North Aurora Days fest includes bean bag tournament

This year's edition of the North Aurora Days festival is offering a new event that is looking to make a big impact in its first appearance. The North Aurora Baggo Classic is a 32-team, double-elimination bean bag tournament which will be held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7 in the Valley Community Bank parking lot adjacent to the Clock Tower Plaza at the southeast corner of Randall Road and Oak Street.

"Just about everybody has thrown bags in the backyard or while tailgating before a game," said tournament coordinator and North Aurora resident Jaime Gutierrez. "It's something you're likely to see at any party you go to. We wanted to add this very popular activity to the roster of entertainment that people have come to expect at North Aurora Days."

While pride is usually the only thing on the line in those backyard battles, the North Aurora Baggo Classic is offering $1,100 in cash prizes to teams finishing first through fourth. The top team at the end of the tournament will receive $500. There is an entry fee of $40 per two-person team and players must be at least 18 years old.

"There are plenty of bags tournaments out there, but not many are offering that much prize money to the winners," noted Gutierrez.

The players are not the only ones who will benefit from this event. After the tournament concludes, the boards used during the competition will be raffled off with the proceeds going to the Goodwin Elementary School Elves. The Elves are an organization dedicated to donating gifts, clothing and other necessities to local families in need.

Several local businesses have signed on as sponsors of the inaugural Classic, including: Eddie's Pizza & Pub, North Aurora Landscaping, Air 1 Wireless of North Aurora, Varghese Orthodontics, Liberty Chiropractic, Pet Supplies "Plus", S & C Promotional Products, and Au Naturel Dog Spa.

Online registration for the North Aurora Baggo Classic has begun. Visit www.northauroradays.com/baggo.html or www.facebook.com/NorthAuroraBaggo for details.