If you hear the sound of blue shells flying, Smash attacks landing, and someone yelling “I just got Catan’d!”—follow the noise. This weekend at the Winkler Harvest Festival, EtherLAN is turning the Best Western Conference Room of the Meridian Exhibition Centre into a gamer's paradise.
Morgan Wiebe is part of organizing this event, and when it comes to a favourite game? Wiebe says Mario Kart still stands the test of time. “It’s probably the one that’s the most accessible and the one I can convince most people to play with me.”
“I’m sure there’s plenty of people who are maybe looking...for a place to belong—
especially in the gaming community. To be that for somebody is why I’m still here.” - Morgan Wiebe, on how welcoming EtherLAN is.
Button-mashing and board game battles
EtherLAN is rolling out two full days of video game action, Friday and Saturday from noon until late in the evening. The lineup includes Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and a classic Settlers of Catan tournament—all with age-based brackets and prizes worth bragging about.
“There’s definitely a chance for everyone to walk away with some cool prizes,” said Wiebe. “For the video game stuff, I know for sure it is Gamers Disco gift cards that are up for grabs. Various prize amounts.”
Tournaments are open to gamers of all ages, split into groups: 10 and under, 11 to 13, 14 to 16, and 17 and up. And the best part? No pre-registration needed. Just show up, sign up, and prepare for battle.
And for those more into rolling dice than smashing buttons, the Catan tournament kicks off Saturday at 1 PM. Expect multiple rounds, fresh opponents every time, and some sneaky road-building sabotage.
A decade of nerding out
For Wiebe, EtherLAN isn’t just about high scores—it’s about community. This year marks his 10th year attending, and the reason he’s still there is simple: it’s where he found his "people".
“What really drew me to staying around with EtherLAN as long as I have is how welcoming the community is,” said Wiebe. “At that time, it was very nice to finally find a place to belong.”
“I know I’m not the only one who’s gone through it, and I’m sure there’s plenty of people who are maybe looking for that or know someone who’s looking for a place to belong— especially in the gaming community. To be that for somebody is why I’m still here.”
Wiebe says everyone’s a nerd in their own way—whether you’re into fireballs or farming stats—and EtherLAN is a space where that’s not just accepted, it’s celebrated.
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- How Winkler’s Harvest Festival is building a more inclusive experience
Final boss mode: Just show up
If you're headed to the Winkler Harvest Festival and the rain clouds roll in… or the heat gets too real… or you simply feel the need to unleash a red shell on your friends, EtherLAN is where you need to be.
No tickets. No secret passwords. Just walk in and get ready to geek out.
“I’ll be there all weekend,” said Wiebe. “You’ll be able to come talk to me. I’ll answer all the questions. There are no dumb questions. Just ask.”
Ready, player one?