INNISFAIL – Hundreds of lacrosse players gathered in Innisfail on Mother's Day for the fourth annual Terror of the Tykes Festival.
The one-day event took place at the Innisfail Arena on May 12.
“It’s a one-day event and it runs all day,” said Jamie Bergen, coordinator of the festival. “It’s always around this weekend and it just happens that today is Mother’s Day, so we’re working hard to include the mothers,” she added, noting a Mother’s Day draw.
The Terror of the Tykes Festival included Innisfail Minor Lacrosse Association (IMLA) tyke and mini-tyke players between the ages of four and eight, and those from across Central Alberta in the Central Alberta Lacrosse League (CALL).
“We try to make it fun and we want to draw attention to the sport so that maybe next year we’ll have some more people sign up for lacrosse,” said Bergen.
“We’re asked (by CALL) to host festivals for these younger players and Innisfail has taken it on for the last four years to put something fun on for them,” she said.
Participating teams came from Innisfail, Blackfalds, Olds, Lacoka, Red Deer, Stettler, Sylvan Lake, Kneehill and Didsbury,
“We have a total of about 283 players today with teams from the CALL division,” said Bergen, noting the good turnout every year.
“We definitely want to invite the community and surrounding areas to come and join in the fun,” she said. “We invite anyone with kids to come down, check out a game and have some fun while they’re here.
“We want to encourage fun in lacrosse for these little guys.”
In addition to lacrosse games, families enjoyed face painting, bouncy castles, food trucks, a raffle table, Creative Outlet Art & Sign Studio, and new this year was Chex Sports from Calgary that sold lacrosse equipment and related items.
“It’s a festival in a tournament style so these are league games for the teams,” explained Bergen. “They do count (for the regular season).”
The IMLA season began indoors in March, noted Bergen, and moved to the Innisfail Arena the first week of April.
Tykes and mini-tykes practise one day a week during the regular season.
“It’s a very (short) season. Our wrap-up will be June 18 and that’s when playoffs will start for the older groups,” said Bergen. “We are usually done by the first week of July.”
For more information on the IMLA visit innisfaillacrosse.com.
