When the took over hosting the annual Soccerfest tournament in 2005, organizers could never have imagined that two decades later, they would still be at it.
This April (12 to 13) marks the 20th anniversary of the non-profit association hosting the annual event.
Registration is open now until March 24.
The weekend typically consists of 72 teams鈥攆rom the Sea to Sky, Sechelt, the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley. The games consist of 36 men's and 36 ladies' teams playing soccer all weekend long starting at 8 a.m. through to 8 p.m. each day at Brennan Park Recreation Centre fields.
Jose Oreamuno, who has been an organizer with the event from the start, says he hopes to see a lot of families come out this year.
"It is an adult tournament, but we want kids to look at [players] and say, 'One day I'm going to be playing here,'" he said.
Funding for turf field
The money raised through the event allowed the first artificial turf field to be built in Squamish.
Now, organizers and supporters hope to make a second turf field happen.
鈥淚t's very hard, but we are looking forward to that,鈥� said Oreamuno.
鈥淚 think that we have help from more people, more organizations now, like from and the . They all want the second field.鈥�
Together is better
Local hotels often sell out with the tournament and the association has the 撸奶社区Municipal Campground reserved for festival camping.
Oreamuno said that is often where the after-game fun goes down.
"It's so much fun for the teams together," he said.
"The teams are barbecuing and 鈥� doing stuff like that. I remember when I used to have teams, that was the best part of the evening, when everything was off after the games, you get the team together and have fun by the barbecue."
Teams have roasted a pig and a lamb, for example.
One year, a team brought a generator and they set up a big screen and were watching soccer, he added.
There are giveaways over the weekend, while supplies last, of soccerfest backpacks, stress balls, sunglasses and frisbees.
Massage therapy will be available by donation for tired players, or exhausted spectators.
Dress up fun
Again this year there's a team dress-up competition on Saturday at 5 p.m., with a prize for the winning outfitted team.
Some of the organizers' favourite costumes have been roller derby players, devils and cops.
"They were arresting everybody. They arrested me," Oreamuno said, with a laugh.
There's music, a beer garden鈥攚ith local suppliers Howe Sound Brewing and Cliffside Cider鈥攁nd the concession will be well stocked and hopping again, the organizers say, with hamburgers, smokies and breakfast sandwiches鈥攅ggers鈥攁vailable each day.
"It's very popular and we do eggers all day long," said fellow long-time organizer Jeanette Levett.
Want to volunteer?
Organizers welcome more volunteers to help with the event.
"The more people, the merrier, who can come out and help us,鈥� said Levett.
The event goes ahead rain or shine.
To register for the event or learn more, go to the.
