson and Justin Tyrell.
And you can’t properly host a bonspiel in Canada without beer. Keeping it family friendly, the festival hosts the Bonspiel Beer Garden featuring local breweries Inner City Brewing and Last Best Brewing. Having those local breweries is “a great way to acknowledge the Brewery Trophy that was created in 1915 by the Calgary Brewing and Malting company,” says Oliver.
The Bonspiel will host two tournaments, one for community teams that will vie for the that Brewery trophy and the other for corporate teams. Kids are welcome to curl for free between the games.
To make sure people come for the day, there will be a warm-up area that will provide the opportunity to heat up toes and fingers with a lot of outdoor fire pits (with an opportunity to roast marshmallows!) and enjoy coffee and hot chocolate from Analog.
It’s also an opportunity to introduce people to the Lougheed House, which will be offering free tours. The House will also host Calgary Public Library’s Storytime at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., or you can drop in for music lessons.
Cabin fever is no fun and one of the best ways to avoid it is get out and enjoy the day, not matter what the weather has in store. What better way to stick it to winter than by bringing everyone out to the Beltline Bonspiel?
(Photos courtesy Jacob Garcia, Evasion Photography.)
The Beltline Bonspiel takes place at Lougheed House on Saturday, Feb. 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Gaëlle Eizlini started her adult life with a degree in Fine Arts and got sidetracked with a career in communications and engagement. She’s an aspiring Renaissance Woman and rocks her (naturally) curly hair.
