Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

DOWNTOWN FUN

Basketball and block party take over downtown Kamloops this weekend

Jun 1, 2019 | 1:54 PM

KAMLOOPS — Basketball. Beats. Beer. Add in a bucket full of sunshine, and you’ve got the recipe for a bangin’ two-day block party that’s taken over the 300-block of Victoria Street in downtown Kamloops for the weekend.

“So during the day we have the basketball – 3-on-3 – and in the evening, we’re throwing a block party, same block, between Victoria Street and Lansdowne,” event organizer Jesse Faubert explained. “Tonight we have about four different bands, three different DJ’s. Right now we’re actually having spin and yoga [classes] happening back there as well.”

On the pavement outside of the Commodore Grand Cafe and Lounge, the Bank 3-on-3 Basketball tournament is heating things even more. Current and ex-college players along with some enthusiastic amateurs, are lacing them up for the tourney.

“We have 16 teams broken down into two divisions,” tournament organizer Sean Garvey told CFJC Today. “We’ve got eight invite-only [teams], a couple guys from Calgary, teams from Vancouver. They’re playing for a pretty good prize pool of about $4,500 in cash.”

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For the spectators, there’s pizza and cold craft beer on hand, just in case the heat becomes unbearable.

“We’ve got some of the best weather in the world,” Garvey said. “It’s early-June, and we wanted to avoid the smoke, and when you’ve got this kind of talent coming out of this city, we’re ready for this kind of tournament. It’s probably long overdue.”

The timing couldn’t be any better for the organizers, as they’ll also be streaming the second game of the NBA Finals at the stage between Victoria and Lansdowne Streets on Sunday night. They’re hoping for a big crowd to come out and cheer on the Raptors.

“We’re calling it mini-Jurassic Park tomorrow night at 5:00 pm,” Garvey said.

“We just hope people come down,” Faubert said. “It’s a beautiful day with cold drinks and great entertainment.”

Watching the 3-on-3 tournament is free to the public, and tickets for the block party are $20, or you can get a weekend pass for $30.