A $15,000 cornhole tournament may not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning a fall trip to the Alberta Badlands. Add pig races, a county fair, dinosaurs and a Saturday-night country cabaret, however, and Drumheller has a rather unusual reason for a September road trip.
Barney’s Adventure Park
What is happening this weekend?
From September 25 to 27, Weekend at Barney’s brings Barney’s Adventure Park’s fall programming together for one weekend on North Dinosaur Trail. The centrepiece is The Big Toss, a three-day cornhole tournament whose guaranteed $15,000 purse grows further, with 50 per cent of every open-division registration added to the prize pool.
The tournament opens Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. with a welcome party, side games and a blind-draw skills event. Saturday brings the $80-per-team Open Doubles competition, while $40 Open Singles take over Sunday. Both use round-robin play leading into double-elimination brackets, so entrants get multiple games rather than travelling to Drumheller for a single toss-and-out match. No competitive ranking is required.
New for 2026 is a Locals Division, a $50-per-team Saturday bracket restricted to Drumheller and immediate-area players. Unlike the open divisions, 100 per cent of its registration fees go into its own prize pool.
You do not need to compete to make a day of it. The Fall Vibes County Fair runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, alongside Barney’s regular 30-plus activities. The park includes its dinosaur area, animal barnyard, corn maze, obstacle-style play areas, pig races and train rides. Barney’s has specifically announced a watermelon-eating contest for the weekend.
Plan at least three hours. Barney’s says a half-day is the minimum for most families and a full day works better if children want to explore the entire park.
Should you stay Saturday night?
Saturday is the stronger choice for adults making an overnight trip. The County Cabaret runs from 7 p.m. to midnight with Aaron Krabsen and the Cat Country Band, plus nighttime pig races. Children can attend until 8 p.m.; after that, the event becomes 18+. Admission is $25, separate from daytime park admission. Food and drinks are available.
There are also weekend accommodation incentives. Barney’s currently lists 15 per cent off at participating Canalta Hotels in Drumheller, 20 per cent off at Drumheller KOA and 25 per cent off at Dinosaur RV Park and Horseshoe Canyon Campground.
A $10 cash shuttle operated by Bubba T’s takes cabaret guests back to participating area hotels and campgrounds.
Is it worth the drive from Calgary?
Credit: Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
Barney’s is about 149 km from downtown Calgary, approximately 1 hour 45 minutes by car, making the daytime fair realistic as a day trip. Staying overnight makes considerably more sense if the cabaret is part of the plan.
There is an unusually good reason to combine attractions this particular weekend. The Royal Tyrrell Museum has free admission September 26 and 27 for Alberta Culture Days. Tickets are walk-up only and the museum warns that high attendance may produce outdoor lineups. It is just a few minutes from Barney’s on North Dinosaur Trail.
A practical Saturday is the museum in the morning, Barney’s County Fair and tournament in the afternoon, then the cabaret that evening. Families skipping the nightlife can instead spend more time exploring Drumheller’s Badlands.
For more options, see Things to Do in Calgary This Weekend.
What You Need to Know – Weekend Trip to Barney’s
Credit: Barney’s Adventure Park
What: Barney’s Adventure Park hosts The Big Toss from September 25 to 27, featuring a $15,000 guaranteed cornhole prize pool, Open Doubles, Open Singles and a new-for-2026 Locals Division. The weekend also includes the Fall Vibes County Fair, 30-plus park attractions, pig races, family activities and Saturday’s County Cabaret with Aaron Krabsen and the Cat Country Band, plus discounted stays nearby.
Dates: September 25 to 27, 2026
Daytime hours: September weekends, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. County Fair programming is listed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Where: Barney’s Adventure Park, Highway 838 West/North Dinosaur Trail, Drumheller
How Much:
Regular park admission: $26.62 online for ages four and older; children under four are free. Water Wars costs an additional $5 for four buckets and the Morse Gemstone Mine costs $8.57 per person. Food is extra.
Cornhole: Open Doubles, $80 per two-person team; Open Singles, $40; Drumheller-area Locals Division, $50 per team. Tournament registrations are non-refundable but transferable under the organizer’s stated conditions.
County Cabaret: Saturday, September 26, 7 p.m. to midnight; $25. All ages until 8 p.m., then 18+ with valid ID.
Food: Pizza, snacks and cold drinks are sold onsite. Visitors may bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks. Outside alcohol is prohibited.
Parking: Free. A free shuttle between the parking lot and entrance is available for visitors who need assistance.
Accessibility: The park is a former working hay farm rather than a fully paved attraction. Routes include gravel and mulched surfaces, which can soften when wet. There is an accessible family washroom, but some Boomtown and Boneyard attractions have uneven ground or steps.
Weather: This is primarily an outdoor park. Barney’s warns of sudden Badlands thunderstorms and high winds. The Saturday cabaret is scheduled to proceed in rain; dress for a late-September evening.