Spaghetti Bridge
40th annual Spaghetti Bridge Building Contest
held at ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨, Kelowna Campus
What is "Spaghetti Bridge"?
The 40th annual Spaghetti Bridge Building Contest will be held at ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨, Kelowna Campus on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025.
Team builders have two hours to follow guidelines and construct a spaghetti bridge at ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨, while the heavyweight teams and elementary students will build their bridge beforehand to be presented and tested. Medals will be awarded to the top three teams in Grades 6-10, who will then qualify for the 2025 in Abbotsford. The top teams in Grades 11-12 as well as the top heavyweight team will be awarded prizes.
Event details
Date and time
Firday, February 28, 2025
Location
´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨ Student Services Building (bridge building)
´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨ Centre for Learning (registration)
´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨
1000 KLO Road, Kelowna, BC
About the event
On February 28, 2025 competitors will gather at the ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨ Kelowna campus for the 40th annual Spaghetti Bridge Building competition.
This contest is a part of a 2025 Central Okanagan Skills Regional competitions event, which will also be held on the same day.
Registration information can be found below. Interested students should talk to their teachers. For help/information please email collegerelations@okanagan.bc.ca.
Rules and general information
NOTE: Team builders are not permitted to bring any tools, templates, glue etc. to the competition.
How to register
All categories can register here.
Event day registration
The registration of the bridges will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, February 28, 2025 at the Kelowna Campus of ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨ (1000 KLO Road). Bridges arriving after 9:30 a.m. may not be accepted for competition. The loading and testing of the bridges will begin at approximately 10:30 a.m.
Contests
Students may enter the following competitions:
- Elementary School Students: (Non-competition, students build bridge beforehand and present at competition)
- Grade 6-10 Team Building: (Teams of 2-4. Winners advance to Skills Provincials, compete for prizes)
- Grade 11-12 Team Building: (Teams of 2-4 or individual. Winners compete for prizes)
- Post-Secondary Students: (Teams of 2-4. Winners compete for prizes)
- Heavyweight Competition: (Winners compete for prizes)
Elementary School Demonstration: students are encouraged to build a replica of the Lion's Gate bridge in Vancouver using suitable material such as pasta or popsicle sticks and glue. Students are also encouraged to create a poster that showcases the bridge they select. Students should work in teams and complete the bridge prior to the demonstration. Students will have an opportunity to present their bridges to the audience.
Grade 6-10 Team Building: Students work in teams of two to four to complete a spaghetti building task on the day of the Spaghetti Bridge Building Contest. All materials are supplied at the contest and the building criteria will be sent out in advance of the competition. Winners can advance to the Skills Provincials.
Grade 11-12 Team Building: Students work in teams of two to four to complete a spaghetti building task on the day of the Spaghetti Bridge Building Contest. All materials are supplied at the contest and the building criteria will be sent out in advance of the competition. Winners in Grades 10-12 compete for prizes.
Post Secondary Team Building: Students work in teams of two to four to complete a spaghetti building task on the day of the Spaghetti Bridge Building Contest. All materials are supplied at the contest and the building criteria will be sent out in advance of the competition.
Heavyweight Competition: students work individually or in teams to build a spaghetti bridge to support the maximum amount of weight possible (see Heavyweight contest rules for details). Each bridge must be completed prior to the Spaghetti Bridge Contest.
Additional information
More information can be requested by emailing collegerelations@okanagan.bc.ca.
Please note: contest schedule times are approximate.
| 8:30 - 9:30 a.m | Competitor check in (Centre for Learning) |
| 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Team Building competition - teams build structures in the Student Services building |
| 12-12:30 p.m. | Judging: Team Building Competition Jr. Skills, Secondary and Post-Secondary School divisions |
| 12:30-1:30 p.m. | Lunch (Centre for Learning) |
| 1:30 p.m. | Awards for Team Building Competition |
| 2 p.m. | Judging/testing: Heavy Weight competition (Centre for Learning) |
| 2:15 p.m. | Awards for Heavy Weight Competition |
These rules are for all teams in the team building category (please ignore the title of this document and simply follow the rules)
Team building bridges MUST be completed at the Spaghetti Bridge Building Contest
For students in Grade 6 and up who work individually or in teams
Each bridge MUST be completed prior to the Spaghetti Bridge Building Contest
Registration information
Registration for competition events
NOTE: Each bridge MUST be built on site at the Spaghetti Bridge Building Contest except in the elementary and heavyweight categories.
Registration is now closed.
Registration for non-competition events
Elementary school demonstration
This is a non-competition event for students in Kindergarten to Grade 5.
Students are encouraged to build a replica of the Lion's Gate Bridge, a suspension bridge that spans the Burrard Inlet in Vancouver.
Registration is now closed.
2025 Lunch Sponsors
Photo gallery
38th Annual Spaghetti Bridge Contest (2023)
Photos from the 38th Annual Spaghetti Bridge Contest that took place on Friday, March 3rd, 2023 hosted by ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨'s Kelowna campus, featuring bridges by more than 250 competitors from Grade 7 to Post-Secondary.
Congratulations to all competitors and thank you to our sponsors. Lead Sponsors Faction Projects Inc. and Multi Power Products Ltd., and Sponsors: Bird Construction, PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc., CTQ Consultants, Interior Testing Services Ltd. and the ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨ Students’ Union.
37th Annual Spaghetti Bridge Contest (2019)
Photos from the 37th Annual Spaghetti Bridge Contest that took place on Friday, March 1st, 2020 hosted by ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨'s Kelowna campus, featuring bridges by more than 250 competitors from Grade 7 to Post-Secondary.
36th Annual Spaghetti Bridge Contest (2019)
Photos from the 36th Annual Spaghetti Bridge Contest that took place on Friday, March 1st, 2019 hosted by ´ó·¢¿ìÈýƽ̨'s Kelowna campus, featuring bridges by more than 250 competitors from Grade 7 to Post-Secondary.