President of the Victoria Pinball League Dan Bitterlich playing a Deadpool-themed pinball machine at Black Diamond Collectibles in Cedar on Aug. 25. The Cedar Community Hall will host the Vancouver Island Pinball Expo from Sept. 27-29. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

pinball wizards

Vancouver Island Pinball Expo lighting up Cedar this weekend

Sep 27, 2024 | 9:01 AM

NANAIMO — Pinball pros and lovers of retro arcade games are warming up their flipper fingers for a weekend of pinball action south of Nanaimo.

The Vancouver Island Pinball Expo (VIPE) is back for a second year, happening on Friday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Sept. 29 at the Cedar Community Hall (2388 Cedar Rd.)

VIPE committee member Dan Bitterlich said he moved to Victoria from the mainland a few years ago and brought his love of pinball with him by starting the Island’s first league.

“For some of us, I’m 60, this is me re-living my teenage years, for a lot of people this is their first experience in pinball, and I’m really happy watching it and seeing people enjoy themselves, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Bitterlich said they quickly sold out the 100 tickets for players for the VIPE, with the public welcome to come out to watch and play some pinball themselves.

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An entrance fee of $25 a day or $50 for all three days gives you access to 50 free-to-play pinball machines, with food trucks and a beer garden on site.

Over 100 pinball games will be showcased, with machines ranging from the 1960s to the present day.

Jen Cox, pinball player out of Victoria, playing on the 1974 pinball machine Skyjump as she competes in a weekend tournament at Black Diamond Collectibles in Cedar on Aug. 25. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Pinballer out of Victoria Jen Cox has only started playing competitively for a few years now.

She enjoys playing on modern machines but has a special affinity for the older models as well.

“There’s always different elements to different games depending on what era they’re from. If they’re very modern then there’s more of a video game kind of aspect to it and a goal through getting certain objectives, versus an older game will just be collecting a specific amount of points to be able to beat the other person.”

Cox says the social aspect of playing is also a big draw for a lot of the players.

“There’s definitely always carpools coming up and people just getting in on taking rides up and making friends like that…come out and enjoy it, and check it out.”

Money raised from the tournament will be donated to the Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Health Centre, which received $1,500 from last year’s VIPE.

The doors open to the public on Friday at 10:00 a.m. to watch the tournament, while the free play time varies depending on the day.

More information on VIPE can be found here on their website.

Around 100 pinball machines are being set up outside the Cedar Community Hall on Thursday, Sept. 26, getting ready for the VIPE taking place over the weekend. (VIPinballExpo on Facebook)

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow