The Downtown Sudbury Ribfest may not be the only event drawing large crowds to the downtown core on Sept. 3.
Sudbury Pokémon Go, a popular Facebook Group for the mobile game that has taken the world, and Sudbury, by storm this month, is planning a large meet-up for players at Memorial Park that day.
“I've played a lot of new games that have come out, but I've never made this many friends in such a short period of time,” said Kurty Charlebois, an administrator with the Facebook group and organizer for the event.
Charlebois said Pokémon Go, a game for Android and iOS that lets players catch Nintendo's popular Pokémon creatures out in the real world, has allowed him to relive a memorable part of his childhood, playing the original Pokémon games on the Game Boy.
Charlebois has launched a Kickstarter fundraiser to help support the event, which requires a $210 permit from the city to use Memorial Park, and will also need to rent sound equipment and bathroom facilities.
Once those basic costs are covered, Charlebois said all additional funds will go to the NEO Kids Foundation, to help expand access to children's health care in Sudbury.
While the free event will be a chance for Pokémon Go players to gather and meet at Sudbury's biggest hotspot for the game, local vendors, like Mojoverse, will also be on site selling Pokémon-related merchandise.
Charlebois said a few DJs are also volunteering their time play music throughout the day.
