On Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, the Granby Drummer will host its second Puzzle Slam competition and fundraiser at the Granby Memorial Middle School. A midwestern favorite, speed puzzling has risen in popularity in recent years. Regional, state, national and world championship competitions bring together people of all ages, who work either solo or in teams to complete a new jigsaw puzzle. Interest has surged across the United States, and the Drummer event in 2024 was a resounding success. The 2025 Puzzle Slam will feature 60 teams of four assembling a 500-piece puzzle with prizes being awarded for first, second and third place winners.
The brainchild of Rita Isaacson, who served as managing editor of the Drummer from 2006 to 2022, the Puzzle Slam is intended as a family-friendly, fun activity to break up the dreary winter to which New Englanders are accustomed. The Puzzle Slam committee is excited to bring the contest back for a second year. “We weren’t sure what to expect last year, but we more than doubled the number of participants that we anticipated. It was wild and we learned a lot,” Isaacson explains. “It’s such a fun event and our sponsors were amazing.”
The 2025 Granby Puzzle Slam is geared towards all ages and all levels of puzzling proficiency. Teams of four will be given a “secret” 500-piece puzzle, which they unwrap and open when the timer is activated. There is no expectation for puzzlers in Granby’s Puzzle Slam to be at the professional level. All levels are welcome in this friendly competition.
To enter as a four-person team, competitors will need to register online and pay a $100 entry fee, which offsets the costs of the event. The registration link will be posted on granbydrummer.com, starting Dec. 1.
Businesses are invited to sponsor the Puzzle Slam or one of the 60 puzzling tables. For information on sponsorships, email editor@granbydrummer.org or leave a message at 860-653-9222.
Besides encouraging a community atmosphere, the event will benefit the Drummer and allow it to continue its vital function within the town of Granby.