A weekend full of tabletop games will help put food on the kitchen table for those in need.
Local board game business Mission: Fun & Games is hosting its 14th annual Game-A-Lot this weekend, which kicked off yesterday with the festivities continuing through today and tomorrow.
The annual gaming bonanza accepts donations of food and cash for the St. Albert Food Bank as admission to the event, which draws enthusiasts from around the province.
A news release stated that since 2000, Mission: Fun & Games has raised more than $10,000 for the food bank.
Michelle Reid, a Game-A-Lot organizing committee member, said in 2013 the event raised more than $2,000 and 460 pounds of food from 110 people.
Reid said this will be the first year proceeds from a barbecue will be donated to the food bank in addition to the admission bounty.
A variety of games are being hosted as part of the fun, from co-operative games such as Pandemic or Forbidden Desert to more competitive games such as A Game of Thrones or the ever-popular strategy game Ticket to Ride.
Online registration was cut off on Sept. 1, but would-be participants can still show up and sign up for available sessions, or to grab a spontaneous pick-up game or three with the other games available.
Reid said those hosting games will help teach participants how to play, providing an opportunity to learn some new ones.
“You don’t have to come in and know the games,” Reid said. “People shouldn’t feel intimidated.”
This year, role-playing games, trading card games and table-top miniatures won’t be making an appearance, something Reid attributes to the growth in popularity of more traditional board games that tend to appeal to a broader spectrum of players.
As part of the event, there are draws, hourly prizes and a “play it to win it” board game on the go.
For more information
www.gamealot.ca
Hours
Friday, Sept. 5: 5 p.m. to midnight<br />Saturday, Sept. 6: 10 a.m. to midnight<br />Sunday, Sept. 7: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
