Toronto is getting a beer and pinball festival

Toronto is about to get a a dose of some retro amusement. The 1st annual Beer & Ball Festival is set to go down at Handlebar in Kensington Market from May 11 to 15. What does the new festival entail? Pinball, craft beer, and live music, something of a holy trinity for those who like their gaming on the vintage side.

There will be five nights of pinball tournaments (it's $3 to compete) starting at 7pm with nightly prizes from local businesses like Thomas Lavers and Sanagan's Meat Locker. A tap takeover from (fittingly) the Kensington Brewing Company is also in the cards.

The music programming will be a mix of live acts and DJs, but the idea is that the music and games will match up in some way. Intriguing (though I guess if you have enough to drink, all sorts of connections start to appear). No fun Toronto might not like pinball machines taking up much space in bars, but the idea of a five day festival sounds like the perfect compromise.

The Beer and Ball Festival takes place May 11-15, with a preview on Sunday, May 10th. Check out Handlebar's events calendar for more information.