What's Happening in Leduc, AB…

An annual computer gaming event in Leduc will be switching to a digital experience for 2020, hoping to capture the same level of community competition.

Fragapalooza is an annual event where gamers bring computers and video game consoles to compete over a high-speed Local Area Network, hence the term “LAN party.” Fragapalooza typically holds tournaments on dedicated servers for popular games, but players can also pick up any game they feel like.

The event’s name comes from “frag”, which is slang for a kill in a first-person shooter game, but all genres of games are welcome. Gaming events like this, often advertised through poster printing campaigns, can be a way for participants in an often solitary hobby to make connections and test their skills.

This year’s digital Fragapalooza will feature a different look, taking place over a community Discord server instead of in person. Announced events include team tournaments in Call of Duty Warzone and Overwatch, with other games to be announced in the weeks to come. There will also be live-streamed opening and closing ceremonies, with the goal being to carry over as much of the typical atmosphere as possible.

Fragapalooza - The Digital Experience will take place across the weekend from August 6 to 9. Registration for the event is free. Those who had already registered for the in-person event, which was set to take place at the Leduc Rec Centre, will have their tickets rolled over to the 2021 event.