BOULDERFEST FAQ
Boulderfest is an electric, all-day celebration of climbing featuring a community competition, entertainment, music, food trucks, raffles, and community connection. It’s open to everyone, and the competition is geared for climbers of all levels—from beginners to experts.
Friday, October 4:
Climbing will close at 5pm Friday, October 4th for all non-competitors or volunteers!
Open Qualifiers:
- 5:00 pm: Competitor/Volunteer check-in starts
- 5:30 pm: Volunteer meeting
- 5:45 pm: Competitor rules meeting
- 6:00 pm: Round starts
- 9:00 pm: Round ends
Saturday, October 5:
The gym is closed to anyone not competing, volunteering, or spectating!
Session 1:
- 6:30am: Competitor/Volunteer check-in starts
- 6:45 am: Competitor rules meeting
- 7:00 am: Round starts
- 7:30am: Check in closes for Round #1
- 10:00 am: Round #1 ends
Session 2:
- 10:00 am: Competitor/Volunteer check-in starts
- 10:15 am: Competitor rules meeting
- 10:30 am: Round #2 starts
- 11:00 am: Check in closes for Round #2
- 1:30 pm: Round #2 ends
Session 3:
- 1:30 pm: Competitor/Volunteer check-in starts
- 1:45 pm: Competitor rules meeting
- 2:00 pm: Round #3 start
- 2:30 pm: Check in ends for Round #3
- 5:00 pm: Round #3 ends
Raffle (must be present to claim prizes):
- 5:30 pm: Raffle starts
Open Finals:
- 6:00 pm: Competitor ISO starts
- 6:30 pm: Spectator doors open
- 6:30 pm: Finals start
- 8:30 pm: Finals end
- 8:45 pm: Awards
Saturday Festivities:
- All Day: Vendor Market
- 9:30 am – 10:15 am: Yoga Pregrame Flow at Alethia Tanner Park
- 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm: Yoga Round 2 Flow in Alethia Tanner Park
- 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Yoga Sculpt in Alethia Tanner Park
- 9:00 pm: After Party at Lost Generation Brewing
Participants may compete in only ONE of the following Sessions:
- Friday Night (Open Qualifiers): 6:00pm – 9:00pm
- Saturday Round #1 (Youth & Community round only): 7 AM – 10 AM
- Saturday Round #2 (Community round only): 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
- Saturday Round #3 (Community round only): 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Open Qualifiers: Climbs will have individual scores and your ranking is based on the sum of your top 10 scored climbs. Competitors will earn a raffle ticket for every climb completed (limit 20).
Finalists will be contacted Friday evening.
Community Rounds: Competitors will earn one raffle ticket for each climb completed within their category range. The raffle will be hosted at 5:30 pm on Saturday, October 5th. Competitors must be present to claim prizes.
Community Categories:
- Recreational: Yellow, Red, Green
- Intermediate: Purple, Orange, Black
- Advanced: Black, Blue, Pink
Competitors will self-select into their respective categories during the registration process. The idea is to challenge yourself!
When trying your absolute hardest, if you are able to top 10 boulders in the highest color available in that category in one climbing session, you should compete at the next level up.
Open Category: Our open category is a competitive climbing showcase. If you climb regularly and want a chance to compete for cash prizes, we encourage you to join the Open category.
Rules talks will be given 15 minutes before the beginning of each session. Please plan to arrive on time to hear the rules talk, and to give yourself as much time as possible to climb!
Yes! Boulderfest is an all-levels competition, so even if you’re new to climbing, there will be something for you to climb. Boulderfest is an awesome experience for everyone!
Yes. Youth 13 and under require an adult (18+) that is also competing to supervise, or a coach if they are on a youth team. Youth 14-17 may compete without a supervisor.
Yes! Spectators are welcome and free on Friday night for open qualifiers and all day on Saturday.
Interested in volunteering at Boulderfest? We’d love to have you!
Volunteers will help to judge the community rounds.
Volunteers will receive a free meal, t-shirt, and day passes for their time. Click here to register as a volunteer.
Tons of stuff! We’ll have a vendor village open all day, beer for sale from City State Brewing, food trucks, outdoor yoga & fitness classes at Alethia Tanner Park, open finals, an after party at Lost Generation Brewing, and more!
DCBP’s climbing facilities, will be closed for anyone not competing, spectating, or volunteering.
The fitness and yoga studios will also be closed.
The fitness area will be open with limited access from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm on Saturday, October 5.
We encourage people to use the metro, bus, or bike to get to us on the day of Boulderfest. Limited street parking is available in Eckington. We recommend carpooling or arriving early!
Boulderfest is Bouldering Project’s largest event of the year. Access to the gym and its climbing facilities will be heavily affected from Monday, September 30 through Saturday, October 5.
Monday, September 30:
- 9:00 pm: Beast closes for wall maintenance
Tuesday, October 1:
- All Day: Beast closed
- 9:00 pm: Prow, Tower, and East Wing Slab closed for wall maintenance
Wednesday, October 2:
- All Day: Beast, Prow, Tower, and East Wing Slab closed
- 9:00 pm: Entire East Wing closed for wall maintenance
Thursday, October 3:
- All Day: Entire East Wing, Beast, and Upper Deck closed
- All Day: Kilter and Tunnel remain open for climbing
Friday, October 4:
- All Day: Entire East Wing, Beast, and Upper Deck closed
- 5:00 pm: Kilter and Tunnel closed
- 3:00 pm: Group Fitness Studio and Kids Room closed
Saturday, October 5:
- All Day: All climbing closed to non-participants
- All Day: Group Fitness Studio, Yoga Studio, and Kids Room closed
- 8:00 am – 5:00 pm: Limited access to the fitness area
Sunday, October 6:
- Entire gym reopens, normal operating hours