The Bonspiel Bucket List: Curling Events Worth Traveling For
If you’ve ever driven six hours through a snowstorm with your broom in the backseat and a cooler full of questionable choices, congratulations—you’re a curler.
And if you haven’t? Well, it’s time to fix that. Because curling isn’t just a sport—it’s a global excuse to make new friends, wear matching shirts, and celebrate the fine art of sliding on purpose.
Welcome to the Bonspiel Bucket List—a roundup of the curling events worth booking a flight (or taking a questionable road trip) for. Whether you’re a seasoned skip or a first-time sweeper, these are the spiels that define curling culture.
1. The Brier & Scotties: The Crown Jewels of Canadian Curling
For Canadians, the Montana’s Brier and the Scotties Tournament of Hearts aren’t just curling championships—they’re cultural institutions. Picture thousands of fans in plaid pants, entire sections dressed as moose, and enough beer to float a rock from sheet A to sheet E.
If you’ve never experienced a Brier crowd screaming “HURRY HARD!” at full volume while eating poutine, add this to your bucket list now.
Pro tip: Pack your team shirts ahead of time—bonus points if they say something bold like “I Sweep Therefore I Am.” (You can find some excellent fun curling shirts over on CurlingIsFun.com).
2. The World Curling Championships: Where Strategy Meets Passport Stamps
Every spring, the best curlers on earth gather for the World Curling Championships. Locations rotate between countries, meaning one year you could be cheering in Switzerland and the next in South Korea.
For travelers, it’s the dream combination: elite curling, passionate fans, and post-game beer in a new language. Watching Team Canada and Team Scotland battle it out in person should be on every curler’s life résumé.
(And yes, wearing your “Bonspiel Legends” hoodie counts as international diplomacy.)
3. The U.S. Nationals & Arena Nationals: America’s Curling Spirit in Action
Not every curler gets to sweep under arena lights in Las Vegas—but the U.S. Nationals and Arena Nationals give everyone a shot. Arena curlers, in particular, bring unmatched heart—balancing weird ice, shared schedules with figure skaters, and the eternal quest for decent pebble.
Arena Nationals are the scrappy underdog’s Super Bowl. Every rock matters, every team cheers, and every after-party is legendary.
If you’ve ever curled on less-than-perfect ice and called it home, this event is for you. (And yes, we salute you—check out our Arena Ice Legends collection on CurlingIsFun.com).
4. The Continental Cup: Curling’s Ryder Cup With Sass
Think of the Continental Cup as curling’s version of the Ryder Cup—Team North America vs. Team World in a mix of traditional and mixed doubles formats. It’s dramatic, it’s strategic, and it’s occasionally ridiculous.
The event is all about energy: music blaring between ends, signs waving, fans in costumes that defy reason. It’s the kind of place where you lose your voice cheering and your dignity somewhere in the hospitality suite.
5. The Lupus Spiel, the Kegspiel, and the Countless Charity Bonspiels That Matter
Across North America, hundreds of local clubs host charity bonspiels—each with its own theme, dress code, and late-night stories best left unrecorded.
From the Lupus Spiel to your local Kegspiel, these are where curling’s real heart beats. You’ll find teams in superhero costumes, raffles you don’t remember entering, and the kind of community spirit that makes curling special.
If you want to see curling at its purest—fun, messy, and full of heart—start here. (And maybe grab some matching curling team merch for your squad. Because nothing says “team unity” like everyone wearing a shirt that reads “Skip Happens.”)
6. The Outdoor Spreads: When Curling Goes Full Nature
Not every bonspiel happens indoors. Across Canada, the U.S., and Europe, outdoor curling festivals bring the game back to its frozen-pond roots.
Events like the Pondspiel in Manitoba, the Silver Skate Festival in Edmonton, and even the P-Burg Outdoor Spiel in Montana remind us that curling started under open skies, not fluorescent lights.
It’s cold, it’s chaotic, and it’s absolutely magical. Just remember to layer up—preferably in your Friction Orange hoodie (because frostbite isn’t a fashion statement).
7. The Grand Slam of Curling: Big Rocks, Bigger Personalities
If you like your curling with a touch of TV glamour and Olympic-level precision, the Grand Slam of Curling is your ticket. It’s a showcase of the sport’s top athletes, jaw-dropping shots, and crowd-pleasing drama.
Even better, these events often happen in smaller Canadian towns—meaning you can catch elite curling up close and hang out at a local pub with the pros afterward.
Wrapping Up: Travel Far, Curl Hard, Laugh Often
Curling might not have the global stadiums of soccer or the glitz of Formula 1, but it’s got something better: a worldwide community that welcomes anyone who can throw a stone and laugh at themselves when they miss.
So pack your slider, brush up on your line calls, and start crossing off your Bonspiel Bucket List.
And if you want to look the part while you’re doing it, swing by CurlingIsFun.com for curling spirit merch—shirts, hoodies, and gifts that celebrate the goofy, glorious culture of the sport we love.
See you on the ice (or at the bar after). 🥌🍻