Go to Chicago for a Cubs Game, Stay in Rockford for a Kubb Game

Are you up for a Kubb game? If you only hear the word, you're thinking baseball. If you see the word written, you might be wondering what a Kubb game is.

Okay, for the uninitiated, here's a quick description of Kubb (from Wikipedia):

Kubb (pronounced [kɵb] in Swedish or [kub] in Gutnish) is a lawn game where the object is to knock over wooden blocks, known as kubbs, by throwing wooden batons at them. Kubb can be described perhaps as a combination of bowling and horseshoes.

Play takes place on a small rectangular playing field, known as a 'pitch'. 'Kubbs' are placed at both ends of the pitch, and the 'king', a larger wooden block, is placed in the middle of the pitch. Some rules vary from country to country and from region to region, but the ultimate object of the game is to knock over the 'kubbs' on the opposing side of the pitch, and then to knock over the 'king', before the opponent does. Games can last from five minutes to well over an hour. The game can be played on a variety of surfaces such as grass, sand, concrete, snow, or even ice.

The alleged Viking origin of the game has led some players and kubb fans to nickname the game “Viking chess”.

If you're like me, you've complained until you're (yellow and) blue in the face that there just aren't enough opportunities in Rockford to play ancient Viking games. My friends, your voice has been heard, and this weekend, you can check out (or even play) a real-life Kubb game. It's happening from 9am-5pm this Saturday, May 14th, at Ingersol Centennial Park, 315 S. First St.

Details courtesy of kubbunited.com/rockford:

Kubb United is partnering with Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Swedish Historical Society of Rockford and Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary to present the 2016 Rockford Swedish Historical Society Kubb Tournament. Concessions provided by Roscoe Boy Scouts 622.

The tournament will take place on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at Ingersoll Centennial Park. Registration begins at 8:00AM and play starts at 9:00AM.

All proceeds shared with Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary.

The tournament will be 2-6 person teams.

Here's how you play Kubb (pronounced like "tube"):

For more info, or to get your team involved, click here.