Cornhole is not just a men's game. A special Ladies Night event later this month aims to help grow the game in the area.
The Ladies' Night event is set for March 26 at the Joyland Beach Community Centre. Already 50 ladies have registered for the event, and there are just eight spots remaining.
Event organizer Karen Lalonde says cornhole is typically a male-dominated sport.
“This is a huge growing-the-game event," she explained of the Ladies Night event.
Depending on the feedback players give about the event, Lalonde says more opportunities could be on the horizon for local women.
“We want to keep growing the sport in Orillia,” she said. “So far, all of our tournaments have had an overwhelming interest.”
Lalonde and Hawley Moulton created the Canadian Girls Play Cornhole Facebook group.
“I think a lot of girls still feel really intimidated playing with men. They don’t want to be embarrassed and feel uncomfortable," said Lalonde.
To register for the ladies night, you can fill out an application here. Cost to play is $20.
There are more than 80 members of the Orillia Cornhole Club, both male and female, who play on Tuesday and Thursday nights at ODAS Park. There is also a drop-in night on Wednesdays.
“It gets people out of the house,” Lalonde said. “A lot of our players used to play baseball and things that were cancelled because of COVID. Cornhole is something you can play at a distance.”
Cornhole is one of the more diverse and inclusive sports, Lalonde says. The league’s youngest player is 19 years old and the oldest is around 70 years old.
“I’ve had two knee surgeries and a broken shoulder,” Lalonde said. “I can still play it. It’s something that makes everyone feel included."
Lalonde invites interested players to come out on Wednesday nights to check out cornhole and give it a shot. The drop-in program is only $10.
