Black and white logo with bold text reading "Squamish Days" above "Est 1957," with lines and a small circular design below the text.
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A person in a red plaid shirt and black cap kneels beside a tree stump, blowing on a small campfire to help it ignite. Bright flames rise from the firewood while sunlight highlights the scene outdoors.
A yellow circular badge with dashed and solid borders displays the bold black text "FREE EVENT" in the center, highlighting Squamish Days.

KETTLE BOIL CHALLENGE

  • Thursday 6 PM
  • Squamish Valley Golf Course, 2458 Mamquam Road
  • Presented by [2027 Sponsors To Be Confirmed]
  • Free to spectate, family friendly
  • $20 per team, per event to compete

The official kickoff to Squamish Days!

There’s no better way to fire up the festival weekend than with open flames, high-pressure heats, and water cans bubbling over with suspense. The Kettle Boil Challenge is one of Squamish Days’ most unique traditions – and it’s HOT fun for competitors and spectators alike.

Spectators – What to Expect

Bring your lawn chair, bring your friends, and get ready for a night of friendly chaos.

Whether you’re cheering for your neighbour’s team or just enjoying the show, it’s a perfect way to kick off BC Day weekend in Squamish.

  • Free to attend – no ticket required
  • Family friendly – plenty of grassy area for kids to burn off their energy
  • 30 teams of 2 racing to build a fire and boil water as fast as possible
  • Chili Challenge on-site – $5 cash/$6 by card gets you a taster’s pass to sample and vote
  • Live music all evening on the patio from the Lonely Goatherds
  • Cold drinks, great food, and serious skill on display

Competitors – How It Works

Teams of two compete to be the fastest to boil over a can of soapy water – using nothing but a hatchet, a block of cedar, and three matches. No paper. No accelerants. Just skill, strategy, speed, and racers on the ground, using sheer lung power to coax their flames into full-blown boil-overs.
 
You can compete as a Junior + Adult team, an Adult (18+) Open team – or sign up for both categories if you’re ready for double the heat!
  • Entry Fee: $20 per team, per category
  • Spots are limited to 30 teams total
  • 2026 ENTRIES ARE OPEN!
REGISTER HERE

Cash Prizes

Junior + Adult Category

1st: $150   /   2nd: $100   /   3rd: $50

Open 18+ Category

1st: $200   /   2nd: $150   /   3rd: $50

Competition Rules & Requirements

  • Teams bring one small axe (hatchet) – safety-checked at registration
  • No other tools or fire starters allowed
  • Competitors must wear long pants; axe user must wear leather gloves
  • Fire materials, can, and matches provided on site
  • Teams must arrive and check in between 6–6:30 PM
  • Multiple heats with a 10-minute time limit each
  • All fires are built in the designated area
  • Time stops for your team when the water boils over the can – as judged by our official timekeepers
  • The fastest 3 teams in each category to boil the water OVER the can are the prize winners.

Want the full list of rules before you sign up? You’ll find them on the entry form.

Whether you’re lighting the match or watching the sparks fly, the Kettle Boil Challenge is the perfect way to kick off the festival. See you by the fire!

Several people compete in an outdoor fire-building contest, kneeling close to small, burning wood piles, blowing to stoke the flames, with a crowd observing in the background on a sunny day.
A four-piece band performs outdoors on a wooden stage. A woman plays keyboard, a man plays drums, another plays guitar and sings, and a fourth member plays bass. Audience members watch from the right. Trees and a canopy are in the background.
A man lying on the ground leans close to a burning pile of wood outdoors, with intense flames rising between him and the camera. Other people's legs and a grassy area are visible in the background.
Two people lie on the ground facing a small campfire, blowing on the flames. Another person does the same in the background, while others watch from nearby. It appears to be an outdoor activity or competition.
Two men perform outdoors; the front man sings and plays acoustic guitar, wearing sunglasses and a cap. The second man, in a hat and blue shirt, plays bass guitar. They stand under a canopy with trees in the background.
Several people participate in a fire-blowing competition outdoors, kneeling and blowing on small wood fires, while a crowd watches and a judge with a clipboard oversees the event on a sunny day.
Two men crawl on the ground between small fires on wooden logs, performing a daring stunt outdoors while a crowd watches in the background. The flames are close to their bodies, highlighting the intensity.
A person in a floral shirt crouches to tend a small wooden fire, with thick smoke rising. Another person in sandals stands nearby, while others watch in the background. The scene appears outdoors on a paved area.
A crowd watches several people kneeling on the ground, competing in a fire-starting contest outdoors, surrounded by trees and tents on a sunny day.
A woman blows on a small campfire built on a tree stump while a young boy sits nearby, fanning the flames with a hat. People stand in the background on a sunny day.
A group of children and adults sit outdoors around two small campfires on logs, participating in an activity on a sunny day. The scene is lively, with people watching and engaging in the event.
An older man and a young girl kneel by a small, controlled campfire built on a tree stump, next to a sign with the number 6, as they watch the flames together during an outdoor event.

While the fires burn, follow your nose to the Lumberjack Chili Cook-Off happening just steps away

taste and vote