PrairieCon Winter Games brings fun to Brandon
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/01/2025 (437 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Games lovers gathered at the Central Community Centre on Saturday for the PrairieCon Winter GamesDay, a day-long celebration of board games, role-playing adventures, and community connection.
Running from noon to 10 p.m., the event welcomed participants of all ages for hours of tabletop gaming and friendship.
The games day is part of a broader lineup of events hosted by PrairieCon, a long-running Brandon-based organization that has fostered gaming culture for 44 years, venue coordinator Graeme Chapman told the Sun.
He explained while this event is held in January, PrairieCon hosts several smaller games days throughout the year, as well as its flagship three-day convention in May.
“This event is all about just bringing people in to play board games, role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, and just having a good afternoon together,” Chapman said. “It’s friendly to all ages and all people — anyone’s welcome to come hang out.”
The Winter GamesDay typically sees around 50 attendees, with numbers fluctuating throughout the day, Chapman said. PrairieCon’s main convention in May, he added, attracts significantly larger crowds, with approximately 300 participants expected this year — a return to pre-pandemic attendance levels.
“COVID hit us hard, as it did everyone,” Chapman said. “But over the last couple of years, we’ve seen an increase in numbers and are pretty much back to normal. It’s good to see.”
One of the unique aspects of PrairieCon’s games days, he said, is their accessibility and the smaller events are free to attend, allowing anyone to join without the need to bring their own games.
“You can just sit at a table and hang out with whoever’s got games,” Chapman said.
The event’s family-friendly atmosphere at the community centre at 529 Fourth St. was evident, with children and adults alike immersed in games. The diversity of attendees highlighted the inclusive nature of the gaming community that PrairieCon fosters.
Chapman, who is in his second year on the PrairieCon board, shared that organizing these events has been a smooth process, thanks in part to partnerships with local venues.
“Once we have everything set up — tables, chairs, and space — the event just kind of happens,” he said. “People run the games themselves, so it’s a community-driven experience.”
While the Winter GamesDay and other smaller events are free, he added, PrairieCon’s larger convention in May includes an entry fee for participants who wish to play or interact with the games on offer.
“PrairieCon’s next major event is slated for March, followed by the highly anticipated PrairieCon weekend in May,” he added.
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