The game of pinball has been around for nearly a century, enjoyed by youngsters and adults alike in both arcades, homes and even breweries, at least here in Northern Virginia, thanks to Ashburn’s Lost Rhino Brewing Company.
Within the brewery’s tasting room, you’ll find nine themed pinball machines, ranging in design from Jurassic Park to The Addams Family and so much more. While the pinball machines are there to entertain all guests, they also recently started serving a larger purpose: The machines are the center of competition for local competitive pinball league Silverball Sanctum.
Each week, you’ll find a team of pinball lovers practicing and competing in the tasting room, typically with a beer in hand. The league, Silverball Sanctum, is part of the Free State Pinball Association (FSPA), which is a 25-year-old organization consisting of seven leagues throughout the DMV.
Each season consists of 10 weeks of play and this year’s spring session is about to begin, starting Wednesday, Jan. 22. When the season nears its close, players will have a chance to head to the state championship. Whoever is No. 1 and No. 2 in Virginia will make their way to compete at the national event, which will be hosted in Denver, Colorado this year.
Interesting in competing? Find out more information about signing up here.
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